Women farmers in Bihar are increasingly emerging as leaders in rural value chains, moving beyond income generation to roles in enterprise development, governance, and community institutions, according to findings presented at a state-level consultation held in Patna.
The consultation, titled “Herding Hope”, focused on Bihar’s Agri-Food System Strategy and featured the dissemination of results from the Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development (BSLD) Project’s Outcome Monitoring Survey. Policymakers, development practitioners, researchers, and community leaders participated in the half-day event, which examined pathways for strengthening smallholder livelihoods amid climate vulnerability, fragmented landholdings, and weak market access.
Organised by Passing Gifts, a subsidiary of Heifer International, the consultation stressed the need to shift from production-centric interventions to integrated agri-food systems that link agriculture, livestock, markets, nutrition, and institutional capacity.
Addressing the gathering, Dr N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department, Government of Bihar, highlighted the role of livestock, particularly small ruminants, in enhancing household resilience. She said goats provide smallholders with regular income and financial security and announced that the State Goat Federation of Bihar would soon be registered. She also underlined the contribution of grassroots institutions such as Pashu Sakhis in improving animal health and productivity.
Findings from the BSLD Project’s Outcome Monitoring Survey, conducted in the fifth year of implementation, showed progress in income diversification, agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods, food security, and social outcomes.
Presenting the results, Dr Manabendra Nath Roy, IAS (Retd.), President of SIGMA Foundation, emphasised the importance of outcome monitoring in shaping effective policies and programmes. Knowledge products based on the survey were also released during the event.
Beyond income indicators, the consultation showcased insights from a seven-year Personal Transformation Index (PTI) study tracking over 1,200 rural women in northern Bihar. The study highlights gains in confidence, leadership, agency, and social capital, documenting women’s transition from programme beneficiaries to active contributors in rural value chains and local governance.
Former Bihar Development Commissioner Dr S. Siddharth, IAS (Retd.), cautioned against equating resource delivery with impact, stressing that livelihoods must be profitable, sustainable, and scalable to deliver long-term outcomes.
A panel discussion moderated by Sahana Mishra of PRADAN brought together experts from government, academia, civil society, and development organisations, along with community representatives. The discussion focused on priorities for Bihar’s emerging Agri-Food System Strategy, including livestock-led livelihoods, market access, extension services, nutrition, and climate resilience.
The consultation concluded with recommendations calling for farmer-centric, evidence-based approaches that integrate production, markets, institutions, and social capital to ensure durable rural livelihood outcomes.