Question

Answer the following question with the help of given points:

Write the information about Rahibai Pupere's work for preservation of seeds of native variety:

1. Beginning of work
2. Contribution
3. Awards

Answer 1

1. Beginning of work: Rahibai Popere's grandson got ill because of the diet consisting of food made with hybrid varieties of food-grains and vegetables of lesser quality. She thought of native varieties of food-grains to overcome the problem. She decided to grow the foodgrains and vegetables of native variety to meet her family’s needs.
2. Contribution: Rahibai Popere's has worked for preserving seeds of native cultivars for the future generations. She began to do it and store the seeds of those landraces (Deshi Van). Bitter gourd (karle), Spinach (palak), Amaranthus Tricolour (tandulja/lal math), Sweet beans (hyacinth beans/pavata), Bitter beans/twisted beans (kadu wal), Ghevada (kidney beans), Groundnut (bhuimoog), Barnyard millet (varai), varieties of rice - Dhavul Bhat, Kalbhat. Ambemohor, Black Gram (udid), etc. She did not confine her efforts only to her family; but, through micro banking groups (bachat gat) she spread it to the surrounding villages. The movement started by her grew well with the partnership of ‘Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF)’. 
3. Awards: On 8th March 2018, Rahibai Popere was felicitated by the President of India by ‘Nari Shakti Award’. This award was given to her for her work in ‘Kalasubai Parisar Biyanee Samvardhan Samiti’. She is popularly known as ‘Beejmata’ (Seed Mother).