The state of Uttar Pradesh is preparing to spotlight its culinary heritage in a big way with a new One District, One Cuisine (ODOC) initiative — an ambitious extension of the highly successful One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. The plan aims to identify, brand and promote each district’s signature dishes, offering the state a stronger presence on national and global food maps.

The success of ODOP makes this new move especially promising. Under ODOP, Uttar Pradesh revitalised traditional crafts and products — from embroidery in Lucknow to brassware, terracotta, and more — boosting exports and livelihoods across the state.

• ODOP has helped set up Common Facility Centres, provided toolkits and skill training to over a lakh artisans, and facilitated financial support and market access for small producers.

• As a result, exports from UP have surged, with ODOP-linked products playing a major role in driving the state’s export growth.

• The scheme also expanded opportunities for thousands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing employment and encouraging entrepreneurship in rural and urban areas alike.

For a city like Lucknow, known globally for its rich Awadhi cuisine — from galouti and tunday kebabs, biryanis, nihari, sheermal to other timeless dishes — the ODOC initiative could be transformational. Under ODOC, Lucknow’s traditional flavours may receive structured branding, better marketing support, and integration into curated culinary circuits and food tourism packages.

This scheme is also likely to benefit the local economy — small hotels, restaurants, food start-ups, home chefs and street-food vendors. As demand grows for authentic, district-specific dishes and ingredients, farmers and rural suppliers will also see increased demand, strengthening the farm-to-table value chain across Uttar Pradesh.

By linking cuisine with tourism, heritage and commerce, One District, One Cuisine builds on OCOP’s legacy. If implemented carefully, it could turn every district — and especially Lucknow — into a compelling food destination, enriching livelihoods while preserving the state’s diverse culinary identity.