A remarkable agricultural transformation is taking place in rural Bihar, where women are stepping up as agri-entrepreneurs to revolutionize farming. Through the JEEVIKA program, they are tackling climate change, groundwater depletion, and erratic weather patterns while driving economic growth. More than 5,178 agri-entrepreneurs are now supporting 800,000+ farmers across 13 districts, making agriculture more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
One of the many inspiring figures in this movement is Soni Kumari from Hajipur. Previously a homemaker, she used her education and training to launch a climate-smart agricultural business. She now provides farmers with climate-resilient seeds, organic fertilizers, and drone-based irrigation services.
Her drone technology has been a game-changer, allowing for the efficient irrigation of one acre in just 5-7 minutes at ₹300-500—a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods. Despite obstacles such as the ₹90,000 price tag of drone batteries, Soni remains committed to expanding her services and encouraging more women to take up agri-entrepreneurship.
Other leaders in the movement, such as Shoba Devi and Chanchal Devi, are actively promoting organic farming, crop diversification, and water-efficient agriculture. These women also help farmers with nursery management and digital banking, ensuring financial inclusion and long-term sustainability in the sector.
The success of Bihar’s women agri-entrepreneurs is opening up new career opportunities in agritech, climate-smart farming, and rural entrepreneurship. Young professionals can explore roles in: Precision farming, Organic product businesses, Drone technology in agriculture, Agricultural consulting & training
With the rising demand for climate-resilient agricultural solutions, there’s immense potential for innovation and impact in rural development. While challenges like high technology costs remain, Bihar’s women are proving that grassroots leadership can create large-scale transformation, making agriculture more sustainable, profitable, and inclusive.