Address by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF
Six decades of rural transformation; BAIF charts a new roadmap for Viksit Bharat @2047
BAIF Development Research Foundation today entered its 60th year of service to rural India, marking the beginning of its Diamond Jubilee year. Speaking at the Foundation Day programme at Uruli Kanchan, Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF, traced BAIF’s journey from livestock development to a comprehensive rural transformation organisation and outlined its roadmap for contributing to Viksit Bharat @2047.
Recalling BAIF’s contribution to India’s dairy transformation, Dr. Kakade noted its role in scientific cattle breeding and livestock development during Operation Flood, when milk production rose from around 22 million tonnes in 1970 to 75 million tonnes by 1998 becoming the top milk producing country and maintaining the position even today. The Wadi programme initiated in 80’s, benefits 2.5 lakh families, generating about Rs. 2,000 crore annually, while contributing to carbon sequestration. BAIF’s watershed programme started in 1992, today covers around 3.5 lakh families, generating over Rs. 2,200 crore annually, and is a recipient of the UNESCO Water Digest World Water Award 2025.
During 2025–26, BAIF’s programmes expanded to 18 states, reaching more than 50 lakh families across 1.15 lakh villages. The estimated annual contribution generated through BAIF’s interventions to the rural economy, is about Rs. 31,000 crore.
Dr. Kakade highlighted the evolution of BAIF’s women’s empowerment programme from Self-Help Groups to entrepreneurship and digital inclusion. Nearly 2 lakh women entrepreneurs have emerged from BAIF’s programmes, while its Digital inclusion initiatives have enabled 1000 young rural women to provide e governance and financial services to 5 lakh families.
Among the significant initiatives during 2025–26 were the pilot application of Artificial Intelligence for residue-free vegetable production, genomic selection work with West Bengal Government, and the BAIF Rural Innovation Centre (BRIC) at Uruli Kanchan which is being developed as a platform for innovation, incubation and technology transfer in ecological agriculture, livestock, water and renewable energy. Through its Incubation Centre, the organisation is supporting rural entrepreneurship, green enterprises, start-ups and young innovators.
Rural prosperity and Viksit Bharat @2047
Dr. Kakade said that transforming the rural economy would be central to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Agriculture currently contributes around 15% of GDP while supporting nearly 45% of the workforce, highlighting the need to increase productivity, incomes and value creation in rural areas.
BAIF’s emerging self-reliant rural bioeconomy model integrates ecological and AI-enabled agriculture, bio-inputs, dairy and livestock, renewable energy, FPOs, manufacturing and services. It envisages the potential to raise annual rural family incomes from the present median of around Rs.1.65 lakh to Rs. 8–12 lakh through diversified rural enterprises.
“The rural economy must move from subsistence to enterprise, from production to value creation and from dependence on external inputs to a self-reliant bioeconomy. This transformation can make the farm sector a major engine of Viksit Bharat @2047,” stated Dr. Kakade.
Dr. Shitalkumar Mukane, Additional Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Maharashtra and Chairman, Maharashtra Livestock Development Board, presented the “Dr. Manibhai Desai Gaurav Puraskar” to the Best Self Help Group in BAIF’s Programme – “Adarsh Radhika Self Help Group” from Sambalpur, Odisha
Dr. Shitalkumar Mukane, Additional Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Livestock Development Board, appreciated the contribution of women, particularly women working as Livestock Technicians in remote regions, and emphasised greater participation of women in dairy husbandry.
Best SHG in Maharashtra Programme – “Kukadimai Mahila Bachat Gat, Parner, Ahilyanagar at the hands of Mr. Hrishikesh Mafatlal, Chairperson, BAIF
Mr. Hrishikesh Mafatlal, Chairperson, BAIF, appreciated BAIF’s organisational stability, values and culture and highlighted its strong engagement with participating families and the emergence of nearly 2 Lakh Lakhpati women.
Mr. Sunil Lalbhai, Chairperson, Finance Committee and Human Resources Committee of Trustees, BAIF, appreciated BAIF’s relationship with participating families and emphasised that technological advancement must remain anchored in organisational values. Mr. Pratap Pawar, Trustee, BAIF, highlighted the potential of AI-enabled technologies in agriculture.
In his virtual address, Dr. Vilas Kharche, Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, emphasised modern technologies in agriculture and announced the joint postgraduate and research programme with BAIF.
Second Best SHG in BAIF Programme – “Wardha Mahila Swayam Sahayta Samuh, Nandurbar at the hands of Mr. Sunil Kumar, Head – Sustainability and CSR, ACG
Mr. Sunil Kumar, Head – Sustainability and CSR, ACG, appreciated BAIF’s holistic approach to sustainable development and urged greater focus on nutritional deficiencies.
Outstanding women’s Self-Help Groups, Livestock Technicians, Community Resource Persons, farmers, scientists, thematic specialists, employees and meritorious students were felicitated during the programme.
Earlier, Mr. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Group Vice President – Finance, BAIF, welcomed the dignitaries and emphasised that values, credibility and commitment must remain non-negotiable foundations of BAIF’s growth. Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, BAIF, proposed the vote of thanks. Ms. Pritam Chandak, Vice President – Finance and Dr. Rajashree Joshi, Vice President – Programmes, BAIF, were also present on the occasion.
Release of BAIF Publications – Research Report, Annual Reports 2025-26 and The BAIF Journal
As BAIF enters its Diamond Jubilee year, it renews its commitment to taking science, innovation and sustainable livelihoods to rural communities and contributing to a prosperous, inclusive, climate-resilient and self-reliant rural India.
