In a surprising twist at the recent G20 Summit, held on September 9, 2023, Raimati Ghiuria, known as the “Queen of Millets,” was a special guest among delegates from countries like Australia, China, Italy, and the European Union. Hailing from the simple village of Koraput in Odisha, Bharat, Raimati’s presence highlighted the importance of reviving interest in native millets.
Over the years, the shift from millets to more commonly consumed rice and wheat has raised concerns. Tribal farmers, including Raimati, are taking a stand to commemorate the International Year of Millets, aiming to reintroduce these nutritious yet often overlooked grains.
During the summit, Raimati had the honor of meeting President Draupadi Murmu, showcasing her dedication to preserving 72 traditional paddy varieties and 30 varieties of millets. One of her millet varieties is set to be officially released by the Odisha government, marking a significant achievement for the “Queen of Millets.”
Despite her modest educational background—Raimati studied until class 7—she attributes her knowledge to practical experience gained in the field. Inspired by Kamala Pujari, a Padma Shri awardee for conserving paddy seed varieties, Raimati never lost interest in farming, even after marrying at the age of 16.
With four acres of land, Raimati employs modern technology and scientific methods, significantly improving the yield and quality of her millet farming. Collaborating with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) based in Chennai, she has adopted scientific conservation methods and organic farming practices.
Raimati’s efforts extend beyond her own farm as she takes the initiative to train 2,500 farmers in her community in millet farming techniques. She emphasizes the significance of millets in daily meals, highlighting their role as a vital energy source.
During the G20 Summit, Raimati shared insights into the culinary delights crafted from millets. She leads a self-help group of women farmers and farmer-producer companies, processing millets into value-added products like pakoras and laddus, which are sold locally. Raimati’s contributions include establishing a farm school in her village since 2012, actively training individuals in the scientific practice of millet farming.
In recognition of her outstanding work, Raimati has been honored with the title ‘Millet Queen’ at the state level. Awards such as the Best Farmer Award from ICAR – IISWC in 2016 and the Best Farmer Award at the Traditional Food Festival by TATA Steel in 2018 have brought not only respect from her in-laws but also acknowledgment from global leaders. Raimati expresses that such recognition motivates her to conserve more millet varieties and continue making her state proud.
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