Odisha government to launch ‘Kalinga Herbs’ with herbal and medicinal products, promoting farmers, biodiversity, and the state’s wellness market
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government is poised to enter the natural and wellness market with the introduction of its own line of herbal and medicinal plant products under the brand name ‘Kalinga Herbs.’ This initiative will be launched by the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) in collaboration with Chhattisgarh Herbals from the Chhattisgarh government.
Officials from the forest department have indicated that approximately Rs 120 crore will be allocated to the project over a span of five years, with initial funding being provided by the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society (OFSDS). The funding for the first year will be sourced from the OFSDS, after which it will be expanded through collaboration with AYUSH, Panchayati Raj, SC&ST Development, and other relevant departments.
According to officials, the objective is to enhance awareness of the state’s abundant medicinal herb landscape. The scenic Gandhamardan hill range is renowned as the Ayurvedic paradise of Odisha and has been designated as a biodiversity heritage site. Nevertheless, despite its significant potential in this sector, the state has struggled to promote its resources and lacks a dependable commercial brand. ‘Kalinga Herbs has the potential to become a niche brand and contribute to the organization of the sector, benefiting thousands of farmer-producer organizations and clusters,’ stated OFSDS project director K Murugesan.
Officials have announced that products such as harida, bahada, amla, bel, honey, ashwagandha, sarpagandha, tulsi, pippali, and other herbal and medicinal plant products from Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj are set to be promoted in the first year. In the following phases, additional districts including Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Boudh, Bargarh, Nuapada, Khurda, and Sonepur, will be incorporated, thereby expanding the product range. The government aims to involve over 10,000 non-timber forest products (NTPS) collectors and approximately 125 farmers producer organizations in this initiative.
