The aim of this study was to compile an inventory of the weeds in a rice ecosystem as livelihood support to farmers of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India. Information was collected from 165 local inhabitants during 2017-2019, using standard procedures. In the rice fields, altogether 37 plant species belonging to 30 genera and 24 families were recorded. Amaranthaceae was the dominant family. The systematic documentation of the weed flora in the Bhadrak district showed that the area is rich in plants with edible, fodder and ethnomedicinal value and that the inhabitants of the area had significant knowledge about the use of such plants.  Ethnobotanical indices like relative frequencies of citation (RFC) and use value (UV) were calculated for each of the recorded weeds. The commonly used weed/plant species are: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (UV: 0.588) and Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC. (UV: 0.576) as vegetables; Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv. (UV: 0.552) and Echinochloa stagnina (Retz) P. Beauv. (UV: 0.527) as fodder; Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (UV: 0.41) followed by Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn.( UV: 0.37) and Commelina benghalensis L. (UV: 0.364) for medicinal purposes. The leaves of the herbaceous plant/weed species are the most used by farmers. The reported ethnomedical wisdom of farmers could contribute to basic primary health care and balanced diets for the benefit of local farming community posterity.