EMPOWERMENT
Harvesting New Horizons
Santosh Kumar Tiwari
With the Adani Foundation's support, women in Bihar's Pirpainti are transforming a prized local fruit into a global success story.
The day begins before sunrise in the mango orchards of Pirpainti in Bihar's Bhagalpur district. Dew still clings to the leaves as women move from tree to tree, carefully selecting the season's finest Jardalu mangoes. Every fruit is handled with remarkable care before it is cleaned, graded and packed for a journey that crosses continents. What once ended at the local mandi now finds its place on supermarket shelves in the UAE.
For the women of Pirpainti, the first export consignment of Bihar's GI-tagged Jardalu mangoes, recognised for their unique Geographical Identity (GI), is far more than an international shipment. It is the culmination of years of perseverance, learning and collective effort. It is proof that when women are given the right opportunities, they become powerful drivers of change for their families and communities.
As the Adani Foundation, the Adani Group's socio-economic and development arm, marks 30 years on 11 August 2026, its partnership with the Agro Point Farmer Producer Company (FPO) continues to strengthen every stage of the Jardalu mango value chain. Through technical training, capacity building, branding, packaging support, quality improvement and market linkages, the Foundation has helped transform traditional mango cultivation into an organised, export-ready enterprise. In the process, women have moved from supporting farm work to becoming indispensable contributors to a thriving global value chain.
Growing Confidence
For generations, women played an important but largely unseen role in mango cultivation. They nurtured orchards and supported harvesting, yet had little say in how their produce was marketed or valued. Most families depended on local traders and accepted whatever price was offered.
The Adani Foundation's support to the Agro Point FPO began changing that reality.
Training programmes introduced women to scientific orchard management, post-harvest handling, grading, quality inspection and export-standard packaging. They learnt how to identify premium fruit, maintain consistency and meet the exacting standards of international buyers. Their skills define the quality that international markets expect.
The impact is visible well beyond the orchards.
Sunita Devi from Chhoti Pasahichak village recalls how joining the FPO transformed her family's future.
“Before joining the FPO, we sold our mangoes through local traders at whatever price they offered. Through the FPO, we received better market access, training and opportunities in grading and packaging. My family's income has increased, and today I contribute to household expenses, my children's education and our savings. It has improved our quality of life and given me greater confidence.”
Her story reflects a wider transformation unfolding across Pirpainti, where women now contribute at every stage of the mango journey, from harvesting and sorting to grading, packaging and quality inspection. Their precision and dedication have helped Jardalu mangoes meet the stringent quality standards required for export.
The Foundation has also encouraged women to look beyond selling fresh produce by creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and value addition.
Manju Devi Director, Agro Point Krishan Producer Co. Ltd. is among those leading this change.
“Manju Devi says that FPO has not only increased our income but also provided a platform for women to move forward.”
Her journey reflects a quiet but significant shift. Farming is no longer seen as a seasonal activity alone. It has become the foundation for new businesses, stronger incomes and greater self-reliance.
Beyond Borders
The export of Jardalu mangoes to Lulu Mall in Dubai marked a defining moment for the entire community. Every carton carried more than mangoes. It carried the hopes, skills and aspirations of hundreds of farming families who had worked together to make this milestone possible.
For Bebi Devi, also from Chhoti Pasahichak village, watching the consignment leave for Dubai was an unforgettable moment.
“When I saw the Jardalu mangoes that we carefully sorted and packed being exported to Dubai, I felt proud. This was not just a mango export; it was proof that women from rural Bihar can contribute to a global success story. The FPO has given us income, recognition and confidence to dream bigger with the Adani Foundation.”
That pride now echoes across Pirpainti. Families have stronger and more secure incomes. Women enjoy greater financial independence and a stronger voice in household decisions. Young girls are growing up with new role models who have shown that ambition can flourish without leaving their villages.
As the Adani Foundation celebrates 30 years of empowering communities, the story of Pirpainti reflects the enduring impact of investing in people. By strengthening farmer institutions, expanding market access and creating sustainable livelihoods, the Foundation has helped unlock the potential of an entire community.
Every Jardalu mango that reaches consumers in the UAE carries more than the sweetness of Bihar's orchards. It carries the resilience of rural women, the strength of collective effort and the promise that when opportunity takes root, even the smallest villages can leave their mark on the world.
Sunita Devi from Chhoti Pasahichak village in Pirpainti block, Bihar's Bhagalpur district, is among the women helping take the state's GI-tagged Jardalu mangoes to international markets, including the UAE, through the Agro Point FPO, supported by the Adani Foundation.