Odisha Govt Signs MoA to Revive Forgotten Foods and Neglected Crops

• Food keeps the tradition alive, its protection is the protection of our tradition – Dy CM Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo

Bhubaneswar, March 2026: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Watershed Support Service and Activities Network (WASSAN) as programme secretariat 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. Such as Gandhamardhan, Niyamgiri, Sunabeda, Satkosia, Gupteswar, Malyagiri and Similipal.

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 Shri 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, Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, , Shri Kalunge Gorakh Waman, Director, Horticulture, Shri Subrat Kumar Panda, Director, Soil Conservation and Watershed Development, and Dr. Ganeshwar Jena, Additional Secretary was 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.

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