Amina Rao

Indian botanist who developed drought-resistant crops in the 1960s, saving millions from famine in the Indian subcontinent.

Botanical Breakthroughs

Amina Rao (1925-2001) was the first woman to graduate from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in 1948. Working in the harsh conditions of Rajasthan, she spent 15 years developing Desi Dhan - a hybrid millet variety that could thrive with only 200mm annual rainfall. This was a critical breakthrough in a region where average rainfall had dropped below 300mm by the 1960s. Explore her research.

Impact on Food Security

Rao's crops were distributed through the Rajasthan Agricultural Extension Service, preventing famine during the 1965-66 drought. Her methods were later adapted for use in African Sahel regions. The United Nations estimates her work averted over 2 million deaths in India alone.

Legacy

Despite her contributions, Rao remained unknown outside agricultural circles. Her research papers like Hybrid Millets for Arid Zones (1968) form the basis of modern drought-resistant crop research. The Amina Rao Institute in Jaipur continues her work today.