Rahibai Soma Popere
Rahibai Soma Popere | |
---|---|
![]() in 2019 | |
Born | 1964 (age 57–58) |
Nationality | Indian |
Other names | Seed Mother |
Education | None |
Occupation | Farmer, agriculturist, conservationist |
Known for | Conservation of indigenous plant varieties |
Awards |
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Rahibai Soma Popere (pronounced [raːhiːbaːiː somaː popɛrɛ]), born in 1964, is an Indian farmer and conservationist. She helps other farmers return to native varieties of crops, preparing hyacinth beans for self-help groups. She is among three Indians on the BBC list of "100 Women 2018". Scientist Raghunath Mashelkar gave her the epithet "Seed Mother".[1]
Early life[]
Rahibai Soma Popere is from Kombhalne village located in Akole block of Ahmednagar district in the state of Maharashtra.[1] She has no formal education.[2] She has worked on farms all her life and has an extraordinary understanding of crop diversity.[2] she belong to Koli community of Maharashtra.[3]
Career[]
Rahibai Soma Popere farm land, where she grows 17 different crops.[4] She was visited by the BAIF Development Research Foundation in 2017, who found the gardens she supported had enough produce to meet the dietary requirements of a family for a whole year.[4]
She developed a series of hyacinth beans for self-help groups and families in nearby villages.[4] She was described by Raghunath Mashelkar, the erstwhile Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research as 'Seed Mother'. She is an active member of the self-help group Kalsubai Parisar Biyanee Savardhan Samiti[5] (translation: Committee for seed conservation in the Kalsubai region). She has created her own methods to harvest water on farms; turning wasteland into space she can use productively. She trains farmers and students on ways to select seeds, keep fertile soils and manage pests.[6] She is skilled in four-step paddy cultivation.[7] She has learned to rear poultry in her yard with the support of the (MITTRA).[8]
Awards[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Ram_Nath_Kovind_presenting_the_Nari_Shakti_Puruskar_for_the_year_2018_to_Ms._Rahibai_Soma_Popere_H2019030865839.jpg/220px-Ram_Nath_Kovind_presenting_the_Nari_Shakti_Puruskar_for_the_year_2018_to_Ms._Rahibai_Soma_Popere_H2019030865839.jpg)
- BBC 100 Women 2018[9]
- The Best Seed Saver award[2]
- BAIF Development Research Foundation Best Farmer Award[2]
- Nari Shakti Puraskar, 2018, instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.[10]
- Padma Shri, 2020[11]
Ram Nath Kovind presenting Padma Shri to Additionally, in January 2015, she received appreciation from Prem Mathur, Honorary Research Fellow at Bioversity International and from R. R. Hanchinal, Chairperson of a government body for the protection of plant varieties and farmers' rights in India.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b Deo, Ashlesha (8 September 2017). "Maharashtra seed mother pioneers conservation of native varieties". Village Square. Akole, Maharashtra. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Srimati Rahibai Soma Popere". Pune International Centre. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "From UP's Sharif Chacha To Karnataka Orange Vendor, Meet The 'Extraordinary' Padma Recipients". IndiaTimes. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Maharashtra's tribal farmers revive traditional crops". Village Square. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "Maharashtra Gene Bank Programme for Conservation" (PDF). BAIF Maharashtra Gene Bank Newsletter. July 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ ScoopWhoop (20 November 2018). "Meet The 3 Indian Women Who've Made It To BBC's List of Most Influential & Inspiring Women of 2018". ScoopWhoop. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "'Seed Mother' Rahibai's Story: How She Saved Over 80 Varieties of Native Seeds!". The Better India. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ Sharma, Khushboo (21 November 2018). "Rahibai Makes It To BBC's 100 Women 2018 List By Becoming The 'Seed Mother' Of India". Indian Women Blog – Stories of Indian Women. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2018: Who is on the list?". BBC News. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "President confers Nari Shakti awards on 44 women". The Tribune. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Full list of 2020 Padma awardees". The Hindu. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- Koli people
- Indian farmers
- 1964 births
- BBC 100 Women
- Living people
- Indian women farmers
- People from Ahmednagar district
- Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018 winners
- Farmers' rights activists
- Recipients of the Padma Shri in other fields