Solar Pumps are Empowering Women Farmers in India
Photo: Tanmoy Bhaduri
The Indian state of Bihar is home to a group of women farmers who are at the forefront of a revolutionary change. Women-led self-help groups (SHGs) have stepped in to address water scarcity by installing solar pumps to provide affordable clean energy for irrigation. On top of its climate benefits, the technology is boosting women's income and confidence while challenging traditional gender norms.
This blog post was authored by Tanmoy Bhaduri as part of the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform training on telling stories about agricultural solutions that work for women. This training took place, in part, during the 2023 CGIAR GENDER conference on October 9-12, 2023, in New Delhi, India. The blog post was first published by Reasons to be Cheerful but it is re-posted as below.
Narrow roads lead to Harpur, flanked by small houses with expansive courtyards on both sides. Harpur is a small village perched at one corner of the Bandra block in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar, and though it may look like any other rural village, it is home to a group of women farmers who are at the forefront of a revolutionary change.
Historically, this region has grappled with water scarcity, which sharply limited the crops that farmers could cultivate. But since women-led self-help groups stepped in and installed solar pumps to provide affordable clean energy for irrigation, the scenario has changed dramatically. And along the way, these groups are challenging traditional gender norms, making women farmers a catalyst for climate adaptation.
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