Good News from Bihar, India: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Aquaculture
- In a remarkable year-long journey, a group of 11 women in Bihar, India, with no prior experience in fish farming, produced 1,250 kilos of fish, generating a profit of 140,000 Indian rupees (USD 1,681), showcasing a significant step towards women's economic empowerment through aquaculture.
- Despite their economic success, the women's decision-making power over their income remains limited, highlighting the need for gender-transformative approaches and social behavior change communication to address deep-rooted gender norms and empower women fully in their communities and beyond.
In just one year, a group of 11 women who previously had no prior experience in fish farming produced 1250 kilos of fish, turning a profit of 140,000 Indian rupees (USD 1,681), shared equally amongst themselves. This was in August 2023. Two months later by early October, the women doubled the quantity of fish, which was then due for harvesting in two months’ time. Members proudly report that production continues to increase with each successive harvest.
The 11 women are members of an Indian Fish Farmer Producer Group (FFPG) called Jal Jeevan evam Jai JEEViKA Mahila Matasya Utpadan Samuh (meaning Water, Life, and Long Live JEEViKA Women Fish Farmer Producer Group) in Patna district of Bihar state, India. They were introduced to aquaculture as a livelihood opportunity by JEEViKA – Bihar state’s rural livelihood mission.