Kumaresh Mahato
In Moula Village of Bankura District, West Bengal the Sabar Community has taken a strong step toward protecting their farming traditions and securing their future. At the centre of these efforts are the women of the village, who have turned their everyday practice of saving seeds into a collective seed bank.
After each cultivation season, Sabar women carefully select seeds from the crops they have grown in their own fields. They choose seeds from healthy plants that have survived local weather conditions and pests. These seeds of Paddy, Millets, 2-type of Luffa (Jhinga), Borbati (Cowpea), Chili, Green Amaranth (Punka Sag), Malabar spinach, Okra (Vendi), and Seasonal vegetables are cleaned, sun-dried and stored using traditional methods passed down through generations.
Recognizing the value of working together, the women decided to keep these seeds in a common place within the village. Thus, the Sabar Community Seed Bank was formed with help of Community Resource Person (CRP) Kalyani Sabar. Any family in need of seeds at the time of sowing can take them from the seed bank and return the same amount after harvest. This has reduced dependence on outside markets and helped preserve local seed varieties suited to their land and climate.
The seed bank has also become a space for sharing knowledge. Our fellow Kalyani Sabar and elder women Gulapi Sabar and Nilima Sabar from Moula village guide the younger generation on seed selection, storage, and the importance of Biodiversity. Through this initiative, the women have strengthened community unity and built confidence in their own resources.
Gulapi Sabar expressed the feeling of the community by saying “These seeds come from our own soil and our own hands. When we save them together, we are saving our children’s future.”
The Sabar Community Seed Bank of Moula village stands as a Living example of women’s leadership, traditional wisdom and community strength. It shows how collective action can protect culture, ensure food security and create a path toward self-reliance for indigenous communities.
