CM says campaign will be extended to tehsil, block and village levels to give recognition to the state's traditional cuisines and culinary arts
CM Yogi attends 'One District-One Cuisine' program organized by Dainik Jagran at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan
CM says no compromise on quality and purity; the world will come seeking UP's cuisines
Through 'One District-One Product', state is exporting products worth Rs. 2 lakh crore; now preparations underway to give its cuisines global recognition as well
Artisans, sweet makers and women to receive interest-free and collateral-free loans ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh under CM Yuva Udyami Yojana
Lucknow, November 2026 : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the 'One District-One Cuisine' (ODOC) campaign would now be extended to the tehsil, block, and village levels to give global recognition to Uttar Pradesh's traditional cuisines and culinary diversity. Beyond the cuisines identified at the district level so far, the state has many traditional dishes that need recognition and access to markets.
"Government endeavors to provide a platform to the special cuisines of every region, connect them with technology and better packaging and take them to global markets," he said. CM Yogi made these remarks on Thursday at 'One District-One Cuisine' program organized by Dainik Jagran at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.
CM stated, "Every district of the state has its own distinct culinary tradition and special flavors. We need to recognize and promote them. Ballia's Baati-Chokha, Jaunpur's Imarti and traditional dishes from different districts have immense potential to secure a place in global markets. If attention is paid to the quality, purity and packaging of these dishes, they can become major brands." Thanking the Dainik Jagran family for organizing the event, CM said it provided a major platform for the state's sweet makers, artisans and families to showcase their culinary skills.
CM Yogi stated, "Dainik Jagran was established in Jhansi in 1942. At that time, country was fighting for freedom from British rule through the Quit India Movement. Dainik Jagran's journey, which began in Jhansi, has established it as a leading Hindi daily in North India. Only institutions and systems that understand the pulse of people and respect their sentiments grow. ODOC is also part of this very vision. Its objective is to honor the labor and skills of artisans, sweet makers and mothers and sisters who prepare dishes at home. This is an important initiative towards the Swadeshi model and Local to Global. We must be vocal for our local products.
"In Indian tradition, food has always been accorded respect. In our scriptures, food is considered a manifestation of Brahma and is described as 'Annam Brahma'. The food we consume shapes our mind and health. Preparing food in different forms and adding value to it has been a part of our ancient tradition. In Mathura-Vrindavan, 56 varieties of food offerings are presented to Lord Shri Krishna. This is an example of our rich culinary art. It is also essential to have a pure mind and conscience to prepare delicious food."
CM Yogi also shared the thought process behind launching the 'One District-One Product' (ODOP) scheme. He explained, "Before the 2017 Assembly elections, BJP's Public Welfare Resolution Document was being prepared. During this period, PM Narendra Modi Ji had spoken about taking forward traditional agriculture and traditional enterprises of UP together as the state's strengths. At that time, Amit Shah, then BJP's National President, highlighted the strength of traditional enterprises by citing examples of Moradabad's brass industry, Aligarh's lock industry, and Varanasi's sarees.
"After the government was formed in 2017, I got an opportunity to halt in Thailand during a visit to Myanmar. During discussions with officials there about strengthening the economy, they too described linking manufacturing with traditional agriculture as the foundation of economic development. Subsequently, I constituted a committee of officials and asked it to identify the traditional products of all 75 districts of the state. The survey identified distinctive products in 58 districts, following which preparations were made to identify products for the remaining districts as well. Thereafter, one distinctive product was selected for each of the 75 districts. ODOP scheme was launched in 2018. Under this scheme, products were connected with technology, markets and branding."
CM Yogi stated, "Today, UP is exporting products worth around Rs. 2 lakh crore through ODOP. Around 80 products in the state have received GI tags. GI tags enhance the distinctive identity of products and their credibility in global markets. Inspired by this success, work on the possibilities of ODOC had been underway for the past three to four years. Whenever I visited a district, I would notice the distinctiveness of its local cuisine. Subsequently, a team was assigned to identify traditional cuisines in different districts without any publicity. The survey brought to light several dishes that have not yet received widespread recognition. Last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched ODOC. Now, it needs to be expanded further.
