Small Farmer’s Agri-business Consortium (SFAC), an organization promoted by Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India has appointed AFC as a Project Management Agency for Publicity and Awareness Building Plan to support Venture Capital Assistance Scheme (VCAS) during XII Five Year Plan(2012-2017).

THREE PACKAGES COMES UNDER PMA are-

• Advertisement Package
• Public Relations Package
• Awareness Building Events Package

Advertisement Package- Designing, Planning and Implementing an annual advertising CAMPAIGN.Preparation of quarterly plans for media procurement.

Public Relations Package- Plan and implement a campaign to raise the media profile of SFAC and VCAS in the national,regional and district level press in key stated.Package planning and execution on quarterly basis.

Awareness Building Events Package- Organization of one day state and District level events(Workshop,Conference,Awareness Building Camps) to publicize the VCAS among key stakeholders.Package Planning and execution on quarterly basis. The PMA will prepare and implement a campaign to organize district level awareness building camps in 200 TARGET DISTRICTS to enhance awareness of VCAS and identify potential entrepreneurs.
These camps are SINGLE DAY EVENTS targeting local government officials,potential entrepreneurs, bankers, trade bodies, technical institutions and local media.

M&E of National Medicinal Plants Board Schemes, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI

AFC has been engaged for M&E of the projects sanctioned by NMPB during the years 2002-03 to 2009-10 under its Promotional schemes includes in-situ conservation/ ex-situ cultivation, Research & Development, establishment of herbal gardens, production of quality planting materials, extension activities, demand-supply studies, value addition etc and Commercial Venture Scheme includes large scale cultivation of prioritized rare & endangered species, post harvest technology, innovative marketing mechanism etc. in 32 States/UT of the Country.

Basic objectives of this exercise are to measure the process of execution, judicious use of released amount of Grant-in-aid as per the approved guidelines and SWOT analysis for drawing up policies and strategies for conservation, cultivation, marketing and sustainable management of this sector. The factual outcome at the gross root level may be used to have necessary mid-course corrections in the schemes being implemented by National Medicinal Plants Board for achieving National Goal.

• Tamil Nadu Success Story
• Atis Success Story

Training of Panchayati Raj Functionaries in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh

AFC has been awarded the task of imparting training to various stake holders under Panchayati raj in the states of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. The training would be organized round year during the current financial year. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India/ Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Uttar Pradesh has designated AFC, as a Technical Support Institution (TSI), for undertaking facilitation of the communities in the process of preparation of Perspective District Plans in 25 districts of Uttar Pradesh under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). In the process, besides other activities, AFC is involved in orientation of different stakeholders and elected members of DPC, ZP, GP and BDC members under PRI system and development.

AFC also completed the task of Training Need Analysis exercise and development of 10 Training Manual for the Panchyati Raj Functionaries in the state of Jharkhand under the GOI-UNDP-CDLG programme.

Implementation of Organic Farming Programme

To promote organic farming, AFC India Limited has been given the opportunity to implement the organic farming project named as “Adoption and Certification of Organic Management System with online Traceability for Facilitation Domestic Retail Chains and Export in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Haryana”.

In addition, an assignment relating to preparation of policy document for organic farming and market linkages in Arunachal Pradesh has also been awarded to AFC India Limited by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Production and Productivity of wheat through line sowing

The Agriculture Department of UP Government has assigned AFC a study under Enhancing Production and Productivity of wheat by proper placement of see and fertilizer through Line Sowing in Eastern UP under RKVY scheme.

Management of water logged area

As a sequel to the National Food Security Mission Scheme, Directorate of Agriculture, Govt of UP entrusted AFC two studies on Management of Waterlogged Area due to Canal seepage in Sitapur district and Raebareli District.

Intercropping of pulses with Sugar cane

AFC has also undertaken a project for Increasing Area and Production of pulses through intercropping of pulses with spring sown Sugarcane in major sugar cane growing areas of Uttar Pradesh under RKVY scheme.

