Koraput, Jan 31: A proud moment for the Baipariguda area of Koraput district. Harshita Priyadarshini Mohanty, a young girl from Baipariguda, has been featured in the American international magazine “Innovation Insider—2025.”
The magazine, which highlights 20 young innovators under the age of 20 at the global level, has included Harshita’s name, bringing great pride to the people of the region.
She has received this recognition for her continuous work in preserving indigenous seeds, protecting biodiversity, conserving traditional food crops such as millets and little millet (suān), and promoting food security. Harshita is already known nationally and internationally as the “Seed Girl of India” and was earlier honored with the International Young Environmentalist—2025 award.
Currently, Harshita has established a new food bank where she has preserved more than 230 varieties of indigenous paddy, over 80 varieties of millets, 6 varieties of little millet, along with pulses, oilseeds, and other traditional food seeds.
Over the past three years, she has been distributing indigenous seeds free of cost to more than 300 women and girls across three blocks of Koraput district, while also creating awareness about traditional farming methods. Through her efforts, many farmers are once again being encouraged to cultivate traditional and nutritious crops.
Having previously been featured in various national and international publications and bringing pride to Baipariguda, her recent achievement has created a wave of happiness among local residents. Local organizations, intellectuals, and members of the public have extended their heartfelt congratulations to Harshita.