"To illustrate the market potential of food products, Nestlé, one of the world's leading food companies, has a business turnover of around Rs. 9 lakh crore, which is equivalent to the annual budget of UP government. If a company can generate such a huge business through food products, why can't Ballia's Baati-Chokha and Jaunpur's Imarti also become major brands?"
CM also cited the example of a young girl at the event who presented him with a packet of savory moong dal snacks her mother prepared. The girl informed him that her mother prepares these snacks at home and also sells them. CM stated, "If such homemade products are connected with good packaging and branding, they can take the form of major businesses." He appealed to the department and Dainik Jagran family to extend their cooperation in this direction.
CM Yogi cited Japan as an example and stated, "In 1980, a governor there introduced the concept of 'One Village-One Product'. Under this initiative, 300 villages were encouraged to prepare their distinctive products and these products were also given GI tags. This benefited the artisans and producers of these villages by more than Rs. 2 lakh crore. Given UP's population and the diversity of its cuisine, the state has even greater potential in this sector.
"In every family of the state, different kinds of dishes are prepared according to various occasions and times. Culinary diversity is evident from breakfast to lunch and dinner. Families also have traditions of eating dishes such as samosas, jalebis, and rabri at different times. During festivals and celebrations, households prepare numerous varieties of delicacies. Organized just before Diwali, this event is a good opportunity to showcase this traditional culinary art and connect it with the market. Families have passed this skill down through generations. Women learn to prepare dishes from their mothers, grandmothers and aunts, and then carry this tradition forward.
"Attention is paid to quality of dishes prepared at home. The same purity must also be maintained at the commercial level. Food is a necessity for every individual. No one can live without food. Therefore, quality and purity are the most important aspects of the food business. There should be no adulteration of any kind or any practice that adversely affects people's health. Those who resort to shortcuts to earn higher profits must avoid doing so. When product quality is good, the world itself will come seeking it.
"In Kashi, there are several traditional sweet makers and shops that remain open for only one or two hours a day and their sales during this period are so substantial that they do not need to operate their shops throughout the day. This reflects the popularity of traditional cuisines and their market potential."
CM stated, "ODOC campaign will be extended to the village level. This will help identify cuisines and local products that have so far remained unrecognized. The endeavor will ensure that eligible products receive GI tags and gain access to markets, along with the support needed to grow further. This campaign will also generate employment for sweet makers, artisans and families that currently do not have any permanent source of income. Families can also earn additional income by forming women's groups. This will create new opportunities for local employment and self-employment.
"Government has implemented the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana to provide financial assistance to traditional artisans, sweet makers and families engaged in preparing food products at the household level. Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to Rs. 5 lakh. They also receive the prescribed subsidy. Arrangements are being made to increase this assistance amount further to Rs. 7.5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh. Efforts are also underway to assist up to Rs. 20 lakh under the scheme for those interested in starting larger businesses.
"There is immense potential for employment generation and preparation of quality products in this sector. UP itself is a very large market. Food items and cuisines suited to every weather condition and season are available here. The only requirement is to encourage them and maintain their quality."
Citing the example of a woman entrepreneur from Bulandshahr, CM stated, "She was honored with 'UP Gaurav Samman' on Uttar Pradesh Diwas. When she had no work, she borrowed Rs. 500 and started making pickles in Delhi. Today, she is popularly known as 'Achar Wali Didi' and is employing around 500 women in Bulandshahr. Willpower and hard work are essential to move forward. If a person has the determination to work, platforms and opportunities can be made available. ODOC will provide such people with an opportunity to progress."
At the end, CM congratulated Dainik Jagran family for this innovative initiative and successful event. He extended his greetings to the state's sweet makers, artisans, and family members who have carried forward traditional culinary art for generations and attended the event. He expressed confidence that the UP government and Dainik Jagran would take the ODOC campaign to new heights together.
