The Kukudakhandi Corn Cluster, nestled in the heart of Ganjam district, was established in 2020 under the esteemed SFURTI scheme of MoMSME, Government of India. Spearheaded by KIIT-TBI as the technical agency and supported by IEDO as the nodal agency, this visionary initiative aims to craft a diverse range of value-added corn products, including corn flakes, corn chips, corn flour, corn syrup, and extruded snacks. Now entering an advanced phase of its implementation, the cluster is offering a series of soft intervention activities, including a comprehensive four-week training program on the production of corn flakes, corn flour, and cattle feed to expose the beneficiaries into the operational part of the CFC. This will not only motivate the beneficiaries to be active players in the future sustainability of the cluster but will also plaster accountability in their mind. These training sessions are being expertly conducted by the Kalinga Youth Association, Implementing Agency (IA) in association with Amrut Foundation, Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the cluster.
On December 13, 2024, a training session and working committee meeting were held at the cluster premises that witnessed a participation of around 100 beneficiaries from the locality. To formalize the SI program and to discuss various aspects of the cluster, Nodal Agency (IEDO) representative Sh. Gagan Nayak (Officer on Special Duty (OSD) – SFURTI) along with representatives from Technical Agency (KIIT-TBI) namely Dr. Barada Prasanna Sahoo, Manager, Mr. Suramya Mishra, Manager, and Mr. Manoranjan Maharana, Cluster joined the meeting physically.
Opening with the welcome address by Mr. B. Arun Subudhi (Representative of SPV), the working committee was initiated, where way forward on various cluster interventions including soft intervention and hard intervention (machinery and civil) was assessed and necessary actions were laid out clearly for the Implementing Agency (IA) and SPV to follow up. Since the cluster is at its final stage of completion, both Nodal Agency and Technical Agency urged the IA and SPV to complete all the cluster activities before mid February 2025. Furthermore, officials from both NA and TA interacted with the beneficiaries regarding the training program and provided valuable insights and motivation.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Sh. B.K.S Subudhi (Managing Trustee cum chairperson, SPV). Following which, the officials from NA and TA toured the CFC and verified the machinery status and Dr. Barada from TA provided several technical suggestions regarding various machinery and shop floor layout to the SPV. Likewise, Sh. Nayak also instructed the IA to adhere to the safety and hygiene standards of a food production unit.
