Women in Rural India's Agriculture Sector Band Together to Counteract Threats Posed by Climate Change

In the heart of Bihar, a state in India often affected by extreme weather conditions, a remarkable transformation is taking place. The Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Bisfi, spearheaded by President Sanju Devi, is making a significant impact on the lives of local farmers.

Established by Heifer International, a non-profit organisation, the Bisfi FPO focuses on the production and sale of supplemented goat fodder. This initiative, part of the Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development (BSLD) project, aims to improve the lives of 70,000 families in Bihar by increasing income, nutrition, and resilience by 2025.

The FPO's success is rooted in the power of collective action. By pooling resources together, the FPO members secure better rates from wholesale suppliers for each ingredient needed. This collaborative approach has enabled the organisation to grow, now counting almost 1,000 members.

The climate in Bihar has become increasingly extreme and unpredictable, with tens of millions of people surviving through intensive droughts for nearly nine months of the year. The early onset of summer this year, which started in February, and the subsequent heatwaves have further strained the agricultural sector.

Despite these challenges, the FPO in Bisfi has managed to thrive. Operating out of a large wooden barn equipped with a new seed dispensary and mills, the organisation has generated over 2.4 million rupees (US$27,300) for the fiscal year of 2024-25.

Women like Sanju Devi bear the brunt of agricultural labour, often working alone. A 2023 study found that each 1C-increase in average annual temperature led to a 4.5% increase in intimate partner violence. To address this issue, Heifer International set up over 200 women-only groups in 2020 to discuss daily challenges on the farms and share resources and knowledge.

The success of the Bisfi FPO has inspired the formation of 18 similar organisations in other districts. Hundreds of community groups were started across six focus regions in Bihar, aiming to empower local farmers and improve their livelihoods.

As the climate continues to change, organisations like Heifer International and the FPOs they support are essential in helping farmers adapt and thrive. With over 80% of Bihar's population working in agriculture, the impact of these initiatives cannot be overstated. The resilience shown by the Bisfi FPO under Sanju Devi's leadership serves as a beacon of hope for farmers across the region.