Yogi Adityanath launches One District One Cuisine to promote UP's culinary heritage

The Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is set to roll out a pioneering initiative titled One District One Cuisine (ODOC), aimed at showcasing and mainstreaming the state’s rich culinary diversity.

The program is designed to identify the unique traditional dishes of each district and bring them into the formal economy. Drawing inspiration from the success of the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme—which helped put many of the state’s traditional crafts and products on the global map—the ODOC initiative intends to drive a similar wave of transformation in the food and beverage sector.

Well-known regional specialties such as Mathura’s Peda, Varanasi’s sweets, and Agra’s Petha are among the dishes being considered for large-scale branding and commercial promotion.

CM Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to curate an exhaustive list of heritage dishes specific to each district and formulate strategies that would empower small-scale food entrepreneurs to expand their market presence.

“The ODOC initiative aims to preserve local food traditions and provide new employment avenues through commercialisation,” said K Vijayendra Pandian, commissioner and director of industries.

With a strong focus on encouraging entrepreneurship and preserving cultural heritage, the initiative is expected to create numerous job opportunities and elevate Uttar Pradesh’s status in the national food industry. It also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India, leveraging the local-to-global approach in a new sector.