Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: Odisha is taking steps to give wider recognition to some of its traditional food products, with the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) facilitating Geographical Indication (GI) applications for three products closely connected with the state’s regional heritage.
The products are Sambalpur Sarsatia, Dhenkanal Pala Brinjal and Manikapatna curd. OUAT has facilitated the applications, and responses to the initial examination reports from the Geographical Indications Registry have also been submitted.
For the communities associated with these products, the move is about more than obtaining a certification. A GI tag can help establish the product’s regional identity, protect its traditional reputation and create better opportunities for producers to reach wider markets.
Sambalpur Sarsatia represents the food traditions of western Odisha, while Dhenkanal Pala Brinjal is a distinctive agricultural product associated with the Dhenkanal region. Manikapatna curd, meanwhile, has a strong connection with the cultural and historical traditions of the Puri region.
A GI recognition can also help consumers identify authentic products and can strengthen their market value. For farmers and traditional producers, greater recognition could translate into improved visibility, stronger market connections and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.
OUAT is also working on documentation and the GI application process for Keonjhar Pejua biri and Koraput Bati Mandia, indicating a wider effort to document and promote Odisha’s traditional agricultural products.
The initiative comes as GI recognition is increasingly being viewed as a way to connect India’s traditional products with modern markets while protecting the knowledge and identity associated with them. The government has noted that GI recognition can help artisans, farmers and producer groups gain market recognition, access premium markets and preserve traditional knowledge.
For Odisha’s rural communities, the potential benefit is significant: a traditional product that has been part of local life for generations could gain a stronger identity in markets far beyond its place of origin.
If the applications are approved, the recognition would add another chapter to Odisha’s long tradition of distinctive food and agricultural products and could help turn local heritage into new economic opportunities.