85 women beneficiaries of Mission Sunehra Kal, being implemented in Lunkaransar, Bikaner district, participated enthusiastically in the celebration organised at Garbedeshwar village on March 8, 2022. Sarpanch of the village, Kavita Swami, Scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra Lunakaransar, Dr. Richa Pant and Dr. Bhagawat Singh and Smt. Poonam Mahala, Principal, Senior Secondary School and Smt. Krishna Devi from Urmul Sansthan were present on the occasion. The guests provided detailed information about various Government programmes and schemes for women, capacity building and cottage industries and promotion of kitchen gardens for nutritional security of the family. The project aims at strengthening arid farming system for sustainable development, promote NRM-based activities and Integrated Agricultural Practices and strengthen the local community through the formation of village development centres.

The event was celebrated under the HDFC-supported Holistic Rural Development Programme at Lalsot Kasbe cluster office in Dausa district on March 7, 2022 through prize distribution and participation of 36 women in various events such as musical chairs, lemon and spoon race and other competitions which were enjoyed by the participating women.

The Sustainable Agriculture Management and Development by Human Action for Nature (Samadhan) Project organised an event – Sakhi Utsav at Rajpura Dariba in Rajsamand district with successful women farmers, enlisting the enthusiastic participation of 135 women beneficiaries. The project is being implemented in 174 villages of 5 districts in association with Hindustan Zinc Ltd. Multi-sectoral interventions aiming at socio-economic well-being of the rural community are being promoted through various agriculture and livestock-based activities resulting in enhanced income and improved productivity.

Binod Bhengra, a wadi participant of the Wadi Programme funded under Tribal Development Fund being implemented at Torpa, Khunti district, Jharkhand, was felicitated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri. Hemant Soren on February 23, 2022 in Ranchi. Agriculture Minister, GoJ, Chief Secretary, GoJ , Agriculture Secretary,Goj and CGM NABARD,RO, Ranchi were also present.

A team of senior scientists from Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) Jodhpur headed by Dr. Akath Singh, Principal Scientist, visited the BAIF Desert Research Centre at Barmer on February 19, 2022. The team interacted with the farmers on the improvement in productivity of harvested rainwater in traditional water harvesting structures through integration of horticulture and agroforestry system and also visited the farmers’ fields and were appreciative of the programme undertaken by BAIF. Dr. Raghvendra Dubey, Thematic Programme Executive and Mr. D.K. Tiwari, Additional Chief Programme Executive from BAIF accompanied the team on their visit.

Mr. Shrirang Dhavale, Ms. Gauri Rajadhakshya and Ms. Ipsita Das from Tata Sustainability Group and Ms. Nidhi Mendiratta, CSR Head, Ms. Mallika Sriraman, Mr. Anindya Chatterji and Ms. Swati Kolhatkar from Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd. (TCEL), visited the project villages of Dapti- Malghar in Jawhar, Palghar district on February 18, 2022 and appreciated the work taken up under the Water Management and Income Generation Programme. The programme was initiated in 2018 in Dapti-Malghar and Nawapada areas – acute water scarcity areas of Jawhar block and covers 190 families through various project interventions. So far, 180 lakhs litres of water have been harvested through pond lining activity enabling 65 wadi and 44 jasmine plots to make effective use of protective irrigation. 18 farmers were able to take up vegetable cultivation during the rabi season.

Dr. B.D. Sharma, Director, Central Institute of Arid Horticulture in Kalu, Bikaner, visited the BAIF MSK ITC Project area at Nakodeshar and Chandshar villages in Bikaner on February 17, 2022. He was accompanied by Mr. D.K Tiwari from the BAIF-ITC MSK Programme. Dr. Sharma interacted with the participants and appreciated the approach and technologies promoted by BAIF under the project. This project covers 900 families from 10 villages in Bikaner district through suitable soil and water conservation measures and integrated agricultural practices.

The exposure visit of 31 participants under the Wadi Focused Rural Development Programme supported by HDFC Bank Parivartan Initiative and being implemented by BISLD Madhya Pradesh, in 50 villages of Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh, was flagged off by Hon’ble Minister of Environment and New & Renewable Energy, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Hardeep Singh Dang and Shri. Sandeep Shiva, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sitamau Division at Kheda village, Sitamau, Mandsaur on February 16, 2022. Shri Jeewanlal Patidar, Associate Programme Manager, Shri Rajjansingh Yadav, Project Officer, Shri Ashutosh Patidar and Shri Purushottam Meena (Field Team) from BISLD Madhya Pradesh were present on the occasion.

A calf rally was organized at Holladakoppalu village in Hunsur, Mysuru district of Karnataka, on February 2, 2022 to encourage the farmers to improve the health of their animals and to focus on management and care of calves, heifer and cows. 117 farmers with 278 cattle, participated in the rally. Mr. H.P. Manjunath, MLA, Hunsur inaugurated the rally. In his address to the farmers, he highlighted the significance of Animal husbandry and the impact of the ITC MSK-sponsored Integrated Livestock Development Programme on the lives of the rural families, critical aspect of animal health, role of various stakeholders and critical linkages with various line departments. Silage demonstration by Mr. Naveen, Manager Sai Silage Pvt Ltd. Chikkahunsur was also undertaken during the event. Sri. Girish, Extension Officer, Taluka Panchayat Hunsur also graced the occasion. Other dignitaries included Sri. Harishbabu, Programme Manager, ITC MSK Mysuru, Mr. Bharathkumar, Programme Officer, ITC MSK Mysuru, Dr. Lingaraju Doddamani, Asst. Director AH & VS. Hunsur, Dr. Darshan, Senior Veterinary Officer AH & VS Hanagadu, Dr. Girish, Veterinary Officer AH & VS Dharmapura and Dr. Nagarjuna, Veterinary Officer AH & VS Bannikuppe. Mr. T.B. Kumarappa. Project Leader, Mysuru Division, BISLD, Karnataka, coordinated the programme.

Mr. Hrishikesh A. Mafatlal, Chairperson, BAIF and Chairman, Sri. Chaitanya Seva Trust, Mumbai and Shri. Sanatkumar Prabhuji, Trustee, Sri. Chaitanya Seva Trust, visited the BAIF-ISKCON “Seed for Life” – Agrobiodiversity Programme covering indigenous crop cultivar diversity conservation and promotion for developing livelihood and nutritional security of tribal communities in Vikramgad and Wada blocks of Palghar district in Maharashtra on February 1, 2022.

The State Bank of India Gram Seva Programme, a CSR initiative with BAIF Institute for Sustainable Livelihoods and Development (BISLD) Andhra Pradesh, for integrated rural development through adoption of five villages, was launched in Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on January 26, 2022. The event was graced by the Regional State Bank of India Foundation Officer, M. Saibaba, Head of Gram Panchayats of the selected villages and Government officials and Mr. Gopal Reddy, Additional Chief Programme Executive, BISLD – Andhra Pradesh and his team.