Source: BL
Context:
The Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), a leading rural development organisation, announced significant progress in improving rural livelihoods and women’s empowerment across India. According to its press release dated November 6, 2025, PRADAN has enabled 5 lakh rural households to earn over ₹1 lakh annually in FY 2024–25 through sustainable, locally viable livelihood interventions.
Women-Led Collectives and FPOs
- PRADAN has promoted 93 women-led Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), uniting 1.43 lakh women shareholders.
- Additionally, 69 FPOs are supported through partnerships.
- Together, these collectives report an annual turnover of ₹1.2 billion, enhancing market access, income diversification, and agricultural inclusivity.
PRADAN’s FPO model is aligned with the Government of India’s “10,000 FPO Scheme”, fostering crop diversification and value-chain integration in pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and fruit orchards.
Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) Programme
- The APC programme reached 8.13 lakh households via 9,609 producer groups.
- The initiative has built robust value chains and expanded soil moisture conservation and irrigation coverage, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices in collaboration with State governments.
Holistic Livelihood Diversification
According to Saroj Kumar Mahapatra, Executive Director, PRADAN, the organisation and its partners are currently working with 2.5 million households to:
- Diversify income sources across farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities.
- Promote climate-resilient livelihoods through innovation and collaboration with government and local institutions.
- Develop scalable models for long-term, sustainable change.
