BAIF Bhavan, Pune, an integral part of the legacy of BAIF, has completed three decades today. On June 19, 1996, the BAIF Bhavan and the Management Training Centre – the dream of our Founder – Late Dr. Manibhai Desai, an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, were inaugurated by then Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Stanley Gooch. The premises spread over 2 ha and which houses various facilities – the Head Office, Training Classrooms, Hostel and Canteen, amidst a green canopy with diverse flora and fauna and forming a shelterbelt for improved micro-climate and biodiversity conservation, has been a testament to the growth of the organisation.

Over the years these premises have welcomed and nurtured young professionals with a desire to contribute to sustainable development of Rural India. It has also had the honour of receiving national and international dignitaries and wellwishers who have expressed their support for fulfilling the mission of BAIF. With its presence in 7 states three decades ago, today, BAIF has expanded to 18 states, reaching out to more than 4 million families in more than 100,000 villages and moving steadily towards Viksit Bharat@2047.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and BAIF (Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) Development Research Foundation, Pune, formalized a strategic partnership through the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at BAIF’s Central Research Station, Uruli Kanchan, Pune, on June 15, 2026.

​The MoU was exchanged between Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF, and Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, marking a significant step towards collaborative research, innovation, technology validation, and capacity building in areas critical to sustainable development.

A key focus of the partnership will be the advancement of agrivoltaics, an emerging field that integrates solar energy generation with agricultural production. CSIR-NIIST has been developing innovative agrivoltaic technologies to optimize solar energy generation while enhancing agricultural productivity through advanced solar panel configurations and light-management approaches. BAIF, among the early adopters of agrivoltaics in India, has undertaken field-scale studies on diverse agrivoltaic systems and their impact on crop productivity and farm sustainability. Together, the two organizations will collaborate on field validation, demonstration, and deployment of agrivoltaic technologies across diverse agro-climatic regions of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, said, “This partnership with BAIF represents a convergence of scientific innovation and grassroots impact. By combining CSIR-NIIST’s technological expertise with BAIF’s extensive field network and experience in rural development, we aim to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies that support climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy generation, and improved rural livelihoods.”

During his visit, Dr. Anandharamakrishnan toured BAIF’s research facilities, field demonstrations, and laboratories. Discussions identified several additional areas for collaboration, including vegan leather technology, green technologies, wastewater treatment and reuse, agricultural waste management, biomass valorization, AI-enabled drone technologies for soil, water, and crop management, and waste-to-wealth solutions such as biodegradable plastics, eco-friendly packaging materials, agricultural mulch, and biodegradable cutlery.

Established in 1967 by Dr. Manibhai Desai, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, BAIF is one of India’s premier rural development organizations with a distinguished legacy in sustainable agriculture, livestock development, natural resource management, and livelihood enhancement. Its extensive grassroots presence and community-centered approach have made it a catalyst for rural transformation across the country.

The agreement was exchanged in the presence of senior scientists and officials from both organizations, including Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, BAIF; Mr. Pramod Takawale, Programme Director – Agricultural Research, BAIF; Dr. Adersh Ashok, Senior Scientist, CSIR-NIIST; and scientists and research teams from both institutions.

The strategic partnership is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of scalable solutions in agrivoltaics, circular bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, water management, and rural development, contributing significantly to India’s sustainability, climate action, and rural prosperity goals.

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram 

Mango, the King of Fruits needs no introduction. This most sought after fruit has a very rich legacy. In Maharashtra, diverse varieties of mango are cultivated in traditional and non-traditional areas. This diversity was showcased at the unique Indigenous Mango Diversity Festival hosted by BAIF at its Head Office in Pune.

​The exhibition displayed more than 330 indigenous varieties cultivated in Ahilyanagar, Pune, Satara, Dharashiv, Sindhudurg, Nashik, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Latur districts each with its distinct characteristics, origin and cultural significance. The festival brought together conservationists, researchers, field practitioners and consumers with the common goal of conservation of unique agrobiodiversity for climate resilience, nutritional security, dietary diversity and as a secure food for future generations. Major discussions focussed on candidate selection, genomic and nutritional studies, genome saviours database, value addition and building a platform for knowledge enrichment.

