The Indian Farm Forestry Development Cooperative Limited(IFFDC) bagged the prestigious National Award "Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award", 1999 for afforesting 26,000 ha. wasteland in the states of UP, MP and Rajasthan. The award is promoted by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
Five primary farm forestry cooperative societies (PFFCS) namely Rakhyawal and Sangwa (Rajasthan), Katari and Madwa in (UP) and Karaiya (M.P.), developed by IFFDC have also been awarded "Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award" in different years.
IFFDC was born when IFFCO decided to set up a cooperative to reclaim wastelands. Some of its afforestation projects have been funded by the Canadian Department of Development, CIDA and the DFID (Department For International Development) Govt. of U.K. has sanctioned a project on poverty alleviation for Rs.47 crore (1999-2006).
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IFFCO-IFFDC's experience over the last decade indicate that the involvement of local people through village level institutions like cooperatives can improve the productivity of degraded land and enhance the livelihood of people. IFFDC helps rural people in the most backward areas.
Funds through the Indian government and donor institutions like DFID have facilitated the cause of rural development, wasteland development and thus increasing productivity. Industries can support/ involve in replicating these experiences of productivity improvement of degraded lands and value addition in community development programs. Promoting subsidiary activities through SHGs can act as a vehicle for overall development of the rural community.
The broad objectives of IFFDC are wasteland development for ecological balance and generate additional employment, development of wasteland and rural community through integrated farming system approach, people's involvement and women empowerment through cooperatives or Self Help Groups and financial, technical, marketing and extension support to the members.
Strengthening the cooperative structure by building people's capacity and organising them into Primary Farm Forestry Cooperative Societies (PFFCS) has been one of the foremost concerns while promoting farm forestry. The PFFCS have been formed at the village level to act as an umbrella body for undertaking the development activities. The target group comprises small, marginal and landless farmers and special emphasis has been laid on women participation.
150 Primary Farm Forestry Cooperative Societies(PFFCS) from U.P., M.P. and Rajasthan are the members of IFFDC. The total membership of these societies is 28287 out of which 32 per cent are women members.
A total of 26060 ha. wasteland has been transformed into green forests in the three states. Major species planted include, Timber species such as Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Siris (Albezia procera); Fuel Wood like Babool (Acacia Species), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Spp.), Subabool (Leucaena leucocephala); Fodder Sp. Viz. Subabool, Babool and some fruit species like Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) and Amla (Emblica officinalis) to fulfil the requirement of the member of the PFFCS.
Employment has been generated by engaging the members in various activities like pit digging, maintenance and irrigation. A total of 51.01 lakhs workdays were generated of which 41 per cent were contributed by women.
895 Self Help Groups have been formed with a cumulative saving of more than Rs.54.24 lakhs. The groups have helped greatly in inculcating the habit of savings among the rural poor. Besides, 781 literacy groups are also (functioning, working their way towards a "Saakshar Bharat"). The activities undertaken by members of SHGs for enhancing their income include dairy, poultry, goat-keeping, grocery Shops, nursery raising, basket and rope making, etc.