Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) won the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) Global Excellence Award 2026 on Saturday for its leadership in rural enterprise development, market access, and contributions to the global rice industry.
Congratulating the ORMAS team, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said the award recognised the team’s commitment and hard work. He said the state would continue to expand market opportunities for rural producers, take their products to national and international markets, and strengthen rural enterprises.
ORMAS, functioning under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, works to connect farmers and rural producer groups with wider markets. Its initiatives focus on improving product presentation, branding, and value addition to help rural producers reach more consumers.
At the BIRC 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, ORMAS is showcasing 15 traditional rice varieties and products from eight districts of Odisha.
The initiative brings together 85 Community-Based Organisations, representing 3,695 members, to promote Odisha’s indigenous rice varieties and create new market opportunities for rural producers.
ORMAS CEO Dr Monica Priyadarshini received the award. The recognition marks a significant milestone for Odisha’s agricultural heritage, rural producers and the ORMAS team.