The festival was inaugurated by Sayaji Shinde, Founder, Sahyadri Devarai Foundation in the presence of Dr. Ashok Giri, Senior Scientist, National Chemcial Laboratory, Pune, Dr. Subhash Bhalekar, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Pune, Mr. Amit Gadre, Sakal Agrowon, Dr. Santosh Suryavanshi, Ayurveda Expert, Dr. Ankur Patwardhan, former Head of the Department of Biodiversity, Garware College, Pune, Dr. Sujata Taitali, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV & FRA), Branch Office, Pune, BAIF Senior Management – Mr. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Ms. Pritam Chandak, Dr. Rajashree Joshi and Mr. Sanjay Patil – BAIF’s Agrobiodiversity Lead, Thematic and other enthusiastic teams from BAIF Head Office and mango lovers from across the city.

The festival with its staggering display of diverse varieties of mangoes and explained with painstaking details and pride by dedicated cultivators, was a step towards educating, conserving and ensuring sustainable use of Maharashtra’s mango cultural heritage.

​The two-day national workshop organised at the Head Office of BAIF in Pune, witnessed a stunning participation by more than 35 vibrant eDosts and Digital Sakhis associated with BAIF’s Programme in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. These new-age dynamic women brimming with confidence and leadership skills stole the show with their infectious enthusiasm, power with words, expressions and resilience. Time stood still as one after the other, these women broke the shackles of language and cultural diversities with their unity and sense of purpose, to unfold a silent digital revolution in rural India. The experience sharing sessions enabled them to learn from each other and build on their capacities while exploring new pathways for rural transformation.

​Many of these women, who once had limited mobility and financial agency, are now earning independent incomes, operating digital platforms, facilitating financial transactions, supporting access to government schemes, and helping rural citizens navigate an increasingly digital world. For years, BAIF has consciously invested in building a grassroots cadre of women digital service providers in under-served and remote rural regions where access to technology, banking, entitlements, and information were limited. Today, these women have emerged as trusted change-makers, local entrepreneurs, and role models for countless others in their communities. Their work is even more endearing because of the fact that they are often the first point of support for the elderly, widows, differently-abled and vulnerable households for whom digital systems and formal institutions are formidable challenges.

With the arrival of doorstep digital and financial services provided by this band of neo-digital and financial providers, crucial gaps in access, dignity, and inclusion are being narrowed swiftly. The transformation in their own lives has been equally remarkable. The surge in self-esteem, financial independence, decision-making ability and recognition within families and society is helping to break the glass ceiling in rural India. Women are no longer seen merely as beneficiaries — they have a new identity and are now known as breadwinners, leaders, and technology ambassadors of their villages.

Over the years, BAIF-facilitated 650+ Digital Sakhis and eDosts have collectively reached thousands of rural households, facilitated access to multiple government welfare schemes, promoted digital and financial literacy, enabled online services, and created sustainable livelihood opportunities at the grassroots level. This initiative is a powerful example of how connectivity can be made meaningful — where science, technology, and society come together to create inclusive and human-centred development. It reflects the vision of a Digital India where no village, no woman, and no vulnerable citizen is left behind.

In this journey, the invaluable partnership and support extended by fintech and institutional partners namely, PayNearby, Bankit, Partner banks, APC-Internet Society, IIT Bombay, Tata Motors, ITC, L & T Finance, Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation have enabled BAIF to strengthen the rural digital ecosystem.

Conceived as a mission-mode stock-taking exercise, the workshop drew upon strategic guidance and facilitation support from BAIF’s senior team members -Rajashree Joshi and Waman Kulkarni, Sujata Kangude, Women Empowerment Anchor, and was very well coordinated by Ms. Pooja Majgankar who has been anchoring the E-Dost Initiative at BAIF. The workshop was also enriched with a motivational session by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President, BAIF.

One-health and biodiversity are critical aspects. In the absence of connections between the loss of forest cover, impact on air quality and health, Biohappiness should be the goal along with a set of social and human capital indicators, stated Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist, World Health Organization and currently, the Chairperson of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai during her visit to BAIF, Pune on May 22, 2026.

Dr. Swaminathan, daughter of former Vice Chairman of BAIF, Bharat Ratna Late Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, while interacting with senior BAIF team led by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, lamented the exclusive focus on financial capital and infrastructure development and the need for key policies beyond GDP which India can take to the world. There is a need for a national programme on agrobiodiversity with the Government extending funding and other support to ensure a large database for plant breeding and linking it for the benefit of the farmers and committed community seed banks.

