Action for Food Production (AFPRO) is an NGO with a prominent national presence. Established in 1966 with Christian inspiration, as a secular Indian technical service organization, it was registered (registration No.3516) in 1967 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
Operating through 9 Regional Offices located across the geographical expanse of the country, we strive to enhance livelihoods and quality of life of rural poor and marginalized communities through the management of natural resources. The natural resources falling within our ambit include land, water and forests; and critical economic activities revolving around them – agriculture, livestock, fishery and forestry. New frontiers are being explored through non farm based skill development activities, as strategies to empower communities.
Our illustrious evolution, spanning over 47 years (1966 – 2013), represents systematic shifts, with the organization rising to address critical development concerns of the nation. From a ‘Welfare Oriented’ approach focusing on groundwater exploration; we have risen to address issues of increasing food production and degradation of natural resources through our phases of ‘Growing Environmental Consciousness’ and ‘Exploring Technological Options’. Acknowledging ‘Social Integration’ as key to the success of development interventions; paradigm shifts in the organizations approaches have been represented by the adoption of Participatory Rural Appraisals and Participatory Appraisal and Learning Methods (PALM) as precursors to the development process.
Our multidisciplinary technical services and capacity development support represent an evolution in approaches adopted. Competent teams comprising of Hydro geologists, Civil and Agriculture Engineers, Agriculture and Livestock Specialist, and Rural Sociologists have been contributing to the design, development and implementation of innovative technological solutions addressing limiting factors at the grassroots.
Our target groups too represent an evolution from technical support to grassroots level NGO’s to technical support to rural communities – small and marginalized farmers, women and the landless. Our programmes have found our active engagement with rural communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions; and collaborations with Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) & Research Organizations, Ministries under the Government of India and Institutes representing Policy and Advocacy.
AFPRO endeavors to bring together the resources of overseas funding agencies, Government agencies, financial institutions and grassroots level NGOs for implementation of developmental projects to improve the livelihoods and quality of life of the weaker sections of the rural community. AFPRO works for people without discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, race, religion or nationality.
Important Programmes
Better Cotton Initiative in India
Cotton is one of the most important fiber and cash crop of India and plays a dominant role in the industrial and agricultural economy of the country. Cotton in India provides direct livelihood to 6 million farmers and about 40 -50 million people are employed in cotton trade and its ...
Live Better with the Flood
The green revolution in wheat and rice, white revolution in milk, yellow revolution in oilseed and the “blue revolution” in fisheries have augmented the food basket of the country. But many technological challenges remain. First, despite the shrinking share (23%) of the agricultural sector in the economy, the majority of ...
Strengthening livelihoods through development of water resources
Diverse natural resources are never an answer to all development woes. Breaking down restrictions, there is a realization that it is these natural resources that can be developed into stepping stones; unleashing the door to a more holistic development. Centering interventions around a single resource like water alone, while playing ...
Creating water assets for tribal families
Tribal families in the hilly areas of Gajapati district have from time immemorial utilized traditionally available material and the flow of gravity to transfer water from springs to their villages. However, the undulating terrain adds to the woes of the local communities making access to safe drinking water a challenge. ...