79

    

 

where about 9-10

per cent families are landless and 80 per

cent are small and marginal farmers; which

has a scarcity of fertile land and water,

livelihood opportunities are severely limited.

In this underserved area, an agri-horti-

forestry model, a watershed development

programme and a breed improvement for

livestock programme aimed at farmers are

underway. Common to all these initiatives

is a singular NGO called BAI Institute for

Sustainable Livelihoods and Development

(BAI Livelihoods). e field action

unit of the umbrella organization BAI

Development Research oundation, it has

a plethora of programmes for sustainable

rural development, integrated tribal

development, optimum utilization of natural

resources, clean energy access and the social

empowerment of communities.

‘ese programmes have been supported

with strong scientific research and innovative

technological support. Interdisciplinary

themes such as women empowerment,

community health, education and rural

non-farm livelihood development have

Tree-based farming for sustainability and income

BAIF Institute for

Sustainable Livelihoods

and Development

•

•

•• •

BAIF founded by Dr. Manibhai Desai in

1967, and BAIF Livelihoods in 2012

BAIF Institute for Sustainable

Livelihoods and Development

(BAIF Livelihoods) was founded with

the vision of building a self-reliant

society assured of food security,

safe drinking water, good health,

gender equity, low child mortality,

literacy, high moral values and clean

environment. Inspired by Gandhian

principles, it works towards creating

sustainable livelihoods, enriching

the environment and improving the

quality of life for the marginalized.

BAIF today reaches out to over 4

million families from 80,307 villages

in 12 states, enabling them to

overcome poverty and attain a better

standard of living.