Nutrition and the health-food system are broken and malnutrition, stunting, anaemia are still prevalent among women and children in tribal areas apart from the alarming rise in diabetes and obesity especially among younger people. As 2026 is the Year of the Woman Farmer, she called for incentives in agriculture and replication of women-centred enterprises and innovations. Science, research straddled with development and a partnership / consortium approach are also very important, she concluded. She and the Pune-based Chairs of MSSRF-Nutrition and Women in Agriculture Centres, expressed interest in BAIF’s publications, agrobiodiversity and nature-based solutions in Agriculture exhibits and interacted with Dr. Kakade, Dr. Rajashree Joshi, Vice President, Programmes, Sucharita Dhar, Sanjay Patil and Viswadev VS.

Dr. Swaminathan and her team accompanied by Dr. Rajashree Joshi, also visited the BAIF Rural Innovation Centre at Uruli Kanchan, Pune on May 23 – agrivoltaics and hydroponics demonstrations, spineless cactus park, livestock genomics, research facilities, Community Health Research Centre and the marketing outlet of women self help groups and emphasised on nutrition and food systems through various interventions, during her interaction with Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, Vithal Kauthale, Sachin Joshi, Lata Sharma, Hemant Kadam, Kaustubh Bhave, Kailas Gavhane and Sagar Jade. The visit concluded with the Nisargopachar Ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi and with its focus on naturopathy for mental and physical well-being.

May 8, 2026: Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee of BAIF Development Research Foundation, has been nominated as a Member of the Advisory Board of the prestigious National Water Academy (NWA), Central Water Commission (CWC), Pune with effect from May 8, 2026 for a period of three years.

The NWA serves as a Centre of Excellence for imparting training in the development and management of water resources to serving engineers deputed from Central and State agencies. The CWC is a premier technical organisation in the country which is affiliated to the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.

With his vast experience spanning nearly three and a half decades in natural resources management and innovative water resources development models in diverse agro-ecological regions of the country, the programmes implemented under the leadership of Dr. Kakade have resulted in the transformation of thousands of water-deficit villages into water-surplus villages.

Hearty congratulations to Dr. Kakade on this admirable nomination which will go a long way in strengthening and conserving the water reserves in the country through his extensive experience in sustainable water resources management and stewardship.

Apr 28, 2026: BAIF Maharashtra team was honoured to welcome Bharat Ratna Mr. Sachin Tendulkar along with Sara Tendulkar and Saaniya Tendulkar to the inaugural programme of Climate Smart Village – Guhir in Wada block of Palghar district, Maharashtra, on April 28, 2026. Climate Smart Village is a transformative project being implemented by BAIF Development Research Foundation in partnership with ‘Spreading Happiness InDiya Foundation (SHIF), a collaboration between the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF) and Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd (SEIPL).

The visitors witnessed the remarkable transformation of Guhir village through a 40 kW solar energy system integrated with Schneider Electric’s IoT-enabled smart energy solutions. This initiative powers street lighting, households, two irrigation pumps for a lift irrigation system, women-led small enterprises, and a digital smart school with strong community engagement.

While inaugurating the programme, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar appreciated the exemplary work being undertaken through the partnership between SHIF and BAIF and engaged warmly with the students, villagers especially women farmers, and self-help groups.

Sara Tendulkar and Saaniya Tendulkar also expressed keen interest and admiration for the activities undertaken by the women’s groups, interacted with them and purchased some of their edible products including a Nagali (finger millet) product.

Mr. Deepak Sharma, Zone President Greater India, Managing Director and CEO, SEIPL, highlighted the initiative taken up with SHIF. Mrs. Bhavana Verma, Vice President and Dr. Richa Gautam, CSR and Sustainability Head, Schneider, were also present at this event.

Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee of BAIF, provided an overview of BAIF’s pan-India initiatives and the impact achieved across diverse regions through various programmes on rural livelihoods and climate action. The BAIF team comprising of Dr. Raviraj Jadhav, Vice President, Programmes, Mr. Sudhir Wagle, Joint Regional Director, West Region, Mr. Pradip Khose, Chief Programme Manager, Mr. Raosaheb Kote, Chief Thematic Programme Executive – NRM & Climate Action, and the project implementation team were also present on the occasion.

BAIF is proud to be a part of this inspiring initiative and remains committed to building replicable, community-led development models that can bring about lasting change in rural India.

We sincerely thank SHIF, the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, and Schneider Electric India for their trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to rural transformation.

Mar 07, 2026: All roads led to Kaprada. Unity in diversity, freewheeling talent and confidence, pride without prejudice and knowledge coalition, were displayed at their best at the Women’s Day celebration held at Kakadkopar village in Nanapondha taluka of South Gujarat on the eve of International Women’s Day.

