Agriculture Development Division

NAF’s agricultural development division functions with the goal to enable our farming communities to adopt the latest technological practices in agriculture and up skill themselves to adapt to the fast changing environment.

NAF focuses on up skilling through enabling farmers to practice Climate Smart Lean Farming technologies and simultaneously empowering them with necessary business skills, to overcome the challenges posed by global forces and to become profitable. With the latest advancements in farming technologies such as Artificial Intelligence enabled Smart Farms, Integrated Farming Methodologies, Poly-house, Farm Drones, etc., the potential of agriculture becoming the most profitable business in the country is not an exaggerated vision.

NAF has been promoting sustainable agriculture through Lean Farming which is a combination of organic, bio and inorganic approach with climate change adaptation and mitigation measures which is economically viable, environmentally safe and ecologically sustainable. These initiatives are undertaken with support from various stakeholders including the Government and Corporate sector agencies. In addition, every effort of our implementation team strives to involve the targeted beneficiaries from the project-planning phase to the project exit phase creating and nurturing a sustainably lasting model.

Areas of Focus

Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices through LEAN Farming Technologies.

Promoting and nurturing Agri-businesses run by farmers (FPOs).

Providing advisory and consultancy services to other stakeholders.

Training, Technology, Extension & Analytical services for Agricultural productivity improvement.

Empowering the farmers with the knowledge, tools and technologies to improve their livelihoods and tap the maximum potential from the agricultural system.

Demonstrating and implementing climate smart agriculture to reduce the climate change related vulnerabilities of the farmers by improving their adaptive capacity.

These initiatives are undertaken with support from various stakeholders including the Government and support from Corporate Partners through their Corporate Social responsibility Initiatives.

The various agriculture components are implemented in the following projects:
Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture through Lean Farming

NAF is introducing Lean Farming Technologies and crop specific improved methods of cultivation among farmers across the states to ensure that farming is a profitable venture for the farmers. NAF ensures that there is judicious use of natural resources, while maintaining the ecological balance to ensure that farmers earn a healthy income on one hand while maintaining the balance in soil and water conservation on the other. NAF also trains the farmers on preparation of vermicompost, panchakavyam, azolla which are organic manures, thereby reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and reducing the input costs to the farmers. Green manuring and proper composting methods are introduced to improve soil health. Tree planting is included in almost all the projects to increase green cover as a climate resilient initiative. Farm machineries have been introduced to reduce cost of cultivation and tide over labor scarcity through farmer support groups formed in the villages. Trainings on water management to increase water use efficiency by introducing micro irrigation system, SRI method of cultivation, minimizing water wastage during irrigation are also imparted. These agri components are included in all the watershed projects and being executed by agriculture development division. For the current year, the following sustainable agriculture initiatives are being undertaken. 762 soils were collected for comprehensive soil health analysis and health cards with customized recommendations were provided to the farmers.

Frontline Demonstration

Frontline demonstrations are a simple yet effective strategy to reach out to the farmers through the methodology of learning by doing and there by influencing their peers for adoption of better and improved agri technologies. 567 FLDs were initiated with progressive farmers through a step-by-step guidance and handholding process, building their knowledge and capacities trough participatory learning methodologies. All the interventions such as soil sampling, soil testing, land preparation, land levelling, green manuring, ploughing, application of soil amendments, formation of ridges and furrows, line transplanting (SRI) and DSR if paddy, seed treatment methods, proper spacing, application of soil test based fertiliser and micro nutrients, installation of traps, solar light traps, pheromone traps, spraying/application of organic formulation, bird perches, need based spraying of green pesticides if pest population exceeds ETL and regular visit to farmers were done during conducting demonstration. A total of 279 acres of land had come under crop demonstration during the year across various regions, Farmers adopted these practices in cultivation of maize, cotton, chilli, sorghum, paddy, vegetables, millets etc. The above efforts have showcased an average 36% reduction in cost of production and 27% increase in yield in completed demonstrations.

Tree Plantation

NAF has been contributing to restoring ecosystems across its various project locations through its dedicated plantation activities. Environmental conservation being the heart of this initiative, we have involved farmers, students, communities in understanding the importance of restoring, conserving and promoting ecologically sound practices which will benefit the communities at large.

Through its various conservation efforts, biodiversity is also restored and many defunct waterbodies are now drawing scores of birds and animals to its reserves.

Tree plantation has also helped us elevate soil erosion issues and has led to ample rejuvenation of the ground water tables in our project locations.

1,06,768 agro horticulture and agro forestry plants were distributed to individual farmers and planted on community land.

Technical Trainings and Exposure Visits

Skill development in general sense has been focusing predominantly on non-farm sector, whereas, agriculture sector which employs about 60% of the Country’s population, needs focused approach to enhance the skill sets of the practicing and new age farmers to enable them cope up with the changing trends in agriculture and agribusiness sector. There has been general shift in focus from mere “production” to “post-harvest” including value addition, processing, supply chain and marketing. An increased application of digital technologies also calls for urgent need to educate the farmers on the recent trends such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT, online marketing, digital payments etc for better decision making and realization of profits. Agriculture being a core area of focus for NAF and a common thread linking almost all the sustainable development goals, the need of the hour calls for, investing in farm skill development both on-farm and off-farm technologies, to cope up with the changing trends of agriculture and agribusiness in India. We have tried to mobilize scientific know how, coupled with technological inputs in keeping with complex social structures, ground realities and available resources to address these new and upcoming challenges in this digital era.

