BAIF has implemented a Holistic Rural Development Program in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with the grant support from HDFC Bank. In the state of Maharashtra, three projects have been implemented in the Vidarbha region. Considering the issues of Minimum Support Prices, socio-political issues, lack of rational water policy, lack of irrigation, expensive GM cotton cultivation practices, Vidarbha has been a difficult place to be a successful farmer. As a result of adversities in agriculture, farming community in Vdiarbha has been under tremendous distress. Amidst such a difficult situation, HRDP has shown a way to undertake successful and remunerative farming.

Following are the major components of this project:

Agriculture

Agriculture with its allied sectors, is the largest source of livelihood in India. 70 percent of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with 82 percent of farmers being small and marginal. (Source-Census data). On this background several Agriculture and livestock based interventions are designed. These interventions are promotion of organic farming, system of rice intensification technique of paddy cultivation, vegetable cultivation, crop diversification; cattle breed improvement, improved livestock management practices, fodder cultivation and improved rearing of goats.

Integrated Livestock Development

Breed improvement of the local livestock is being undertaken in all the 21 project villages for improving their productivity for better income generation. Along with breed improvement program, focus has also been given to improved feeding management and health care management to bring comprehensive impact.

Natural Resource Management

To strengthen water security against this backdrop of increasing demand, water scarcity, growing uncertainty, a large number of initiatives have taken including De-siltation of existing water bodies, construction of new check dams, digging of farm ponds these were supply side interventions to ensure availability of water at the same farmers were empowered and motivated to adopt water efficient technologies to reduce water requirement while ensuring more crop per drop. Supported by HDFC Bank Parivartan, Phosphate Rich Organic Manure - Bio-PROM plant was set up in Ambagad to tackle the ill-effects of excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides . The Plan is an epitome of the circular economy of rural areas, where underutilized agri-livestock residue is converted into a fine organic manure to enhance fertility thereby productivity.

Energy sources and rural innovation

Owing to a good number of cattle, cow dung wastage was rampant in several villages under-utilization of agree-livestock residue. Moreover, It was noticed that a lot of households lacked a gas connection and found it too expensive. To utilize the available resources, Integrated Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture (IRESA) Model was set up. Installation of Biogas units along with other components, which are not only cost-effective but also prove useful in organic farming, has helped numerous families not only save the cost of gas calendars but also reduce deforestation due to fire wood. The slurry cake by-product of Bio-Gas filter either used for making vermi-compost or raw material for BIo-PROM unit for organic Manure. Vermicomposting preparation has birthed a leaning towards organic farming amongst the farmers.

Skills and entrepreneurship development programme

The establishment of green-shed nurseries has resulted in empowerment of women through leadership, and entrepreneurship development among women in the villages. Further, the women are self-reliant now to carry out their business and reinvesting profit into business expansion.

Formation and strengthening of formal institutions.

A Milk Based Farmers Producer Company (FPO) has been formed in Loksamrudhi Project Katol, the FPO will be engaged in milk base enterprise, livestock based services which includes breed improvement. A FPO is strengthened in the Community Development programme in Ambagad where multi-purpose sustainability initiatives can be aligned.

• Well planned efforts towards sustainability 
• Integration and Mainstreaming of women in village development Process
• Initiation of Local economic activation
• Initial Model of Circular Economy