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Koraput supplies 1st batch of organic kalajeera rice to Puri temple
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Koraput: In a proud milestone for tribal heartland, Koraput district administration flagged off the inaugural supply of organic kalajeera rice from Shabar Shreekhetra, Koraput to the Jagannath Temple, Puri, on Thursday.
The initiative, launched on the auspicious occasion of Netrotsav, marks the beginning of the Amrut Anna Yojana, which aims to prepare Mahaprasad using organic rice.
"It's a proud moment for tribal farmers of the district. As it has been decided by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, the rice will be used regularly in "Kotha Bhogo" and Mahaprasad during this year's Rath Yatra and beyond. Also, a dedicated Amrut Anna sales counter will be opened at the temple to offer organic Mahaprasad to devotees," said collector (Koraput) Keerthi Vasan V.
The journey from Koraput to Puri also symbolizes the socio-cultural empowerment of tribal communities, promoting organic agriculture, food safety, and natural resource conservation. The initiative is expected to enhance the economic resilience of small holder farmers while placing Koraput firmly on India's GI map, he added.
For the inaugural journey, 32 quintals of organic kalajeera rice, along with one quintal each of 'moong' and 'biri' (black gram), have been dispatched to Puri.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The GI-tagged Koraput kalajeera rice, known for its aroma and fine quality, has been traditionally cultivated by small and marginal tribal farmers. With support from the state govt and Nabard, it received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, opening new markets and boosting demand across India and overseas.
In kharif 2024, over 1,800 farmers across eight blocks of Koraput cultivated kalajeera rice on 1,365 acres. For the first time, 1,900 quintals of paddy were directly procured through independent mandis set up by farmer groups. This year, the cultivation target has been scaled up to 2,000 acres, including indigenous varieties.