Promoting farm skills is not only about boosting production; it is also about increasing incomes and strengthening markets, enabling farmers to graduate from sustenance agriculture to commercial agriculture using modern techniques, while leveraging traditional knowledge to become sustainable in the long run.

271 technical trainings were conducted in which 6560 beneficiaries were given trainings under various projects. 16 exposure visits were organized benefitting 540 farmers.

Preseason camps and Field Days

12 pre-season camps were conducted to discuss with farmers various action points to be undertaken during the cultivation period from seed to seed.

7 field days were conducted as a part of practical training for the purpose of disseminating the lean farming technology.

Veterinary camps

26 veterinary camps were conducted through which 5240 cattle were benefitted even in remote villages, where services are very poor. Timely care of farm animals at the doorstep has ensured that the farmers do not face loss from disease or treatment and healthy animals and livestock, provide the farmers with added income to supplement their livelihoods.

Low cost Pandal structure

70 low cost pandals for vegetable cultivation were established. Through this system, farmers were able to fetch a steady income round the year and also engage in crop diversity.

Projects

  • Project on Sustainable Agriculture, Vallam – A CSR project of M/s Apollo Tyres Foundation

    This project includes components such as Refresher Trainings, Adoption and Replication of Lean farming Technologies, Enriched Farm Yard Manuring, Slow release Nitrogen practices, Chisel ploughing, Laser Leveling, De silting of and strengthening the bunds of Pond and Irrigation channel, Tree planting on pond bunds, Grouping farmers under social media and Online advisory services through Whatsapp & AV.

  • Highlights of the Project

    Technology Dissemination and transfer of scientific know how to farmers

    Promoting Use of Farm Machinery for efficient Productivity

    Water Conservation

    Demonstration of Organic practices

    Greening Initiatives through Plantation

    Other Support services

    Training and Capacity Building

  • Water and Agriculture Development (WADI) Project- A CSR project with M/s Oerlikon Friction Systems

    NAF is implementing Water and Agriculture Development Initiatives (WADI) projects in Tamilnadu and Pune District under the CSR support of M/s Oerlikon Friction Systems.

    Water bodies Rejuvenation

    Oerlikon has sanctioned an additional budget for rejuvenation of water bodies in Walajabad project villages for a period of 1.5 years. The project commenced on October 2019. The project components are rejuvenation of village pond, irrigation channels, and construction of sluice gate and well recharge pits.

  • A. WADI in Tamilnadu

    WADI project is in the second year of implementation phase in three villages of Kanchipuram district. The major components of this project are training and capacity building, soil health improvement, infrastructure development and cattle development.

    B. WADI in Pune

    In Pune district, four villages namely Adavali, Karanjawane, Askavadi and Kodavadiwere selected to implement Water and Agriculture initiatives. First phase of the project was for 1.5 years and it was completed by September 2019. The second phase of the project is for 2.5 years and it commenced from October 2019. The project components for current year are Training and capacity building, Construction of water conservation structures, community pipeline, improving logistics for transportation of agri produces, convergence of Government schemes, Replication of Agri technologies, Establishment of orchards and Promotion of IGP activities through RF.

  • Lean Farming Projects in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with support from BNY Mellon

    As part of popularizing Lean Farming, two pilot projects have been implemented one in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh and One in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh with support from BNY Mellon. These projects are expected to gain foothold for promotion of FPOs under Central Sector Scheme of promotion of 10000 FPOs by the Ministry of Agriculture. The major components of the project are training and capacity building, Soil health management and Institution building.

  • Lean Farming Project in Rohtak and Kasna

    NAF is implementing watershed projects in Rohtak (Haryana) and Kasna (U.P), under the CSR support from Asian Paints Limited. In order to introduce Lean Farming Technologies in these project villages, NAF has established 10 FLDs in Rohtak, and 8 FLDs in Kasna. As per soil test recommendations, critical inputs were provided and IPM tools were also installed to prevent pest incidence. The entire process is being monitored by Agri scientists from NAF.

  • Upliftment of Small Farm Holders Community affected by Covid– 19 Pandemic through Sustainable Lean Farming Supported by BNY Mellon

    BNY Mellon has sponsored this project to alleviate the financial impact caused due to COVID -19 among small farmers of Parawadi and Ghorepadal villages of Bhor Thesil in Pune District of Maharashtra. The major components of this project are Intensive technical training, awareness trainings, preseason camps, establishment of Vermi compost units, bio Input unit and mini processing units, Institution building and revolving fund assistance and frontline demonstrations.

  • Micro Irrigation Project Supported by BNY Mellon

    Micro irrigation is an important system which reduces water usage upto 75% in addition to yield increase by 25%. NAF has selected lead farmers from villages with water scarcity in Marakkanam block of Kanchipuram district and is promoting micro irrigation system. NAF is creating awareness among the farmers on micro irrigation system, to encourage them to adopt these facilities with assistance from government subsidies in addition to self contribution and support from NAF. Totally 59 farmers have benefitted under this project covering 103 acres of land. Installation of drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation is under different stages and progressing.

Photo Gallery