The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will collaborate with the Odisha government to expand the cultivation, value addition and commercialisation of indigenous specialty rice varieties, with a special focus on the state’s famous Kalajeera rice.
A high-level meeting was held at the LSB Chamber between Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and a delegation from IRRI, Philippines. Agriculture Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav also attended the meeting.
The IRRI delegation was led by Principal Scientist Dr. Nese Sreenivasul. It included Dr. Mukund, Head of IRRI Odisha; Dr. Hameeda, Scientist and Product Development Specialist; Dr. Priyabrata Roy, Project Coordinator for Rice Value Addition; and Agribusiness Expert Gyandeep Pandia.
Under the proposed collaboration, IRRI will provide technical support to help preserve the unique aroma, genetic purity and quality of Odisha’s indigenous specialty rice varieties. The initiative will also focus on developing health-oriented varieties, including Low-GI (Glycemic Index) rice.
Kalajeera as Key Demonstration Project
The Odisha government plans to promote Kalajeera rice as a primary demonstration project to encourage farmers to expand its cultivation. The initiative is expected to help farmers benefit from better market value and applicable Minimum Support Price (MSP) support.
The programme will also focus on increasing farmers’ income through value addition. Plans are underway to develop food products from broken rice and establish localised raw rice milling units and regional processing infrastructure.
These facilities are expected to create new opportunities for rural farmers and women’s groups to take up rice-based enterprises as micro-entrepreneurs.
Focus on Women Entrepreneurship
The IRRI delegation also extended an official invitation to Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and the Odisha government to participate in the upcoming national-level buyer-seller business meet, “Beyond the Bowl.” The event is aimed at strengthening market linkages and connecting rice producers with buyers and other stakeholders.
The visit also facilitated international knowledge exchange with IRRI scientists from the Philippines under the joint “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship through Rice Value Addition” project.
The collaboration will encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices in post-harvest processing, value addition and sustainable women-led agribusiness.
Through the partnership, Odisha aims to protect its indigenous rice heritage while creating a stronger, market-oriented agricultural ecosystem that can generate better income opportunities for farmers, women’s groups and rural entrepreneurs.