Rahibai Popre abandoned hybrid seeds to lead campaign for conservation of indigenous seeds

Rahibai Soma Popre of Maharashtra presented the saga of her struggle to conserve indigenous seeds and save traditional farming during the 'Krishi Veer Session' of the India Agriculture Conference 2026. According to a report by Aaj Tak, Rahibai explained how she began the work of preserving traditional seeds based on the teachings received from her family and ancestors, and gradually involved thousands of women in this campaign. Once preserving seeds in earthen pots amidst limited resources, Rahibai has today become a prominent identity for the conservation of indigenous seeds in Maharashtra.

Sharing her experiences, Rahibai stated that initially, farming in her family was done using only traditional seeds. However, over time, the use of hybrid seeds and seeds associated with chemical farming began to increase in the market. This shift also had an adverse effect on her family's farming. After witnessing this situation, she realised that traditional seeds possess the capacity to make farming and life better. Following this understanding, she began the work of recollecting and conserving old indigenous seeds.

She clarified that she started this entire process based on her life experiences and the teachings from her family. As she advanced this work, other people also began joining the campaign. Rahibai believes that traditional seeds are not just a farming legacy, but it is very necessary to save them for future generations.

Speaking about the special technique of keeping seeds safe, Rahibai mentioned that she learned this art from her father, grandfather, and grandmother. In her childhood, she had seen the family elders preserving seeds in earthen pots with wood ash. She has carried forward this same traditional method. According to Rahibai, seeds kept in earthen pots with ash can be kept safe for about 3 years for farming, while for consumption purposes, these seeds can be preserved for about 10 years. She believes that preserving seeds traditionally is extremely important from both health and farming perspectives.

Rahibai further stated that she learned most of the matters related to farming and seed conservation through her family and life experiences. She received no formal education in this field, but the family's teachings showed her the path to move forward in this direction.

Talking about her struggle, she mentioned that her childhood was spent amidst many difficulties. She was married at the age of only 12 and spent about 40 years living in extremely limited circumstances. Despite such hardships, she continued her efforts to save traditional seeds. When she started farming with old indigenous seeds in her fields, people around her began inquiring about these seeds. People wanted to know where she had brought these seeds from. After this incident, she realised that awareness about the importance of traditional seeds could be created among people.

Rahibai took the initiative to form a women's organisation with just 10 rupees. Gradually, this group grew and today about 3,500 women of Maharashtra are associated with this organisation. She faced numerous difficulties in this work of saving indigenous seeds. Some shopkeepers and companies also tried to stop her, but she did not give up her efforts. Her main objective was to keep the legacy of traditional seeds secure for future generations.

She has started a seed bank in her home, which has now become so famous that students of agriculture colleges also come to visit it. In this way, Rahibai has established a large framework for the revival of traditional farming.