Women farmers in Bihar are no longer just participants in development programmes but are increasingly shaping and leading rural value chains, a new long-term study has found. The research highlights a shift in women’s roles from beneficiaries of support schemes to co-creators of enterprises, governance systems and local innovations across the state’s agrarian economy.
The seven-year Personal Transformation Index (PTI) study tracked more than 1,200 rural women in northern Bihar and assessed changes that go beyond income growth. Developed jointly by international livestock non-profit Heifer International, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Old Dominion University, the PTI measures dimensions such as confidence, leadership, agency and social capital to understand deeper, long-lasting impacts of livelihood programmes.
The findings show that women involved in these initiatives are increasingly taking on leadership roles within rural value chains, managing enterprises, influencing decision-making and strengthening local institutions. Researchers say this transition is especially significant for Bihar, where agriculture continues to face structural challenges including fragmented landholdings, low productivity, climate-related shocks and limited market access.
The study’s findings were presented on December 19 at a consultation in Patna attended by policymakers, development practitioners, researchers and community leaders. Titled “Herding Hope,” the half-day meeting focused on Bihar’s agri-food system strategy and included the dissemination of results from the Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development Project’s Outcome Monitoring Survey.
The consultation aimed to promote a systems-based approach to strengthening smallholder livelihoods, particularly for women and marginalised farmers. Discussions emphasised the need to integrate agriculture, livestock, markets, nutrition and institutional capacity rather than treating livelihoods as isolated schemes.
In her keynote address, N Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Bihar’s Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department, underscored the importance of livestock in building household resilience. She said small ruminants such as goats often function as a financial safety net for smallholder farmers, providing regular income, security and dignity. She added that integrated farming models and strong community institutions are essential to scaling such livelihood pathways and announced that the State Goat Federation of Bihar would soon be registered.
Lakshmi also acknowledged the contribution of grassroots institutions such as Pashu Sakhis, who play a critical role in improving animal health and productivity at the village level. Participants at the consultation stressed that strengthening such community-led systems is key to ensuring long-term impact.
The meeting concluded with recommendations for Bihar’s emerging agri-food system strategy, calling for farmer-centric and evidence-based approaches that connect production, markets, institutions and social capital. Speakers noted that when livelihoods are designed as interconnected systems rather than short-term schemes, the benefits become more durable and transformative.
The PTI study, researchers said, demonstrates that empowering women as leaders and co-creators within rural economies can help build resilience, drive innovation and create more sustainable value chains in Bihar’s agricultural landscape.