This one-of-its kind mega event celebrated under the Digital Sakhi and Jal Vaibhav Projects, was organised by L & T Finance Limited, Larsen & Toubro Public Charitable Trust, Mumbai and Implementing Partner – BAIF Development Research Foundation, with women taking the lead in infusing life into the programme with their brilliant organisational and creative skills. They were the ultimate showstoppers whose adornment of statement embellishments, added a touch of old-world charm and elegance to the event. .

Each of the more than 500 stunning women from Kaprada and Nanapondha talukas, were hailed as a lotus – the national flower of India, symbolising purity and awakening. While being felicitated, each of them – Manjulaben Patel, Traditional Healer, Sumitraben Valvi, Model Community Resource Person and Digital Sakhis – Gitaben Bhusara, Vanitaben Vasava and Neeranjanaben Thorat, had an inspiring story to narrate.

The event was graced by Ms. Jyoti Nimbhorkar, Senior Programme Manager, Larsen & Toubro Public Charitable Trust and the BAIF team led by Ms. Pritam Chandak, Vice President – Finance and comprising of Ms. Sucharita Dhar, Senior Manager – Information and Communications, Ms. Sujata Kangude, Thematic Programme Executive – Women Development, Mr. Prashant Dudhade, Thematic Programme Executive – Convergence and Mr. Jitin Sathe, Additional Chief Programme Executive – South Gujarat. The guests expressed their immense appreciation of the assembled women who had swept aside various obstacles to fast forward the lives of women and the community through sheer determination, grit, collective strength and solidarity. A play enacted by the Digital Sakhis, received a standing ovation for its well-crafted direction and powerful acting. A bright day was indeed made brighter by these emboldened women. Ms. Jareena Khatun, Project Manager, Digital Sakhi Project and Mr. Mukesh Mandraha, Project Manager, Jal Vaibhav Project, also contributed to the success of the programme.

Pan BAIF Celebrations

February 27, 2026: Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF, is the proud recipient of the prestigious 4th Dr. P.G. Pandey Memorial Oration Award and Citation 2026. The award was conferred on Dr. Kakade by Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Vice Chancellor of U.P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU) on the eve of the 15th Convocation of the University held in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

The award recognises Dr. Kakade’s outstanding contribution to sustainable rural livelihoods, livestock-based livelihoods, and climate action. While delivering the Memorial Oration, Dr. Kakade highlighted BAIF’s saga of contribution to rural communities, various science and technology-based initiatives and future directions for strengthening the rural economy. His address was also oriented towards encouraging young veterinarians and identifying various avenues for rural entrepreneurship.

Dr. P.G. Pandey was a visionary and a pioneer of veterinary education and animal sciences in India. The Dr. P.G. Pandey Memorial Oration Award is a testament of the significant contribution made by Dr. Kakade towards the development of smallholder farmers and rural communities in the country.

February 23, 2026: BAIF and Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT), Pune, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative framework for advancing research, technology development, and entrepreneurship in the agri-livestock sector, with focus on climate resilience and sustainable practices.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF and Dr. Bharat Agarwal, Managing Trustee, BRACT’s VIT, Pune. While signing the MoU, Dr. Kakade stated that this partnership will integrate VIT’s academic and technological capabilities with BAIF’s applied research, domain expertise, and large-scale implementation strengths to enable the development and scaling of impactful solutions. Also present on the occasion were Mr. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Group Vice President and Mr. Mayur Sarode, Programme Executive – Social Enterprise & Business Development, BAIF, Dr. Vivek Deshpande, Director, Project and Innovation, Vishwakarma Institutes, Dr. Atul Kulkarni, Director, Corporate Relations, Vishwakarma Institutes, Dr. Pravin Hujare, Coordinator, Technology Research Centre in Agriculture & Rural Development, VIT and Dr. Sandeep Kore, Head of the Department, Mechanical Engineering, VIT.

February 9, 2026: In a major step towards strengthening the Dairy Sector in West Bengal, Pune-based BAIF Development Research Foundation, committed to the prosperity of smallholder farmers in the country, and Kolkata-based Paschim Banga Go-Sampad Bikash Sanstha (PBGSBS), a State Implementing Agency under the Animal Resources Development Department of the Government of West Bengal, entered into a strategic partnership for advancing genomic technologies to support the livelihoods of dairy farmers in West Bengal.

