Farmers in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district are striving to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the region’s prized ‘Pala Baigana’ — a unique brinjal variety with a rich heritage dating back nearly 500 years.
Cultivated along the fertile banks of the Brahmani river, especially near the Dhenkanal-Kamakhya road in villages like Kamagara and Kanapala, Pala Baigana is known for its exceptional taste, size, and traditional cultivation methods. Farmers say this brinjal is unlike any other grown in Odisha or the rest of India.
“This brinjal is part of our legacy,” said Natabar Mallik, a local farmer. “Each one can weigh between 500 and 700 grams and has a unique, sweet flavour. People from other regions seek it out.”
Another farmer, Adaita Mallik, noted, “Two Pala brinjals together can weigh up to a kilogram. Around 30 farmers are engaged in growing it, all using traditional and organic farming techniques.”
Individual brinjals can range from 100 grams to 1 kilogram and are sold in local markets for up to ₹70 per kilogram. The crop is typically harvested between Diwali and the month of Chaitra using time-honoured seed-sowing and transplanting techniques.
Despite rising concerns over the disappearance of indigenous crops, these farmers remain committed to preserving Pala Baigana’s legacy.
Sisir Satpathy, a local historian, emphasized its regional importance: “Pala Baigana is native to this area and thrives only here. Other regions have tried growing it without success. It deserves a GI tag just like Nayagarh’s Kanteimundi brinjal.”
According to Bimalendu Mohanty, a scientist at Dhenkanal Krishi Vigyan Kendra, efforts are underway to apply to the GI Registry Authority. “This brinjal is unique to the sandy soil and microclimate of Dhenkanal. It plays a vital role in Odia cuisine and cultural heritage,” he said.
The GI tag, if granted, will officially recognize Pala Baigana as an agricultural treasure of Odisha, further encouraging its preservation and global promotion.
