In Bihar, India’s floodplains, every year, families brace for what the monsoon might bring: rain or ruin. With no other option but agriculture, farmers are increasingly hedging their risks by taking up goat rearing. It is not a replacement for farming, but a backup, a way to survive climate shocks and build financial stability. For many rural families and women in particular, goat rearing is becoming an essential part of coping with climate change. “Many women are starting to rear goats alongside traditional farming to create a more reliable income source,” said Anup Kumar, Assistant Programme Officer at the Aga Khan Foundation. “Climate adaptation isn’t just about big infrastructure projects or policy changes. It’s about small, organic shifts. Rural communities are finding their own ways to cope with climate shocks by diversifying income sources.” An initiative by the Aga Khan Foundation, supported by the Gates Foundation, trains women in scientific goat rearing practices.