Eminent agriculturist Padma Shri Kamala Pujari passed away at Cuttack in Odisha this morning following a heart attack. She was 74 and was admitted in SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, following complaints of different old-age ailments.

Born in Patraput village in Koraput district of Odisha, Kamala Pujari received the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Union Government in 2019 for her significant contributions to the field of agriculture.

She was acclaimed worldwide for her contribution to organic farming and preserving indigenous paddy varieties. Apart from preserving more than 100 varieties of paddy, she also preserved many types of turmeric and cumin. She used to travel to many villages barefoot and taught farmers, women in particular, about organic farming and use of organic fertilizers.