Global climate shocks don’t respect borders, and neither does the resilience it takes to fight them. In India, Hansaben Solanki is quietly revolutionizing her dairy business in the face of extreme heat and rising costs – and her story holds lessons for all of us.
Meet Hansaben Mahipatsinh Solanki, a 35-year-old dairy farmer from Gujarat, India, whose livelihood is a microcosm of the challenges, and solutions, shaping global sustainability today. Her story offers a window into the human impact of climate change, the power of financial inclusion, and why supporting women-led enterprises in the Global South is key to creating a more resilient, interconnected world.
As an entrepreneur and mother of two, Hansaben Mahipatsinh Solanki has been engaged in dairy farming for the past decade. Her family-run business in rural Gujarat currently manages a herd of 22 cattle, with most of the milk sold to local dairy federations and a smaller share delivered directly to nearby customers.
Three years ago, Hansaben became a client of Pahal Financial Services Private Limited, seeking financial support to grow her operations. With the help of a business loan, she gradually expanded her herd, leading to increased milk production, higher revenues, and greater financial stability for her family. The additional income also allowed her to invest in other small ventures, diversifying her household’s income and further strengthening their economic resilience.
Alongside this growth, Hansaben adopted green practices on the farm. Like many in her community, she uses cow dung as natural fertilizer, a sustainable, low-cost method that nourishes soil and supports crop growth, rooted in generations of traditional knowledge.
But her journey hasn’t been without hardship. The increasing intensity of heatwaves in Gujarat has taken a toll on her cattle, reducing milk yields and driving up veterinary costs. For nearly two months, this disruption directly impacted the family’s income, exposing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers on the frontlines of climate change.
Beyond the numbers, the impact of Pahal’s support has been deeply personal. More stable earnings have enabled Hansaben’s family to improve their diet, invest in their children’s education, and purchase household items that once felt out of reach. Most importantly, it has brought a renewed sense of dignity and recognition within their community.
Today, Hansaben feels confident in her enterprise. Looking ahead, her hope is to continue growing, earning more so she can secure an even better future for her children and family. Her story is a testament to how targeted financial support, climate resilience, and local enterprise can come together to transform lives.
About Oxfam Novib Fund
Valued at 44 million euros, the Oxfam Novib Fund (ONF) is dedicated to enhancing resilience in response to the escalating effects of climate change. ONF supports Microfinance institutions (MFIs), like Pahal, that focus on underserved markets and target specific groups: rural communities, small-scale agricultural producers and women borrowers. A fund investment of EUR 1 million supports nearly 1,809 families with access to finance.
Together, we foster climate resilience and female leadership one small business at a time.
