7 hyper local foods that PM Modi made popular via speeches, social media and Mann ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for his 'Vocal for Local' initiative. When it comes to the world of food, this mission has helped many regions and their local produce find a global market and presence, which has ultimately helped the people associated with it in many ways. From the rare Sea Buckthorn of Ladakh to Makhana of Bihar, he has been promoting all things Indian through his speeches, Mann Ki Baat, and even his social media posts. During the pandemic, he talked about his love for Moringa Paratha and it became a global hit. This piece of information magnifies somes of the hyper-local foods that PM Modi made popular via speeches, social media and Mann Ki Baat.

Makhana, or fox nuts, is native to Bihar’s Mithila region and was praised in Mann Ki Baat for its nutritional value and the livelihoods it supports. In September 2025, he also inaugurated the National Makhana Board in Purnea with the motive to modernise the makhana industry across India.

PM Modi has repeatedly promoted millets and has been calling them “Shree Anna”—during speeches. While advocating for the International Year of Millets 2023 he even mentioned its connection with Ayurveda and how shifting to millets is the need of the hour. This helped bring traditional grains like ragi, bajra, and jowar back into mainstream diets and has been promoted and celebrated even at state banquets hosted by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This is one of the rarest turmeric varieties from Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills and is known for its exceptionally high curcumin content. The Prime Minister highlighted this variety in Mann Ki Baat, bringing attention to the farmers cultivating it. It was the global attention following his speeches that this turmeric was awarded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag in late 2023, which has helped local farmers get better pricing both domestically and internationally.

Black rice, particularly Chak Hao from Manipur, has been praised by the PM for its nutritional benefits and cultural significance. He even categorised it as a superfood and in 2020, it received the GI tag. Also, for the uninitiated, black rice is packed with anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in blueberries. These compounds help fight free radicals, reduce inflammation, and protect the body from chronic diseases. Also, the antioxidants and fiber in black rice help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and improve heart health by supporting healthy blood circulation.

Sea Buckthorn is a bright orange coloured berry that grows as a thorny shrub in cold and high-altitude regions such as the Himalayas, Ladakh, parts of Europe and Central Asia. It is often counted as a superfruit, rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids (3, 6, 7, and 9). During a convocation ceremony Prime Minister Narendra Modi also talked about the benefits of these rare berries. In his speech, he mentioned that this rare plant, found in the Ladakh and Himalayan regions, can survive extreme weather conditions ranging from -40 to +40 degrees. He even mentioned that the medicinal properties of this plant have been mentioned in 8th-century Tibetan literature. As per his speech, many international medicinal research institutes have claimed that the parts of this plant can help reduce blood pressure, fever, tumors, and stones and can even treat seasonal coughs and colds. "As per a study, this plant has sufficient vitamin C content that can fulfill the requirement of all of mankind," he mentioned in the speech. It is now being used in herbal teas, jams, protective oils, creams, and health drinks.

PM Modi has often mentioned jackfruit as a nutritious and sustainable ingredient used in curries and even as a fruit. Today it is increasingly recognized as a plant-based meat alternative in modern cuisine. In 2021, PM Modi highlighted that jackfruit from Agartala was transported by rail to Guwahati and then exported to London. He has even mentioned that jackfruit-based health products including flour are good for managing diabetes and one should always look for such alternatives.

In November 2025, PM Modi emphasized the transformative journey of India’s honey industry over the past decade. In one of his episodes of Mann ki Baat, he noted a remarkable 60 per cent increase in honey production in the country. He also spoke about World Bee Day and the Honey Mission, citing the example of Korea district in Chhattisgarh as a success story in beekeeping. The Prime Minister noted that over the past 11 years, India has witnessed a sweet revolution in the field of beekeeping, significantly boosting honey production and rural livelihoods.

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