Indus Valley Times

By Payal Banarjee

Rourkela, Jan. 29: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Odisha Rural Development & Marketing Society (ORMAS), Sundargarh, for the establishment of a Mahua Processing Plant under the initiative “Liquor to Lifestyle” for the tribals, aimed at value chain development and rural enterprise promotion.

The MoA was formally signed by Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director, NIT Rourkela, and Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate, Sundargarh. The signing ceremony held today at NIT Rourkela was also attended by Ms. Fabi Rasheed, IAS, Mr. Animesh Pradhan, IAS, and Mr. Suranjan Sahoo, Chief Development Officer, Sundargarh. Senior institutional presence at the event included Prof. Swadesh K. Pratihar, Dean (SRICCE), and Prof. Rohan Dhiman, Registrar, NIT Rourkela. The technical implementation will be led by the Department of Food Process Engineering, NIT Rourkela. The project implementation team includes Prof. Sabyasachi Mishra, Head of the Food Process Engineering Department, Prof. Rama Chandra Pradhan, and Prof. Madhuresh Dwivedi, who will provide continuous technical guidance and support.

Under the agreement, NIT Rourkela will provide comprehensive technical support for the implementation, installation, and commissioning of machinery and equipment required for Mahua-based non-liquor products. The initiative seeks to enhance processing efficiency, product diversification, and market preparedness of Mahua, a forest-based produce with strong livelihood potential in tribal and rural areas of Sundargarh district.

ORMAS will function as the nodal agency for project coordination, including fund release, stakeholder engagement, training programmes, and monitoring. NIT Rourkela will undertake process and plant design, development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), quality control guidance, food safety compliance, and technology upgradation suitable for community-based production units with support from the District Administration. The plant will be set up in Kuarmunda.

The project also focuses on capacity building through demonstrations and hands-on training for producer groups and companies to enable large-scale adoption of improved technologies for value addition of Mahua for non-liquor products. Support will be provided for branding, packaging, and market readiness of Mahua-based products.

This collaboration supports NIT Rourkela’s vision in applying scientific and technological expertise for sustainable rural enterprise development and value addition of indigenous resources through structured institutional partnerships. It would be a commitment for the social upliftment of tribals in the district.

Flowers of the Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia), which is native to central and eastern India, including Odisha, particularly in tribal-dominated districts, contribute significantly to household incomes, seasonal employment, and local trade. The collection, processing, and sale of Mahua flowers and seeds support a large number of self-help groups, primary producers, and small enterprises across the state. Beyond its traditional use, Mahua offers strong potential for value-added products in food, beverages, cosmetics, and wellness segments, creating opportunities for organised markets and entrepreneurship. Strengthening processing infrastructure and technology-led value addition can enhance income realisation, reduce post-harvest losses, and integrate rural producers into formal value chains, thereby contributing to inclusive economic growth and sustainable livelihood generation in Odisha.