By Raj Kumar Bhagat
Inscriptions fade, buildings fall into disrepair, but taste continues to pass forward through the hands of generations. Uttar Pradesh possesses an immense treasure of heritage filled with flavors. Banaras’ Malaiyo, Lucknow’s chaat, Agra’s petha, Mathura’s peda, Kannauj’s rose water and Hathras’ asafoetida are not merely food items, but living documents of history. Until now, they remained confined to lanes and neighborhoods, fairs and the memories of travelers. For the first time, they have been placed on the global trade table with complete seriousness. With ‘One District-One Cuisine’ (ODOC) at the center of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show, Yogi government has conveyed a clear message: “Heritage is not a burden, but capital and tradition is not a sign of backwardness, but the foundation of self-reliance. This message extends a larger vision that began with One District-One Product (ODOP). Government’s basic argument is straightforward. When a district’s identity receives branding, market access, and policy support, the artisan’s skill becomes an industry and the local product becomes a global commodity. Through this action plan, UP seeks to position itself as a producer and exporting power. But in the global market, one cannot rely solely on excellent taste. There, every product is tested on the parameters of standardization, safety and consistency. With this in mind, the UP government and the MSME Department are preparing a comprehensive support framework based on four pillars. The first pillar concerns packaging and shelf life. The biggest obstacle in the long journey of traditional sweets is their tendency to spoil quickly. With support from the Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI), researchers are developing technologies that allow products to stay fresh for months without harmful preservatives. The second pillar is global standards and certification. To enter international markets, along with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), ISO certification and organic or GI tagging are necessary. The author is the President of the Chamber of Food Processing Industries (CFPIA).
Because a foreign buyer does not do business on trust but on certification, local artisans, halwais, and processing units are receiving financial and technical guidance for this,. Here, the slogan ‘Vocal for Local’ takes the form of a practical action plan for entrepreneurs from all 75 districts. At the trade show, more than 600 buyers from 90 countries witnessed this very strength of Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Vocal for Local’.
However, the real dimension of ODOC lies beyond economic figures. ODOC represents the idea that the development path emerges by remaining connected to one’s roots. Halwais, farmers, dairy producers and women entrepreneurs from self-help groups are all links in this chain. In this chain, culture and economy become companions. Just as ODOP has given traditional identities an organized form and a market, giving new life to crafts such as locks, carpets, chikankari and pottery, ODOC is an effort to apply the same principle to the world of food.
This initiative aims to give the centuries-old culinary traditions of all 75 districts of the state a global identity and shape them into an organized food economy.