Based on the experience of BAIF in digital data collection and advanced genomic technologies, under this collaboration, as a Technology and Knowledge Partner, BAIF will provide technical support to PBGSBS for implementation of a full-fledged Genomic Selection programme for accelerating genetic improvement of cattle and enhancing dairy productivity in West Bengal.

The virtual event was graced by Dr. Gouri Shankar Koner, CEO, PBGSBS and MD, Banglar Dairy Limited, Dr. Utpal Kumar Karmakar, MD, West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation Limited (WBLDCL), Dr. Biswajit Saha, APD (MIS), PBGSBS and Dr. Sharadindu Shil, APD, Centre for Laboratory Animal Research and Training (CLART), WBLDCL.

The BAIF team was led by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee. Dr. Kakade, emphasised that this collaboration reflects the strong, shared commitment between BAIF and PBGSBS to leverage genomic selection technologies for long-term, sustainable livestock improvement. He further announced that with this association, West Bengal has become the 18th operational state of BAIF in the country. Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, Mr. Rakesh Warrier, Programme Director and Regional Director – East, Dr. Sachin Joshi, Chief Thematic Programme Executive – Animal Genetics, Breeding & Genomics and Dr. Santosh Deo, Associate Thematic Programme Executive, BAIF Bihar, were also present.

Dr. Gouri Shankar Koner stated that this initiative will strengthen dairy value chain, improve the productivity, and ensure better economic returns for dairy farmers in West Bengal in a structured and time-bound way.

The key contributions of the PBGSBS team and BAIF’s Animal Breeding Genetics team led by Dr. Sachin Joshi and comprising of Dr. Vinod Potdar, Dr. Kaustubh Bhave, Mr. Yuvraj Gaundare, Dr. Santosh Jadhav, Dr. Velu Dhanikachalam, Dr. Akshay Joshi, Dr. Shantanu Shinde, Mr. Nikhil Punde, and Mrs. Tejashree Shirsat were duly acknowledged.

January 30, 2026: BAIF has taken the lead to implement a unique first of its kind Agrivoltaics Project in the country, with the generous support of HSBC Software Development (India) Pvt. Ltd. at its peri-urban Rural Knowledge Centre – “BAIF Rural Innovation Centre” at Uruli Kanchan, Pune. This Rural Innovation Centre with its focus on green collar employment generation, is also a unique grassroots knowledge campus in the country.

The Agrivoltaics Project with its focus on clean energy production along with crops, was inaugurated by Mr. Vikram Kulkarni, Managing Director and Head of HSBC Technology India, Mr. Swami Bagul, Managing Director HSBC, Ms. Monirupa Shete, Communications Lead, Mr. Rajesh Devi, Director, India Tech Centre, Mr. Vineet Kondejkar, Head of Cybersecurity Programme Delivery, Mr. Ajay Deshpande, Head, FDR IT Pune, Ms. Smita Jamalamadaka, Head, Digital and WCS Technology India, Mr. Nitin Mhaske, Digital Content Manager, Ms. Damini Khaire, AVP, Global Sustainability, HSBC, in the presence of Mr. Gulabsing Girase, Director, Gro Solar, Mr. Kaustubh Apte, Director, Maxwell Solar & Wind Energy, Mr. Anand Tembe, Director, Satara Renewable Energy Systems P. Ltd. and Mr. Abhimanyu Sahu, Chief Operating Officer, Schneider Electric India Foundation, BAIF scientists and project team at Uruli Kanchan. BAIF team led by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, Dr. Jayant Khadse, Mr. Waman Kulkarni, Dr. Vithal Kauthale, Mr. Sagar Kadao and Mr. Mahesh Lade, shared the objectives of this initiative in alignment with the national goals of renewable energy and enhanced farmer’s income.

In the inaugural address, Dr. Kakade stated that this project, which blends cutting edge scientific technologies with rural wisdom, will showcase live demonstrations of renewable energy solutions and crop cultivation optimising the land use for highest possible returns. He further stated that the project which is the first integrated agrivoltaics demonstration programme in India with 17 agrivoltaics models in place, is a momentous step towards climate-resilient agriculture, decentralised energy, and scalable rural innovation with operations spread over Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka. Field trials across 26 crops are generating robust, multi-season evidence, with crop-wise packages of practices and technical manuals underway. Beyond infrastructure, the project has reached more than 800 farmers, trained 45 rural youth as solar technicians, and shared learnings through multiple national workshops and exposure visits, he concluded.