From a smallholder woman farmer to a successful rural entrepreneur, Bhagwati Devi’s inspiring journey demonstrates how collective action, institutional support and agricultural value addition can transform traditional farming into a sustainable enterprise.
Bhagwati Devi, 43, a Class 10-educated woman farmer from Alankera Pahartoli village in Gumla district, Jharkhand, is leading a remarkable transformation in millet-based agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. As the Chairperson of MVM Baghima Palkot Farmer Producer Company Limited, she is driving initiatives in finger millet (ragi) cultivation, processing and value addition through the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) model, empowering rural women, creating livelihood opportunities and strengthening the local agricultural economy.
Her journey reflects the aspirations of countless rural women who contribute significantly to agriculture but often face limited income opportunities, inadequate market access and a lack of recognition for their work. Before joining the FPO, Bhagwati Devi faced challenges commonly experienced by smallholder women farmers, including dependence on traditional farming practices and limited opportunities to generate sustainable income from agricultural produce. Despite these constraints, her determination to improve rural livelihoods laid the foundation for a transformative journey from smallholder farming to collective enterprise and leadership.
Her association with a women-led FPO marked a significant turning point. Access to institutional support, training, collective marketing and new income-generating opportunities enabled her to recognise the potential of agriculture beyond primary production. The FPO model provided a platform for farmers to work collectively, strengthen market linkages and explore the economic opportunities offered by processing and value addition. With growing experience and confidence, Bhagwati Devi emerged as a leader committed to transforming traditional agriculture into a viable rural enterprise. Her journey demonstrates how organised farmer collectives can help women move beyond the role of agricultural workers to become decision-makers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
A visionary leader from Gumla district, Bhagwati Devi serves as the Chairperson of MVM Baghima Palkot Farmer Producer Company Limited, incorporated on 30 September 2022 under the Government of India’s 10,000 FPO Scheme. The organisation was established with support from the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC) and the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), which serves as the Cluster-Based Business Organisation (CBBO), to strengthen rural livelihoods through finger millet cultivation, processing and value addition.
Under her leadership, the FPO has developed into a promising model of rural entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. Its activities span the ragi value chain, connecting cultivation with processing, packaging and marketing to create greater economic opportunities for local farmers. The organisation also provides free ragi seeds to local farmers, encouraging millet cultivation and supporting the expansion of the production base.
A defining feature of this enterprise is its emphasis on women’s participation. Nearly 200 rural women are engaged in full-time or part-time activities associated with the FPO, including processing, packaging and marketing ragi-based products. These opportunities enable women to earn livelihoods, develop new skills and participate more actively in the economic life of their communities. By creating employment beyond primary agricultural production, the enterprise is helping diversify income sources and strengthen the role of women in the local economy.
The transformation of ragi into a driver of rural enterprise lies at the heart of Gumla’s emerging identity as the “Ragi Capital of India”. Through the Ragi Mission in Jharkhand, efforts to promote finger millet cultivation, processing and marketing have created opportunities to strengthen farmer livelihoods, generate rural employment and encourage the consumption of nutritious traditional crops. Ragi, known for its nutritional value and adaptability to diverse farming conditions, holds considerable potential for supporting sustainable agriculture and dietary diversity. By promoting its cultivation and creating opportunities for value addition, the initiative seeks to connect traditional agricultural knowledge with modern, market-oriented enterprise.
Through the FPO, Bhagwati Devi is helping demonstrate how collective production, institutional convergence and organised marketing can transform a traditional crop into a source of economic opportunity. This approach is particularly significant in rural and tribal regions, where strengthening local enterprises can contribute to livelihood diversification and inclusive development.
With reported annual revenue of approximately ₹5.5 crore, MVM Baghima Palkot Farmer Producer Company Limited has emerged as a significant contributor to the local agricultural economy. Its growth highlights the potential of FPOs to connect smallholder farmers with organised markets and create value beyond primary agricultural production. The enterprise has opened avenues for women’s employment while strengthening the links between farming, processing and marketing. The provision of free ragi seeds further supports local cultivation, while the development of ragi-based products creates opportunities to expand the millet value chain.
The initiative also aligns with broader objectives of improving food and nutrition security through the promotion of nutrient-rich traditional crops. By encouraging ragi production and value addition, the enterprise has the potential to contribute to dietary diversity while strengthening rural livelihoods. Its impact extends beyond financial growth, reflecting a shift from limited economic recognition to active participation in enterprise management, from individual farming challenges to collective action, and from traditional agricultural practices to a more organised and market-oriented business model.
The success of MVM Baghima Palkot Farmer Producer Company Limited illustrates how women-led institutions can become catalysts for rural transformation. By bringing women together across different stages of the agricultural value chain, the FPO is creating opportunities for economic participation, skill development and greater confidence. Bhagwati Devi’s journey underscores the importance of institutional support, capacity building and market access in enabling tribal women to emerge as entrepreneurs and community leaders. Her experience demonstrates that when women farmers are equipped with the right opportunities and collective platforms, they can lead enterprises that benefit not only their households but also the wider community.
Looking ahead, Bhagwati Devi aims to introduce more innovative ragi-based products through the FPO. Product diversification and enhanced value addition are expected to create new market opportunities, expand the enterprise’s reach and improve income prospects for its members. By building on its existing strengths in cultivation, processing, packaging and marketing, the FPO aspires to further strengthen the ragi value chain and create sustainable opportunities for rural women and farming households. These efforts will continue to position millets as an important component of agricultural entrepreneurship, livelihood enhancement and nutrition security.
Bhagwati Devi’s journey from a smallholder woman farmer to the Chairperson of a growing Farmer Producer Organisation is a testament to the transformative potential of collective action, institutional support and women’s leadership. Through her efforts, ragi has become more than a traditional crop; it represents an opportunity to build enterprises, generate employment and strengthen rural communities. With nearly 200 women engaged in FPO activities and annual revenue reported at approximately ₹5.5 crore, the enterprise exemplifies how agricultural value addition can create economic opportunities while promoting women’s participation in rural development.
Bhagwati Devi’s story is a powerful reminder that empowering women farmers can transform not only individual livelihoods but also local economies. Her ragi revolution in Gumla demonstrates how traditional crops, supported by collective enterprise and visionary leadership, can become instruments of economic empowerment, nutritional well-being and sustainable rural transformation.
(Source: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gumla)
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