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Sayanant Development Foundation

About SDF

SDF, which stands for Sayanant Development Foundation, mobilises small and marginal farmers to improve their skills and promote remunerative livelihoods in remote rural parts of Northeast India. It was designed to gradually improve the socioeconomic position of Northeastern communities by providing them with skills, strengthening their institutions, and allowing their absorption into the global economy.

Livelihoods & Agriculture
Farmer Institutions
Climate Resilience
Rural livelihoods & community institutions – representative image

ABOUT SDF

Our Story

ABOUT SDF

SDF, which stands for Sayanant Development Foundation, mobilises small and marginal farmers to improve their skills and promote remunerative livelihoods in remote rural parts of Northeast India. It was designed to gradually improve the socioeconomic position of Northeastern communities by providing them with skills, strengthening their institutions, and allowing their absorption into the global economy. Women from marginalised homes might develop a belief in their potential to effect change through collective action, training, and support within their communities.

This empowerment encourages people to go beyond their customary duties and contribute to community and societal growth. SDF intervenes in activities that are consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as poverty eradication, food security, gender equality, and climate resilience. They accomplish this by providing access to inexpensive, dependable, and sustainable energy solutions.

Genesis: Our Story

The idea for SDF stemmed from the fact that poor farmers often use less profitable conventional methods for agriculture and allied activities. To become profitable, an entrepreneurial plan must be implemented, which stimulates a farmer's entrepreneurial mindset. To produce an entrepreneur, an ecosystem must exist that includes all of the resources needed to support the entrepreneur. SDF aims to build such an ecosystem that includes agri-preneurs, community institutions, farm logistics, and, most significantly, dependable marketing channels.

Vision: Our Story

Self-sufficient community, Supportive institutions, and Competent entrepreneurs

Mission: Our Story

Enable Community Institutions, Empower Entrepreneurs, and Eradicate Poverty for Social Transformation.

Values: Our Story

  • Equality
  • Transparency
  • Excellence
  • Professionalism

SDF’s Dream for Next 3 Years Our Story

Supporting 1 lakh poor households to earn at least Rs. 1 lakh additional incomes through improved livestock, Agriculture, fishery and other potential activities. For this SDF will promote 1,000 Entrepreneurs who will earn at least Rs. 1.8 lakhs per annum covering the backward districts of Assam.

FOCUS AREAS & REACH

Focus Areas: Focus Area Page

  • Promotion of Agri & Allied Sector Based Entrepreneurs
  • Strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations like PGs, FPCs, Cooperative Societies etc.
  • Improved Backyard Poultry, Goat Rearing, Piggery, Assam Lemon, Black Pepper, Fishery, and other enterprises
Current Reach Since 2024 (Focus Area Page)
1
State
11
Blocks
134
Villages
3000
Farmers
11
FPOs
3000+
Households
22
FPO staff

STRATEGY (Our Story)

SDF is adopting 4Cs model to implement any kind of project or program i.e., Cognitive transformation, Collectivization, Collaboration and Climate Smart Techniques

CONGNITIVE TRANFORMATION

Changing the behaviour & action of a farmer requires a comprehensive strategy that takes into account their mindset, expertise, and external factors. Initially, the SDF will carry out an evaluation of the farmer's capacity building needs regarding their attitudes and knowledge, which may hinder their progression towards becoming an Agri-preneur. Utilizing the 'mpower' tool, SDF will facilitate this assessment. Subsequently, based on the assessment findings, a tailored capacity building plan will be devised. Secondly, the emphasis will be on cultivating a vision among farmers, expanding their horizons and outlook.

COLLECTIVIZATION

Farmers will be able to pool resources, share knowledge, and negotiate higher prices for their produce through collective bargaining. Farmers can benefit from economies of scale in purchasing inputs by joining companies/cooperatives or collective farming groups, lowering costs and increasing efficiency. Furthermore, collective marketing gives farmers more bargaining power when negotiating prices with purchasers, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring higher returns on their goods. Furthermore, installing or sharing machinery and equipment among the collective minimises individual expenditures while increasing output. Overall, this sustainable organisation will help farmers increase their revenue by using pooled resources and collective negotiating power in the agricultural market. Even if the SDF back out from the project or program this institution can run independently and will generate more job at villages level.

COLLABORATION

Individual farmers and their groups, such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), require various types of assistance to succeed in agriculture. This includes access to loans, critical infrastructure such as irrigation systems and storage facilities, crop insurance coverage, and cutting-edge technical help to boost productivity and efficiency. SDF thinks that in order to support long-term growth, government institutions and corporate organisations in various areas must collaborate and align with farmers or FPOs. By matching their efforts with farmers' needs and interests, these organisations may successfully solve difficulties and capitalise on possibilities in agriculture. For example, government programs that provide subsidised loans or grants can be routed through FPOs to guarantee equitable distribution and maximum impact. Similarly, commercial enterprises specialising in agricultural machinery or digital solutions can work with farmers to customise their offers to meet local needs and preferences. Such collaborations not only benefit farmers by providing critical support, but they also allow governments and corporate organisations to broaden their reach and impact in the agricultural sector, supporting reciprocal growth and development.

CLIMATE SMART

Given the current state of global climate, SDF intends to transform a Farmer Producer Company (FPO) into a climate-smart business that will require a variety of solutions. For starters, adopting sustainable farming practices including organic farming, agroforestry, and water conservation measures reduces environmental impact while increasing resistance to climate change. Second, offering training and access to climate-resilient technologies gives farmers the tools they need to adapt to shifting weather conditions. Furthermore, improving access to weather information and insurance coverage protects farmers from climate-related hazards. Furthermore, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among FPO members promotes the implementation of innovative ideas. By combining these measures, FPOs can successfully reduce climate risks while also supporting sustainable agricultural development.

Initiatives & Campaigns
Livestock & Agro Enterprise Development
Country chicken, goat, piggery, and agro-based enterprises are central to SDF’s work with Farmer Producer Organisations and rural entrepreneurs across Northeast India.

Campaign page: Keep it blank for the time being

Initiative Page: Add a. Livestock Enterprise development b. Agro-based Enterprise Development

a. Livestock Enterprise Development:

b. Country chicken, goat, and piggery farming have enormous potential to boost the annual incomes of rural households. Each rural household in North East India raises them using age-old traditional methods. The scientific approach and entrepreneurial spirit are missing; hence the activity must be revamped using an entrepreneurial approach.

Recognising this, SDF has begun intervention in improved country chicken production with members of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in the Bechimary area of Udalguri district, with the FPOs supplying the necessary quality inputs and purchasing the produce at a remunerated price. FPOs are also fostering livestock entrepreneurs as their support, extension, and monitoring hands to expand activities in the villages.

c. Agro-based Enterprise Development:

Areca nut gardens are regarded as the engine behind development in India's North Eastern area. Every family has an arecanut garden in their backyard, which can be used for intercropping with lemon and black pepper plants. Taking advantage of this opportunity, SDF has recently begun similar action in the Kalagaon block of Udalguri district. The nursery for the same has been started with an FPO working in the locality.