How Liberian Women Are Reclaiming Food Systems and Fighting Climate Change, One Seed at a Time

In the rural heartlands of Bomi County, Liberia, a quiet revolution is taking hold. It doesn’t roar with protests or echo through legislatures, but it grows with every seed planted, every story shared, and every woman who discovers her strength.

Led by the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP), a community seed bank initiative is transforming rural agriculture, food sovereignty, and women’s climate leadership. These seed banks are more than just storage facilities — they are living symbols of resilience, resistance, and renewal.

Restoring What Was Lost

For generations, rural Liberian women have been guardians of seed and soil, passing down knowledge of traditional crops, seasons, and community sharing. However, climate change, land grabs, extractive industries, and the influx of foreign hybrid seeds have disrupted this legacy.

“I watched my harvests shrink. I couldn’t find the seeds my mother used. I started buying seeds from the city, but they were expensive and didn’t grow well here,” recalls a 52-year-old farmer from Sackie Town. “Now, I can save my seeds, share with my sisters, and teach my daughters what I learned from my mother.”

NRWP’s seed bank in Bomi County offers a strong alternative: a community-managed reserve of traditional and climate-resilient seeds such as rice, beans, okra, bitter balls, corn, pepper, and Plato leaf, many of which are disappearing from local markets.

From Local Seeds to Global Significance

NRWP’s seed bank is part of a larger effort for climate justice, food sovereignty, and gender-responsive adaptation in Africa. Supporting indigenous seed systems and women’s leadership helps fight hunger, biodiversity loss, poverty, and the climate crisis.

Key Achievements so far:

• Strengthening collective action for land and environmental rights
• Enhanced food security and decreased dependence on commercial seeds
• Revived indigenous farming practices
• Empowering women through leadership in agriculture

However, challenges still exist. Limited storage facilities, unpredictable climate patterns, and funding constraints threaten long-term sustainability. That is why NRWP is collaborating with partners to expand this model to other counties in Liberia.

Seeds as Tools of Resistance and Renewal

In a world facing climate collapse and increasing inequality, NRWP’s seed banks are more than just projects. They are feminist and ecological initiatives that revive ancestral knowledge, empower women, and demonstrate that the future of agriculture depends on community, care, and collaboration.

“These seeds carry more than just food,” says Hawa. “They carry our history, our future, and our strength.”

NRWP urges allies, donors, and governments to support the growth of community seed banks throughout Liberia and beyond.