Queen of Millet | 23 Dec 2023

Raimati Ghiuria, a tribal farmer from Odisha’s Koraput district, has preserved 30 varieties of millets and trained hundreds of women in cultivating rare millets.

• She was invited to the G20 Summit held to commemorate the ‘International Year of Millets’.
  • She has preserved 72 traditional paddy varieties and at least 30 varieties of millets including Kundra bati mandia, jasra, juana, and jamkoli.
• At the G20 Summit she was called the ‘Queen of Millet’. She has been recognized as a pioneer in native seed conservation.
• Millets are drought-resistant, require less water and can grow in poor soil conditions.
  • Millets are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Millets are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.