PRADAN empowers 5 lakh rural households to earn ₹1 lakh annually, boosts women-led FPOs
Of the 25 lakh households participating in sustainable livelihood programmes, PRADAN directly engaged with 8.25 lakh, helping 66,000 households surpass the ₹2.5 lakh mark through high-return models.
The Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) – the organisation working towards reaching out to the poorest communities, building human capabilities and building women’s self-reliant collectives as change agents – has empowered 5 lakh households to earn over ₹1 lakh annually in 2024-25, according to a press release.
The release said that 25 lakh households participated in improved, locally viable, sustainable livelihood opportunities. Of them, PRADAN directly engaged with more than 8.25 lakh households. Over 5 lakh households earn over ₹1 lakh annually, and 66,000 households have crossed ₹2.50 lakh through high-return livelihood models, it said.
Women-led collectives
PRADAN has promoted 93 women-led FPOs (farmer producer organisations), bringing together 1.43 lakh women shareholders and supported another 69 FPOs through partnerships. These collectives, with an annual turnover of ₹1.2 billion, are enhancing market access and driving inclusive agricultural growth, it said.
Quoting Saroj Kumar Mahapatra, Executive Director of PRADAN, the release said: “To strengthen livelihood resilience, PRADAN, along with its partners, is working with 2.5 million households to diversify income sources across farm, off-farm and non-farm activities. Through the Government of India’s 10,000 FPO scheme, PRADAN has advanced crop diversification and supported smallholder farmers to transition to higher-value crops. This includes pulses, oilseed, vegetables and fruit orchards. Our approach is rooted in collaboration and innovation. Our field teams work together with government institutions and local partners to develop scalable models for sustainable change.”
PRADAN’s Agriculture Production Cluster programme reached 8.13 lakh households through 9,609 producer groups, building robust value chains in close partnership with State governments. The organisation also expanded soil moisture conservation and irrigation coverage to support sustainable farming.
“What we are building is not just income; it is resilience and dignity. Women and marginalised communities are leading the way in reimagining rural India. At PRADAN, we believe lasting change happens when communities themselves become the architects of their future. Through our Perspective Plan 2030, we are enabling them to participate meaningfully in shaping an equitable, inclusive and ecologically sustainable rural economy. The scale and success of our work so far only strengthens our resolve to reach the 50 million lives we have committed to transforming by the end of this decade,” he said.
Published on November 6, 2025
