Assam Government ready to implement one-district one-product approach

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government is ready to implement the ODOP (One District One Product) approach to reap the benefits of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing of common services and marketing of products.

Ministers and top-level bureaucrats had a brainstorming session (chintan baithak) at the KNP (Kaziranga National Park) in September-end this year on the roadmap of the departments for the next five years to develop the state by 2026. Among other issues, the session had a detailed discussion on ODOP, including its implementation.

The ODOP product could be a perishable agri produce, cereal-based product, or a food product widely produced in a district and its allied sectors. An illustrative list of such products includes mango, potato, litchi, tomato, tapioca, kinnu, bhujia, pitha, papad, pickle, millet-based products, fisheries, poultry, meat as well as animal feed, among others. Some traditional and innovative products, including waste-to-wealth products, could get support under the scheme.

The products and districts under ODOP as adopted by the State Government are – honey in Baksa, milk products in Barpeta, potato in Biswanath Chariali, turmeric in Bongaigaon, pine apple in Cachar, rice-based products in Charaideo, lemon in Chirang district, mustard products in Darrang and Dhemaji, chilli in Dhubri, mustard products in Dibrugarh, ginger in Dima Hasao, banana in Goalpara, black rice in Golaghat, areca nut in Hailakandi, sugarcane (jaggery and wine) in Hojai, chilli in Jorhat, banana in Kamrup, fruits and vegetables (pickles) in Kamrup (Metro), ginger in Karbi Anglong, areca nut/betelnut in Karimganj, mushroom in Kokrajhar, piggery (smoked meat) in Lakhimpur, mustard oil (seed) in Majuli, groundnut products in Morigaon, fruits and vegetables (pickle enterprises) in Nagaon, rice (soft and sticky)-based products in Nalbari, red rice-based products in Sivasagar, jackfruits in Sonitpur, cashewnut processing in South Salmara, citrus products in Tinsukia, potato in Udalguri and ginger in West Karbi Anglong.

According to official sources, support for agricultural products will be for processing to reduce wastage, storage and marketing.

The Department of Commerce is focusing on agriculture crops on a cluster approach for exports under the Agriculture Export Policy. The Ministry of Agriculture is also focusing on a cluster approach for specific agri-products in districts with comparative advantage. The ODOP approach of the scheme would lead to easing in providing common facilities and other support services.

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