Odisha launches ambitious scheme to revive forgotten crops and traditional food heritage

IN a significant move to preserve its agrobiodiversity and revive traditional farming practices, the Odisha Government has launched a comprehensive scheme titled 'Revival and Sustainable Intensification of Forgotten Food and Neglected Crops in Odisha'.

- PBD BUREAU

Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, the initiative aims to reintroduce and sustainably cultivate long-forgotten crops across 25 blocks in 15 districts over the next five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30.

The scheme targets around 60,000 farmers, primarily from tribal and rural communities, encouraging them to re-embrace native crops that once formed the backbone of Odisha’s diverse food systems. The selected blocks lie in ecologically sensitive zones and biodiversity-rich regions, ensuring the program is grounded in both cultural and environmental relevance.