Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday conferred an honorary doctorate on Raimati Gheuria, a tribal woman from Odisha’s Koraput district, during the 40th Convocation of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar.
Raimati, known as ‘Mandia Rani’ (Queen of Millets), has played a pivotal role in the conservation of traditional crops, particularly 72 varieties of rice and 30 types of millet. Her efforts have earned her national and international acclaim, including an invitation to the G20 Summit as a special guest to celebrate the International Year of Millets.
Hailing from Nuaguda village in Koraput, Raimati’s journey is a testament to her passion for preserving indigenous farming practices. Despite having no formal education and initially working as a daily laborer to support her family, Raimati’s innate connection with nature led her to safeguard traditional grains that were slowly disappearing due to modern farming methods.
In her address following the award, Raimati shared her inspiring story. “We have been eating millets for generations. Initially, I faced many challenges in preserving and promoting these crops. But with the guidance of MS Swaminathan sir, the eminent agronomist, I learned the importance of millets. Under his mentorship, I’ve worked to promote millets not just within my community, but across the globe,” she said.
Raimati also expressed her happiness at seeing millets now gaining global recognition. “Today, millets are consumed by people from all walks of life. I am extremely happy to see this,” she added.
Her efforts have not only helped preserve essential agricultural biodiversity but have also contributed to the global awareness and consumption of millets, positioning them as a sustainable and nutritious food source.