BAIF Development Research Foundation (formerly registered as the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation), is a reputed, non-political, secular and professionally managed and voluntary organization established in 1967 by Dr. Manibhai Desai, a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, at Urulikanchan, near Pune to promote sustainable livelihood in Rural India. We are committed to provide sustainable livelihood to the rural poor through management of natural resources and promotion of Livestock Development, Watershed Development and Agri-horti-forestry, Agri – Business, Dairy Husbandry as major income generation activities. We are serving over 4.5 million poor families living in 60,000 villages spread over 16 states across the country through the dedicated efforts of over 4500 employees.
Our Mission – Our mission is to create opportunities of gainful self-employment for the rural families, especially disadvantaged sections, ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched environment, improved quality of life and good human values. This is being achieved through development research, effective use of local resources, extension of appropriate technologies and up gradation of skills and capabilities with community participation.
Awards Received –
Sitaram Jindal Foundation Prize – 2012 for Agriculture, Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation, August 2012.
ICICI Inclusive India Award in the Sustainable Livelihoods Impact category (Established NGO) 2012.
Rojgar Jagrookata Puraskar - 2010-11 was conferred on BAIF Institute for Rural Development- Karnataka by the Ministry of Rural Development, (MoRD) Government of India in February 2012, for generating awareness and facilitating the community for availing the benefits of MGNREG scheme in Begur, G.Basavanakoppa, Dummawada, Satturu and Gambiyapura gram panchayat villages of Kalaghatagi taluka, Dharwad district during 2010-11.
The Times of India Social Impact Award for NGOs in the category of Environment, September 2011.
The SBI Excellence Award was conferred on Rajasthan Rural Institute for Development Management (RRIDMA), an Associate Organisation of BAIF, for 2011, by State Bank of India Delhi Circle comprising of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan in recognition of the good work done in rural development in Rajasthan.
Best Water NGO National Award awarded to BAIF under 'Revival of Rural Water Resources,' 'Water Harvesting' and 'Water Education' categories for innovative sustainable water management and farming from Water Digest in collaboration with UNESCO and Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India in 2010.
Ground Water Augmentation Award conferred on BAIF Institute for Rural Development, Karnataka in 2010 for promoting an user friendly and hygienic method of roof top water harvesting for drinking water to combat fluorosis in 45 villages in Tumkur district of Karnataka was appreciated by the Ministry of Water Resources. The innovation was construction of ground level water tank with a tightly closed lid, inside or adjacent to the house and connecting water supply directly to the kitchen through a hand pump, which could keep the water clean while providing water any time. This was a unique model appreciated by users as well as sponsoring agencies.
BAIF was conferred the India Development Marketplace Award 2011, by IFC-World Bank, for the project proposal "Scaling up the benefits and positive income impact to small Amla farmers of Rajasthan through productivity enhancement and market linkages".
The Vasantrao Naik Puraskar was conferred on Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (MITTRA), Nashik, by the Vasantrao Naik Agricultural Research and Rural Development Foundation on July 1, 2011.
Research Partnership Award was conferred on BAIF by ICRISAT in recognition of the outstanding impact of the land-based research projects jointly implemented by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and BAIF which has led to enhancement of agricultural productivity in 2010.
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Puraskar by the Government of India
Indira Priyadarshini Paryavaran Puraskar 2007 to BIRD-K for sustainable management of natural resources
India NGO Award 2008 for good governance by Resource Alliance, UK and the N & J Khemka Foundation, India
Indian Innovation Award 2005 for innovative approaches in poverty alleviation. Vasantrao Naik Jala Samvardhan Award 2005 for innovative approach in watershed development.
Doreen Mashler Award for outstanding contribution to integrated watershed management (2004) to BAIF, RRIDMA and SPESD.
12th Red and White Social Bravery Award 2003 to Dhruva.
Award for Excellence in Rural Development 2003 to Dhruva by the Federation of Gujarat Industries, Vadodara.
Award for Excellence in Rural Development 1999 to GRISERV-BAIF by the Federation of Gujarat Industries, Vadodara.
Adivasi Seva Sanstha Award 1997 for tribal development in Ahmednagar, Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra.
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Puraskar 1996 to GRISERV-BAIF.
Rajat Kamal Award for the film "Building from Below" 1994.
Green Film Award, Berlin Festival for the film "Golden Earth" 1991.
Rajat Kamal Award for the film "Golden Earth" 1991.
NCERT – Best Children's Literature Award for "Mother Nature" 1991.
Seth Baldeodas Shah Award for improved silkworm mountages 1991-92