THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 7, 2026

In a major push towards nutritional security, sustainable agriculture and rural economic empowerment, Odisha is set to emerge as a national leader in healthier rice and millet-based food products, with Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida unveiling an ambitious roadmap centred on technology integration, value addition and women-led entrepreneurship.

The two Deputy Chief Ministers on Saturday visited the upcoming specialty rice and millet value addition facilities and Odisha Bazar at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar and held detailed deliberations with scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), senior government officials, representatives of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and Odisha Agro Industries Corporation (OAIC) on strategies to make nutritious rice, millets and value-added food products accessible to people across the state.

The Department of Agriculture organised a workshop to formulate an implementation strategy and institutional framework aimed at sustainably enhancing farmers' incomes while strengthening nutritional security through technological innovation and inclusive agricultural value chains.

A key highlight of the initiative is the proposed utilisation of Odisha's rich heritage rice varieties, nutritious rice developed by IRRI and indigenous millets to create a diverse range of healthy, value-added products. The initiative will not only promote heritage rice as a staple food but also unlock the commercial potential of broken rice and rice bran, transforming these by-products into nutritious food products with higher market value.

Announcing the name of the upcoming processing facility as the 'Odisha Agricultural Centre of Excellence for Value Addition (Agri-CEVA)', Singh Deo said the centre would play a pivotal role in positioning Odisha as a national leader in preventive nutrition, healthier food systems and innovative rice- and millet-based products.

The International Rice Research Institute will work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Mission Shakti to provide technical expertise in healthy rice production, processing, logistics, traceability, quality certification and the development of nutritious value-added products. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (APICOL) will spearhead market linkages and develop a sustainable business model to operationalise the specialty rice and millet facility, connecting domestic retail markets with international export opportunities.

The processing-led transformation is expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses, enhance product shelf-life and enable Odisha-origin agricultural products to penetrate distant domestic and overseas markets through improved processing, branding and quality assurance.

A major thrust of the initiative will be strengthening women-led enterprises and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti. The project envisages enhancing their production capabilities, ensuring food safety and quality standards, and providing continuous capacity building and mentorship to make rural women entrepreneurs more competitive and financially sustainable.

Agri-CEVA will function as a shared infrastructure and processing platform for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), women SHGs, Mission Shakti groups, startups and rural enterprises, enabling farmers and grassroots entrepreneurs to move beyond primary production and capture greater value through processing, branding and access to premium markets.

"Our vision is clear. We want every farmer to earn more, every woman entrepreneur to grow confidently, every district to participate in value addition, and Odisha to emerge as a global destination for healthier rice, heritage rice and millet innovation," Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav said the initiative would establish a future-ready institutional platform integrating policy support, innovation, entrepreneurship and market access to generate sustainable prosperity for farmers and women stakeholders across Odisha.

With Agri-CEVA at its core, Odisha is seeking to transform its traditional agricultural strengths into a modern, technology-driven food economy, where heritage crops, scientific innovation and women's entrepreneurship converge to create better nutritional outcomes, stronger rural livelihoods and new opportunities in domestic and global markets.