One District One Product Scheme is an initiative that is seen as a transformational step forward towards realizing the true potential of a district, fuel economic growth, and generate employment and rural entrepreneurship, taking us to the goal of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
- This scheme is basically a Japanese business development concept that gained prominence in 1979.
- It is aimed at promoting a competitive and staple product from a specific area to push sales and improve the standard of living of the local population.
- Over time, it has been replicated in other Asian countries as well.
- In India, Uttar Pradesh government was the first state of India to launch the concept of One District One Product in 2018.
Components of the Scheme
- Identify one product per district based on the potential and strength of a district and national priorities
- Develop a cluster for that product in the district that is capable of producing a world-class product with quality, scalability, and a brand
- Provide market linkages
- Address bottlenecks for exporting these products
- Support local exporters/manufacturers to scale up manufacturing
- Find potential buyers outside India with the aim of promoting exports
- Promoting the manufacturing & services industry in the District
- Generate employment in the District
GIS One District One Product (ODOP) Digital Map of India
- By The Ministry of Food Processing
- The digital ODOP map provides detailed information about ODOP products to all states and facilitates the stakeholders.
- The digital map also has indicators for tribal, SC, ST, and aspirational districts.
- It will enable stakeholders to make concerted efforts for its value chain development.
A Few Products Identified Include
Uttar Pradesh
- The ancient and nutritious ‘Kala Namak’ rice of Siddharthanagar
- The rare technique of wheat-stalk craft, handicraft in Bahraich
- The famous chikankari and zari-zardozi work garments
- Banana fiber of Kushinagar,
- Banana of Kaushambi,
- Jaggery of Ayodhya,
- Aamla of Pratapgarh,
- Pulses of Balrampur and Gonda,
- Desi ghee of Auraiya,
- Wooden toys of Chitrakoot
- Wooden artifacts of Saharanpur, Basti, Bijnor, Rae Bareli
- The horn and bone work uses the remains of dead animals rather than living ones, making it a nature-friendly replacement for ivory.
- Sunahri Kand: To support the production of horticultural items under the “One District One Product (ODOP)” scheme and provide better nutrition to school children
Rajasthan
- Blue Pottery (Jaipur)
- Markhana Marbels (Nagaur)
Maharashtra
- Wine from the Nashik Valley
Karnataka
- The hilly district in Malnad region of Karnataka is known for its coffee production and accounts for 30-40% of the total coffee production in India. It is also nicknamed the ‘coffee cup’ of India.
- In Chikkamagaluru, spices were earmarked, while pineapples were chosen in the Shivamogga district.
- Other products included are Kalaburagi (red gram), Mandya (jaggery), Vijayapura (lemon), Haveri (mango), Gadag (Byadagi chillies), Bidar (ginger), Ballari (fig), Mysuru (bananas), and Koppal (guava).
ODOP for the Food Processing Sector
- The States would identify the food product for a district, keeping in perspective the focus of the scheme on perishables.
- A baseline study would be carried out by the State Government. 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, petha, papad, pickle, millet-based products, fisheries, poultry, meat as well as animal feed among others.
- Besides, certain other traditional and innovative products, including waste-to-wealth products, could be supported under the Scheme.
- For example, honey, minor forest products in tribal areas, traditional Indian herbal edible items like turmeric, amla, Haldi, etc.
The Department of Commerce is focusing on agriculture crops on a cluster approach for support for exports under the Agriculture Export Policy, and the Ministry of Agriculture is also focusing on a cluster approach for the development of specific agriproducts in districts having a comparative advantage.
The ODOP approach of the scheme would lead to easing in providing common facilities and other support services.
Advantages of the One District One Product (ODOP) Initiative
- Numerous micro-enterprises will benefit through access to information, better exposure to the market, and formalization.
- It will enable them to formalize, grow, and become competitive in national and global space.
- The project is likely to generate valuable skilled and semi-skilled jobs.
- The scheme envisages increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs in the Aspirational Districts.
- There will be better integration with organized markets, boosting the artisans and local vendors.
- Increased access to common services like sorting, grading, processing, packaging, storage, etc., will be an added advantage.