‘Seeds ensure our survival’: the women of Guinea-Bissau who keep vital plants and culture alive

Pumpkin, maize, onions and rice seeds – some of the ancestral varieties preserved by the Bijagós women that resist pests and the region’s fierce climate. Photograph: Vanessa Rodrigues

Sanhá João Correia is restless, walking around the boat and urging people to sit. He’s worried that a turn in the weather will mean a missed chance to cross the Geba River.

The agricultural engineer from the Guinea-Bissau NGO Tiniguena ensures everyone embarks promptly and the boat leaves Bissau, the country’s capital, loaded with drinking water, fuel and rice.