At work and play, women forge independence from men – from India to Brazil

Solar pumps are helping women grow diverse crops and gain economic independence from men. Farmers in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar contend with water scarcity that limits the crops they can cultivate. By pooling their finances, some self-help groups have paid for bore wells and installed solar pumps to draw water – allowing for more profitable yields and larger income streams. In 2016, 10 women of the Shiv Ganga Samuha Sichai Samity (whose name means group irrigation committee) contributed about $156 each toward the construction of a solar pump system. Local nonprofit Aga Khan Rural Support Program-India (AKRSP-India) provided the remaining 80% of the cost. Now, the group’s solar pump runs for seven hours per day during the summer, providing water for up to 35 acres of land. One member, Babli Devi, said the extra crops allowed her to purchase a sewing machine, further boosting her personal income and reducing her dependency on her husband. Other women in various irrigation groups report using profits for expenses such as their children’s education.