Kamala Pujari saved over one hundred indigenous paddy varieties through localized preservation efforts in the Patraput village region of Odisha. Operating from the Koraput district, she transformed traditional agricultural knowledge into a regional movement that advocated for the total abandonment of chemical fertilizers in favor of sustainable, organic farming practices among tribal communities.
Agricultural Advocacy
Pujari maintained a commitment to seed conservation by gathering rare and endangered plant types. Her collection included varieties of turmeric, tili, black cumin, mahakanta, phula, and ghantia. To expand the adoption of these methods, she traveled between villages to organize gatherings and persuade local cultivators to replace synthetic chemical inputs with organic techniques. She gained technical insights through her work with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Jeypore.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →State Policy and Recognition
In March 2018, the government appointed Pujari to the Odisha State Planning Board. As part of a five-member team, she contributed to drafting five-year plans and establishing long-term policy guidelines for the state. This role marked the first time a tribal woman served on the board. Her contributions to agriculture were formally recognized by the state and national authorities, including the 2004 designation as best woman farmer by the Odisha government and receipt of the Krusi Bisarada Samman in New Delhi.
Global Impact and Legacy
The international community recognized her conservation efforts in 2002 with the Equator Initiative Award, presented in Johannesburg. Domestically, the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar honored her by naming a women's hostel after her in 2017. In 2019, the government of India conferred the Padma Shri upon her for her work in other fields. She died in a Cuttack hospital on 20 July 2024 following a cardiac arrest.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, Koraput district, India
- Died: 20 July 2024, Cuttack, India
- Primary Occupation: Farmer
- Award: Padma Shri (2019)
- Award: Equator Initiative Award (2002)
- Planning Role: Odisha State Planning Board member (2018)
- Education: Basic traditional techniques
Questions readers ask
What specific crops did Kamala Pujari preserve?
She collected and preserved over 100 types of paddy as well as rare seeds including turmeric, tili, black cumin, mahakanta, phula, and ghantia.
What was her role in the Odisha State Planning Board?
She was a member of a five-person team responsible for creating five-year state plans and developing agricultural policy guidelines.
