Argus News - NIT Rourkela, ORMAS Sign MoA for Mahua Processing Plant in Sundargarh

Rourkela, Jan 29: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Odisha Rural Development & Marketing Society (ORMAS), Sundargarh, to establish a Mahua Processing Plant in Kuarmunda under the initiative “Liquor to Lifestyle”, officials said on Thursday.

The project aims to promote value chain development, rural enterprise, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal communities.

The MoA was signed by NIT Rourkela Director K. Umamaheshwar Rao and Sundargarh Collector and District Magistrate Subhankar Mohapatra. The ceremony was attended by senior district officials including Fabi Rasheed, Animesh Pradhan, and Suranjan Sahoo, along with NIT Rourkela representatives Swadesh K. Pratihar, Dean (SRICCE), and Registrar Rohan Dhiman.

The Department of Food Process Engineering at NIT Rourkela will lead the technical implementation. Faculty members Sabyasachi Mishra, Rama Chandra Pradhan, and Madhuresh Dwivedi will provide continuous guidance on process design, machinery installation, quality control, and food safety compliance.

Under the agreement, NIT Rourkela will support the development of Mahua-based non-liquor products, focusing on efficiency, diversification, and market readiness. ORMAS will act as the nodal agency, coordinating fund release, stakeholder engagement, training programmes, and monitoring.

The initiative also emphasizes capacity building through demonstrations and hands-on training for producer groups and self-help collectives. Support will be extended for branding, packaging, and marketing to ensure Mahua products reach wider consumer bases.

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Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), native to central and eastern India, plays a vital role in tribal economies, contributing to household incomes and seasonal employment. Traditionally used for liquor production, Mahua flowers and seeds hold untapped potential for food, beverages, cosmetics, and wellness products. Strengthening processing infrastructure and introducing technology-led value addition is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance income realization, and integrate rural producers into formal markets.

The collaboration reflects NIT Rourkela’s vision of applying scientific expertise for rural enterprise development and underscores its commitment to the social upliftment of tribal communities in Sundargarh.