In a significant step towards harnessing Odisha’s rich agro-biodiversity, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, announced plans to develop a dedicated Odisha-based brand for jackfruit products.
The decision emerged from a high-level discussion on jackfruit cultivation and processing. This was held under the Deputy CM’s chairmanship at Lok Seva Bhawan today.
The meeting was sparked by a courtesy visit from Mithilesh Desai, Chairman of JackfruitKing Agro Producer Company Ltd from Maharashtra. Key stakeholders participated in the deliberations. These included Principal Secretary to the Government in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Horticulture Kalunge Gorakh Waman, and other senior officials.
Discussions centred on establishing jackfruit clusters under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This includes processing facilities in strategic districts. Priority areas identified include Kandhamal, Keonjhar, and Koraput. Additionally, six mission districts were prioritised: Angul, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, and Sundergarh. To bolster cultivation efforts, the state government agreed to allocate agricultural or horticultural farms to the company. This will be for expanding jackfruit acreage if needed.
Further expanding the initiative’s footprint, the meeting resolved to incorporate Padmapur Sub-division in Bargarh district and Patnagarh Sub-division in Bolangir district into the Jackfruit Mission. This was in recognition of their unique agro-biodiversity potential. To empower local stakeholders, exposure visits will be organised for farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. This will offer insights into the jackfruit business ecosystem.
Emphasising a holistic approach, Dy CM Singh Deo highlighted the importance of end-to-end integration—from cultivation and processing to branding and marketing. “Odisha-based brand in Jackfruit to be developed,” the Deputy Chief Minister declared. He underscored the state’s commitment to transforming jackfruit into a high-value export commodity. This aims to boost farmer incomes.
This collaboration is poised to position Odisha as a jackfruit powerhouse, leveraging Maharashtra’s expertise while tailoring solutions to local needs. Officials expressed optimism that the initiative could create sustainable livelihoods. It also aims to promote eco-friendly farming practices in the region’s tribal and rural belts.
