With 26 years of grassroots engagement across Madhya Pradesh, the Foundation aims to strengthen its contribution to agricultural development, farmer livelihoods and inclusive rural growth through CSR initiatives.
14 November 2026, New Delhi: Krishak Jagat Foundation is set to strengthen its focus on agriculture and rural development, building on nearly 26 years of grassroots engagement across Madhya Pradesh. The organisation plans to place agriculture at the centre of its development activities while expanding its work to include women’s development and child welfare. The renewed focus reflects its broader objective of strengthening rural livelihoods and contributing to the socio-economic development of farming communities.
Established in 2001 as KJ Education Society, Krishak Jagat Foundation has worked at the intersection of agriculture, rural development and farmer communication. Over the years, it has developed experience in agricultural extension, farmer capacity building, technology dissemination and the implementation of development programmes in collaboration with government institutions and private sector companies.
Dr. Sadhana Gangrade, President, Krishak Jagat Foundation, said the organisation’s journey over the past 26 years has been focused on laying a strong foundation for agricultural and rural development across Madhya Pradesh. Building on this experience, the Foundation intends to strengthen its engagement with farming communities while expanding its development priorities to include women’s empowerment and child welfare. The objective is to extend its grassroots work and contribute to inclusive and sustainable development across rural communities.
Agriculture has remained central to the Foundation’s activities, with a particular emphasis on helping farmers access improved technologies, scientific cultivation practices and practical agricultural knowledge. Its approach recognises that improving farm productivity and rural incomes requires more than the distribution of agricultural inputs. Farmers also need access to training, field demonstrations, technical guidance and market-related information.
One of its significant engagements was under the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) programme in Madhya Pradesh, which was implemented from the Kharif season of 2009 to 2016. The programme focused on introducing improved agricultural technologies, promoting high-yielding crop varieties and strengthening farmers’ understanding of scientific cultivation practices.
With a network of approximately 40 field coordinators, the initiative covered 30 districts and reached around 10 lakh farmers, with interventions extending across five lakh hectares of agricultural land.
The programme facilitated more than 4,500 field demonstrations, 5,000 farmer field schools, 3,000 intra-district training programmes, 1,500 inter-district training programmes and 2,000 residential training sessions. It also supported the formation of more than 3,000 self-help groups.
Strengthening Corporate Participation in CSR in Agriculture
An important dimension of the Foundation’s work has been its engagement with private sector companies to implement CSR programmes in agriculture and rural development.
The organisation has worked with companies including Jain Irrigation Systems, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai and Bayer Prayas on initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity and supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Foundation also partnered with Bayer Prayas to distribute 250 tonnes of seeds of maize, tomato and chilli, along with fertilisers and agrochemicals, to farmers. These inputs were provided free of cost, helping farming communities continue cultivation during a challenging period.
These initiatives demonstrate how CSR in Agriculture can translate corporate social responsibility commitments into practical interventions at the farm and community levels.
Taking Agricultural Knowledge to the Farm
Farmer education and technology adoption remain important components of the Foundation’s approach. Its activities include crop-specific training, field demonstrations, farmer meetings, agricultural fairs and awareness programmes conducted in coordination with agricultural experts and institutions.
The Foundation has also organised more than 10 international farmer study tours, involving over 500 farmers visiting countries such as Israel, the Netherlands, Turkey and China. These visits were designed to familiarise progressive farmers with advanced agricultural practices and technologies.
Following these visits, participating farmers implemented several practices, including fertigation, viticulture, product branding and marketing, dragon fruit cultivation and hydroponics.
Expanding the Rural Development Agenda
While agriculture will remain a priority, Krishak Jagat Foundation also intends to broaden its development agenda to include women’s development and child welfare.
Women’s participation has already been an important element of its agricultural programmes. Under the ATMA initiative, the Foundation maintained approximately 33% female participation across its activities. Its experience in facilitating the formation of more than 3,000 self-help groups also provides a foundation for expanding livelihood-oriented opportunities for women in rural communities.
Going forward, a wider focus on women’s development will complement agricultural interventions by encouraging greater participation and creating opportunities for economic and social advancement within rural households.
Child welfare will represent another dimension of the Foundation’s broader social development priorities. By extending its engagement beyond agricultural activities, the organisation aims to contribute to the overall well-being and development of rural communities.
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