Bhubaneswar, March 19: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Watershed Support Service and Activities Network (WASSAN) to revive forgotten foods and neglected crops in Odisha.
The Rs 247.024 crore initiative aims to preserve and promote traditional crops and indigenous seed varieties in 25 biodiversity-rich blocks across 15 districts.
The main objective of this program is to preserve and promote traditional crops and indigenous seed varieties that are disappearing from the current agriculture. The implementation period of the scheme is for the five years (2025-26 to 2029-30) with an outlay of Rs. 247. 024 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo emphasized, "Food keeps the tradition alive, its protection is the protection of our tradition."
The project will focus on conservation, documentation, and commercialization of neglected crops, benefiting local farmers and communities.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department, Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, , Kalunge Gorakh Waman, Director, Horticulture, Subrat Kumar Panda, Director, Soil Conservation and Watershed Development, and Dr. Ganeshwar Jena, Additional Secretary were present during the MoA signing.
The initiative aligns with Odisha's efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and preserve its rich biodiversity. The main objectives are conservation and documentation of neglected crops, multiplication of the traditional and indigenous varieties, revival of neglected crops, establishment of State Resource Centers, Kamala Pujari fellowship program, farmer field schools, nutrition profiling on traditional foods, value addition and commercialization of various food items prepared from forgotten crops.
