In a move to enhance the quality of offerings, Odisha government proposed a special initiative to incorporate organic rice and vegetables in mahaprasad
OdishaPlus Bureau
Mahaprasad, the offering made to Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple, is set to transition to organic ingredients, pending the finalization of processes and parameters discussed in a consultation meeting held on Wednesday. This meeting, chaired by Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, the Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannatha Temple Authority (SJTA) and Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Govt of Odisha focused on the introduction of organic rice varieties into the Mahaprasad, starting with the Kotha Bhoga.
Kotha Bhoga
Kotha Bhoga consists of an elaborate assortment of 56 different food items, also known as chhapan bhog, which are prepared in the temple kitchen and presented to the deities during lunchtime. There are plans to extend this initiative to the offerings made during the Rath Yatra as well. The initiative, named the ‘Amruta Anna’ scheme, will incorporate organic rice and vegetables into the Mahaprasad. A dedicated counter for the sale of Mahaprasad under this scheme will be established in the Ananda Bazaar, the food court located within the temple grounds.
The decision to incorporate organic rice and vegetables into the Mahaprasad at Srimandir has received positive feedback from the Suar-Mahasuar Niyogs and the temple administration. The organic rice varieties, including Kalajeera, Pimpudibasa, and Jubaraja, which are cultivated within the state, will be featured in the ‘Amruta Anna’ Mahaprasad. Notably, Kalajeera rice has already been awarded the Geographical Index (GI) tag, as stated in a release following the meeting.
Support to FPO
The announcement provided detailed information regarding the current rice productivity in Odisha, which surpasses the national average. “This year, Kalajeera rice has been cultivated across 1,365 acres in Koraput, and for the first time, a Kalajeera rice market has been established in Kotpad. Initiatives such as organic certification and subsidies are proposed to enhance organic farming practices. Additionally, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will be supported in the production of organic rice through a cluster approach, and a steering committee will be established to ensure the smooth implementation of the entire process,” the announcement indicated.
The committee will comprise representatives from the temple administration, Suar-Mahasuar Niyogs, various producer groups, NGOs, and departmental officials. “In the initial phase, the objective is to cultivate organic rice on 100 to 200 acres, which will provide seeds to stimulate further production of organic paddy. These seeds will be utilized in the ‘Amruta Anna’ Mahaprasad,” the announcement further stated.
The meeting included the participation of Prem Chandra Chaudhary, Agriculture Director, Prasannajit Mishra, Dean of OUAT, Siddhartha Shankar Swain, Puri District Collector, Jitendra Kumar Sahu, Administrator Niti SJTA, Debabrata Sahu, Administrator Development SJTA, Sudhakar Patnayak, Commander SJTA as well as Suar and Maha Suar leaders, along with representatives from various organic producer groups, self-help groups, and members of the Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR).
