What happens when rural women are asked: “Would You Like to Start an Agri-Business?

In the heart of Myanmar’s Central Dry Zone, Magway Township relies heavily on rainfall for agriculture, making water a scarce and limiting resource for the farmers who live there. With erratic monsoon patterns and long dry seasons, communities face increasing challenges in securing enough water for both crop cultivation that leaves many farmers vulnerable to crop failure and food insecurity.

Daw Mar Mar Oo is a farm labourer who used to live on the edge of financial uncertainty. Like many rural families, she relied heavily on seasonal farm labour—work that was not only unpredictable but also insufficient, especially for women. Even when working side by side with men, women earned less, and opportunities for income during the off-season were almost non-existent. The dry months were especially hard, as there was no work available. “We depend on casual farm work. When there is no work in summer, some men have to leave the village to earn money elsewhere, but women stay behind, seeking odd jobs in the village. We are the ones who face financial difficulties from every direction,” says Daw Mar Mar Oo. Her story echoes the experience of many women in Myanmar’s Central Dry Zone, where limited employment opportunities and entrenched gender roles leave women especially vulnerable during the dry season.

But in 2024, a small but transformative shift began to a group of women including Daw Mar Mar Oo. She explains, "FAO provided technical guidance and facilitation to help establish a community-led women’s savings and credit group in her village. I and other women came together to form the group, each contributing just 2 000 kyats (approximately 0.40 USD) per week—modest, yet meaningful. When emergencies arose such as medical bills or school expenses—the women could rely on their collective savings. It was the first step toward financial resilience and mutual support.For me and my women peers, it was more than just money; it was the first step toward financial resilience, solidarity, and self-reliance’’.

"Are you interested to start a business?” – FAO asked last year.

Surprised but motivated by their growing financial confidence, the women began brainstorming ways to turn local agricultural resources into sustainable livelihoods. With sesame and groundnuts widely grown in their area, they proposed launching a small-scale oilseed processing business. FAO provided an oil processing machine to the group. This practical support transformed an idea into action. Daw Mar Mar Oo, together with a group of women who shared a vision for change, began producing groundnut oil—not only for household use but also for sale in local markets across Magway, Yangon, and even Bagan. What started as a savings group became a community-run enterprise, generating income and confidence in equal measure. “In our first week, we sold 10 viss. Now, within four months of operation, we have delivered 300 viss of oil to customers across different regions,” said one member proudly.

The group, now known as Myo Thitsa oilseed processing business group, rents the machine from their own savings and credit association. After one year of operation, they will return 60 000 kyats (approximately 13.30 USD) monthly as a rental fee from their profits—an internal reinvestment model that strengthens both the business and the community. At first, the women faced criticism. Oil processing had traditionally been seen as a male-dominated trade. “Before we started, people said, ‘Can women really run a business like this?’” recalled Mar Mar Oo. “We had our doubts, too.”

But the results speak for themselves. With discipline and a shared vision, the women have reinvested their earnings into raw materials, maintained steady production, and are now planning to expand. As orders grow, they intend to hire other women from their savings group—offering part-time jobs at 10,000 MMK per day. This plan marks the early stages of creating seasonal employment opportunities for farm labourer women, especially during the lean summer months when agricultural work is scarce.

Remarkably, they are doing all this while ensuring food safety and hygiene standards—using moisture meters to monitor and control aflatoxin risks in groundnuts, and strictly following clean processing practices as taught in FAO’s trainings. What began as a modest savings group has evolved into a model of rural women’s leadership in enterprise, food safety, and inclusive economic growth.

“Selling oil is not new to us—it’s part of our tradition,” said Mar Mar Oo, “But now we are doing it with better tools, better quality, and better knowledge.”. “Unity is our strength,” Mar Mar Oo said with a smile. “This business is giving other women a chance to gain work experience right here in the village. We are grateful to FAO for believing in us.”

The Myo Thitsa women-led oilseed processing group stands as a powerful example of how informed, collective action can elevate women’s roles in decision-making, create financial resilience, and inspire lasting change in community perceptions of women’s potential.

This story contributes FAO’s strategic result as better production and better life.

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*This story was originally published on the FAO website.