«NOS SEMENCES NE SONT PAS À VENDRE » - LE CRI FORT DE LA PAYSANNE MARIAMA SONKO

The symbolism of seeds extends far beyond mere sustenance in African traditions and among farmers. Seeds connect two worlds: the visible and the invisible, the world of the dead and the world of the living. Driven by this conviction, many farmers refuse to allow the patenting of their seeds, as Mariama Sonko explains in this interview with Science au Sud TV and AfricaGlobe TV. Fiercely opposed to the privatization of seeds for the benefit of multinational seed companies that seize them for profit, Mariama Sonko believes that the authenticity of seeds must be preserved, as they possess a cultural, religious, and spiritual character. Traditional seeds are part of the identity of the people who use them and, above all, constitute a heritage linking the living to the dead. Clearly, seeds—and even agriculture itself—possess a profoundly spiritual dimension. “For us, a seed is not just food. It is a product that connects us to our traditional values.” We use seeds during cultural and religious events. So, if we lose these seeds today, we will lose all our traditional values. That is why, for us, seeds are not a product that should be privatized. We say no to the patenting of life because it is a community good, not an individual or personal one. If these multinationals have become wealthy thanks to these seeds, it is because of the tireless work of preservation carried out by farmers so that they could exist to this day. There must therefore be recognition and accountability towards those who worked until these companies could benefit from them,” says Mariama Sonko. A leading figure in the peasant movement based in southern Senegal, Mariama Sonko is a determined advocate for peasant seeds and agroecology. As president of the pan-African association "We Are the Solution," which advocates for traditional agriculture, she is today one of the most influential voices in the Senegalese peasant movement. She particularly emphasizes the central role of rural women in preserving and transmitting ancestral knowledge, especially in agriculture. In fact, in Casamance, some traditional practices involve rituals even before seeds are sown. Mariama Sonko encourages younger generations to connect with rural women to learn from this non-bookish knowledge they hold. She also highlighted the invaluable work of preservation and transmission carried out by women in traditional agriculture. She lists the many challenges they face, denounces soil depletion caused by the use of chemicals, and advocates for healthier and more sustainable agriculture. Mariama Sonko was interviewed in Ndiémane during the first edition of the local farmers' seed fair, organized in the Mbour department by the ASPSP (Association for the Promotion of Seeds and Plant Breeds). In her interview, Mariama Sonko described the process of sorting, selecting, and characterizing seeds implemented by women farmers to organize and preserve their varieties. This rigorous approach rivals the scientific methods used in laboratories. According to her, their way of working is deeply methodical and scientific, even if it is based on indigenous knowledge passed down from generation to generation. #MariamaSonko #PeasantSeeds #Agroecology #FoodSovereignty #AfricanAgriculture #TraditionalSeeds #Biodiversity #RuralWomen #OrganicFarming #ASPSP #Ndiemane #SustainableAgriculture #ScienceInTheSouth #AfricaGlobeTV #SeedSovereignty #FoodSovereignty #TraditionalSeeds #OrganicFarming #AfricanAgriculture #Agroecology #Biodiversity #RuralWomen #LivingSeeds #NoPatentOnLife