Financial Literacy Programme in Murshidabad District in West Bengal NABARD has awarded AFC a Financial Literacy Programme in Murshidabad district in West Bengal focused on rural adults especially women. The entire package has been designed to leverage on the existing infrastructure created and/or supported by Government of India and respective State Governments. This awareness programme is being implemented through Self Help Groups and Farmer Clubs.

The Financial Literacy Programme has been structured to support the participants’ progress towards meeting their savings and asset goals. The training will also provide programme participants with opportunities to develop skills and acquire knowledge necessary to effectively manage their own financial situation.

Keeping the project requirements in mind, AFC proposed to adopt a blended approach to learning and imparting financial literacy. The program design will be in local language i.e. Bengali. Reserve Bank of India has launched a series of Financial Literacy drives. Some material published by Reserve Bank of India in various national languages, use of role-plays etc. will be made use to make the programme more interactive and useful for participants.

1. Preparation of District Perspective plans and Annual Plans under BRGF in 6 district of Uttar Pradesh

The Government of India has introduced Backward Region Grant Fund to readdress regional imbalances in development. The fund will provide financial resources for supplementing and converging existing development inflows into identified districts so as to

 1. Project Management Agency for 100% Physical Verification of Minor Irrigation Schemes under Rural Development  & Water Conservation Department, Government of Maharashtra -  

AFC has been associated with the Rural Development & Water Conservation Department, Government of Maharashtra with effect from April 2012, as a Project Management Agency (PMA), for conduct of 100% physical verification of 16454 number of completed different types of Minor Irrigation (MI) Schemes, of which 1273 MI schemes pertain to Local Sector (State) spread over in all 33 districts and 15181 MI schemes of ZP sector implemented in 6 districts (Jalna, Pune, Amravati, Nashik, Chandrapur and Thane) of the State.

The following services are envisaged to be provided by AFC, as a PMA.

• Designing the questionnaire to capture physical status and utility/ impact of completed MI structures.
• Assisting the Department in undertaking entire tender process for selection of Field Survey Agencies for taking up physical verification of completed MI schemes on common rate basis.
• Facilitating training workshops for the selected Field Survey Agencies and providing handholding for smooth conduct of GPS enabled physical verification of the MI schemes by them.
• Supervising/ monitoring of field survey work undertaken by the Field Survey Agencies.
• Cross verifying at least 10% of the MI schemes surveyed by the Field Survey Agencies.
• Developing web based MIS and database of the surveyed MI schemes.
• Compiling the field data in web based MIS in respect of MI schemes of both the sectors.
• Generating report covering different aspects of the MI schemes along with suggestions for improving under utilization of the schemes including possibilities for their commercial use.    

2. Management Support Group for National Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters

The Dept. of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) has issued guidelines for a program under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) for implementation of “The Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters” during 2011-12 with an outlay of Rs. 300 crore. The program aims at enhancing production, productivity and profitability of vegetables in the country through off-season production under protected cultivation for generating income round the year and offering at competitive price to the consumers. The task of management, including end-to-end solutions to plan, monitor, support and report on the programme, has been entrusted to Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), a specialized agency promoted by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The agency will address all concerns related to both the demand and supply side of the vegetable sector in one city of each states, which is either the state capital or any other city with a population of over one million and enhance vegetable production and productivity, nutritional security and income support to vegetable farmers.

SFAC has engaged AFC to deliver a range of technical and management services through the creation of a Management Support Group (MSG), comprising experienced professionals with expertise in project management, horticulture, monitoring and evaluation and statistics to support the NHM Division in DAC in the roll out and monitoring of the program. AFC will provide the technical manpower in coordination, supervision, technical backstopping and reporting inputs.

3. Asian Development Bank assisted North Karnataka urban Sector Improvement Programme for Government of Karnataka

AFC has been appointed as Apex Nodal NGO for implementation of poverty alleviation of Asian Development Bank assisted North Karnataka Urban Sector Improvement Programme for Government of Karnataka.

