Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the promoter organization of Indian Farm Forestry Development Co-operative Ltd. (IFFDC) started its farm forestry activities for wasteland development since 1986-87 in the states of U.P., M.P. and Rajasthan which has been handed over to IFFDC in 1995. More than, 26,900 ha. of wastelands have been converted into sustainable multipurpose green forests through 145 village level PFFCS with a membership base of 28,500. Special emphasis has been laid on women participation who is 30% of the total membership.

In the changing scenario of rural development, IFFDC is diversifying its activities by undertaking need based projects in the areas of Livelihood Enhancement, Poverty Alleviation, Natural Resources Management, Watershed Development, Farming System Development, Community Health, Mainstreaming Child Labour, Micro Finance, Rural Entrepreneurship Development etc. also with participatory approaches befitting with the emerging needs of the community by expanding its operations in the states of Uttrakhand, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat also. It has managed various projects worth more than Rs 1250 millions and is presently operating in more than 1500 villages of 13 states of the country covering all Agro-climatic Zones with collaboration of various International and National level funding agencies.

During last 16 years, it has successfully implemented various rural development projects with the financial support from CIDA (Canada), DFID, UK Govt., World Bank through Rajasthan Government, USAID through SIFPSA, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), International Labour Organization (ILO), National Afforestation and Eco Development Board (NAEB), Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India, State Governments, , National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) IFFCO and IFFCO-Chhattisgarh Power Limited (ICPL).

 

Objectives

Wasteland development for ecological balance and generate additional employment.
Development of wasteland and rural community through Integrated Farming Systems approach.
People’s involvement including women empowerment through Co-operatives/SHGs.
To provide Financial, Technical & Extension services to the members of PFFCS and SFFCS.

 

Area Of Operation

The area of operation is whole of the Indian Union. Presently IFFDC is implementing projects in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Orrisa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Andra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra also.

 

Beneficiaries

The target group comprises rural community specially the resource less, deprived rural poor, tribals and main emphasis has been laid on women participation with the pentagonal components of development viz; Jal (water), Jangal (forest), Jameen (land), Janwar (livestock) and Jan (human).

 

Institution Building

Strengthening the cooperative structure by building people’s capacity and organizing them into Primary Farm Forestry Co-operative Societies (PFFCS) has been one of the foremost concerns while promoting farm forestry and to provide effective platform for addressing various livelihood issues, it has developed Self Help Groups (SHGs), village level cooperative societies, Jankars (paraprofessionals), Mazdoor Vikas Samuh (MVS), Water User Associations and Joint Forest Management Committees, etc.