At an agricultural conference in India, as part of the 'Agricultural Heroes' session, Rahibai Soma Popere from Maharashtra shared the story of her work in preserving traditional seeds and protecting traditional farming. She recounted how, relying on the knowledge of her family and ancestors, she began collecting and preserving traditional seeds, which gradually attracted thousands of women to her initiative.
Rahibai, who once stored seeds in clay pots under limited resources, has now become a significant figure in the field of local seed conservation in Maharashtra.
She explained that her family previously practiced agriculture using traditional seeds, but the use of hybrid and chemical seeds available on the market gradually increased. This negatively affected her family's agriculture, leading her to realize the potential of traditional seeds for improving life and farming. Consequently, she started re-collecting and preserving old local seeds.
According to Rahibai, her work began based on life experience and lessons learned within her family. Gradually, other people joined this effort. She is convinced that traditional seeds are not only a heritage of agriculture but also something that must be preserved for future generations.
Rahibai stated that she learned seed preservation techniques from her father, grandfather, and grandmother. In childhood, she observed older family members carefully storing seeds in clay pots along with wood ash. She continued this traditional practice.
According to Rahibai, seeds stored in clay pots with ash can remain viable for about three years, and they can be kept for consumption for approximately ten years. Rahibai believes that preserving seeds traditionally is highly important for both health and agriculture.
She emphasized that she gained most of her knowledge about agriculture and seed preservation from family experience and personal life journey, rather than formal education, but it was family knowledge that guided her in this direction.
Rahibai shared her difficult childhood: she was married at the age of just 12 and spent about 40 years in extremely constrained circumstances. Despite this, she continued her efforts to save traditional seeds. When she started farming with old local seeds on her fields, local residents began asking her about these seeds. People showed interest in where she got them, which prompted her to understand that awareness about the value of traditional seeds could be raised.
Initially, she initiated the creation of a women's organization with minimal investment of 10 rupees. This group gradually grew, and today about 3,500 women from Maharashtra are members of this organization. Rahibai faced numerous difficulties in her work to conserve local seeds; some sellers and companies tried to stop her, but she did not cease her efforts. Her main goal was to ensure the preservation of the traditional seed heritage for coming generations.
Rahibai started her seed conservation work in her small home and hut. In addition to storing seeds in clay pots, she gradually created her own seed bank. Later, when her work became known, she received support in developing this endeavor.
During a meeting with the then Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil, Rahibai presented her problem, stating that she maintained a seed bank in a small hut. When offered more suitable accommodation, Rahibai insisted on establishing a seed bank rather than housing. Following this, infrastructure was organized for her, which helped advance her work.
Today, students from various agricultural colleges in Maharashtra visit her seed bank. There, Rahibai shares with them information about the importance of traditional seeds, their preservation methods, and their usefulness in agriculture.
Rahibai Soma Popere's work has received national recognition: in 2018, she was awarded the Nari Shakti award, and in 2020, the Padma Shri award. Her efforts to promote traditional farming and preserve local seeds earned her the title 'Mother of Seeds.'