The project aims enhancing the delivery efficiencies of the ULBs in terms of affording better facilities to the people on a sustainable basis so as to ensure better living conditions. It also proposes to strengthen the ULBs with better and effective mechanism of administration particularly improved management of levy and collection of taxes and cesses with a view to generating revenues for themselves and become self supporting on a long term basis so that better services could be planned. The third and more important objective is to ensure maintenance of the assets created so far and also to be created in future, through an efficient system of asset management. In the context of transparency in the management of the public finances and utilities the project lays emphasis on the need for introduction of better financial management practices. The community development component of the project involves wide ranging socially relevant interventions through a series of actions such as health and environmental sanitation, education, women development and empowerment, community organization skill training, R and R and similar others.

4. Quality and Quantity Audit of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd. Phase II

AFC has bagged the quality and quantity audit of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL) from Government of Karnataka. The main objective behind the audit is 3rd Party Inspection of works to achieve quality and sound structures by using tested materials and adopting specifications as approved by KRIDL. AFC would identify the NABL accreted Laboratory and engage for testing of construction materials having sufficient numbers of trained, and skilled technical staff, and having equipment to conduct both field test and Laboratory tests and Non destructive tests which are required to be tested at different stages of work as per BIS standards as required by KRIDL.

In addition, important concrete works like Foundation, Plinth, Super structure, Roof finishing will also be witnessed by AFC Engineers, and technical guidance for fabrication of structures, construction and finishing work will be recorded in the inspection report and will be handed over to designated Engineers of KRIDL duly obtaining their signatures

 Setting up of Block Resource Centers (BRCs) under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) in UP

AFC has been awarded the task of setting up to Block Resource Centers (BRCs) under National Rural Drinking water Programme (NRDWP) in UP in April 2012.

BRC shall be the institutional set up at the block level to provide continuous support in terms of awareness generation, motivation, mobilization, training and handholding to the village communities, GPs and VWSCs. The BRC will serve as an extended delivery arm of the District Water and Sanitation Mission in terms of software support and act as a link between it and the GPs/VWSCs/Village communities.

Capacity building and generating awareness among the village community on various aspects of safe drinking water by BRCs will be the first step in improving their understanding to achieve drinking water security in term of quantity and quality. It will also help the villages in achieving Nirmal Gram status, sustaining and building on it with effective and low cost management of solid and liquid wastes.

 Third Party Mid Term Evaluation and Impact Assessment study of 94 National Watershed Development Programme in Rained Area (NWDPRA) under 11th five year plan (2007-12) in 10 Districts executed by Directorate of Soil Conservation, Jharkhand -  

The Directorate of Soil Conservation, Jharkhand has recently entrusted AFC with the tasks of third party mid-term evaluation and impact assessment study of NWDPRA executed in 10 districts of Jharkhand during XIth Five Year Plan in April 2012.

Under the assignment, all aspects of programme implementation are required to be studied for the purpose on sample basis. These aspects include DPR, Watershed Committee, capacity building and institutional arrangement, production system and SHG, details of works, NRM activities, watershed development fund, maintenance of records and accounts by watershed committee and SHGs, knowledge portal etc.

Mid-term evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Bamboo Mission

The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture has awarded AFC, the mid term evaluation study of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Bamboo Mission”. The Mission’s objectives are to promote the growth of the bamboo sector through an area based regionally differentiated strategy; to increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential areas, with suitable species to enhance yields; to promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based handicrafts; to establish convergence and synergy among stakeholders for the development of bamboo; to promote, develop and disseminate technologies through a seamless blend of traditional wisdom and modern scientific knowledge; to generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths. The study would evaluate physical and financial progress, and determine the qualitative and quantitative impact of various interventions taken up during three years of the Mission in respect of following components:

Planting material

• Nursery
• Tissue Culture Lab/Unit
• Area Expansion
• Improvement of Existing Stock
• Technology Transfer & Human Resource Development
• Technology Dissemination through Front Line Demonstrations
• Pest and disease management
• Post harvest storage and treatment facilities