(AGENPARL) – Wed 25 June 2025 Investing in Jharkhand’s women
Support for Indian women farmers boosts economic empowerment, productivity and incomes
© FAO/ Nilavra Bhattacharjee
“Today, we understand everything about our businesses, from profit margins to local market demands. We’ve learned how to negotiate together for better prices, and we know that we don’t have to settle for less,” exclaims Asha Devi, the Chair of the Kanke farmer producer group in Jharkhand, India. “Our children now say their mothers are entrepreneurs, and that’s our biggest reward.”
Jharkhand, the ‘land of the forests’ is also a land of contrasts. In this part of eastern India, the soil is rich with minerals, ripe for farming, but often blighted by droughts and erratic monsoons.
In Jharkhand’s Gumla district, one small community hub is alive with activity. Inside, women of all ages – some with toddlers on their laps – gather for a producer group meeting.
The women discuss strategies to bring their vegetables to market. These crops have been meticulously planned to supply feasts and rituals for the upcoming Sohrai (harvest) festival held in October and November.
Like 200 000 households across the state, these women are transforming their livelihoods through the Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth (JOHAR) programme.
With design and implementation support from the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the programme has empowered Jharkhand’s women by investing in agricultural technologies and opening access to markets.
Led by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand, implemented by the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) and supported with financing from the World Bank, the JOHAR programme has helped more than 150 000 households shift from subsistence paddy rice farming to high-value agriculture.
Through the programme, women gained access to modern agricultural tools, digital platforms for crop planning and expert trainings, significantly improving productivity and market competitiveness. JOHAR also emphasizes leadership development among women. Asha Devi – Chair of Kanke’s producer group – is just one of these women.
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