July 21st 2024.
Born into a humble family in the tribal village of Patraput, located in the Baipariguda block of Koraput district, Kamala Pujari was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to preserving traditional paddy seeds. Sadly, at the age of 74, she passed away at SCB Medical College and Hospital due to kidney-related complications. Kamala's passion for preserving indigenous seeds began at a young age and she strived to cultivate them on her own land, with the goal of ensuring their continued growth and survival.
Through her diligent efforts, Kamala was able to successfully preserve hundreds of varieties of traditional paddy seeds, as well as other endangered and rare seeds such as turmeric, tili, black cumin, and mahakanta. Her dedication earned her the title of "preserver of paddy seeds" and her work was recognized on a national level when she was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award by the former President Ram Nath Kovind on March 16, 2019. Prior to this, she had also received numerous awards and recognition for her hard work, including the "Best Women Farmer" award from the state government in 2004.
Kamala's passion for traditional farming techniques stemmed from her time spent at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Jeypore, where she learned the basics of farming. With the help of the foundation, she was able to establish a seed bank in her village, along with a few other women. She then took it upon herself to spread awareness about organic farming to her fellow villagers and farmers in neighboring villages, encouraging them to move away from chemical fertilizers. Her efforts paid off when farmers in Patraput and Nabarangpur district began to adopt organic farming methods.
In 2002, Kamala even traveled all the way to Johannesburg to participate in a workshop on organic farming organized by the MS Swaminathan Foundation. There, her dedication and hard work towards traditional and organic farming were recognized and appreciated by participants from all over the world. Her passion and expertise in the field of organic farming also caught the attention of the state Planning Board, who invited her to join them as a member in 2018.
Kamala's contributions to the field of agriculture were not only recognized through awards and honors, but also through the naming of a hostel at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar after her in 2002. She was also the recipient of the Equator of Initiative Award in the same year. Kamala's legacy will continue to inspire and influence future generations as she will always be remembered as a pioneer in the preservation of traditional paddy seeds and organic farming.
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