Introduction:
In rural India, small and marginal farmers often face an uphill battle – fluctuating market prices, rising input costs, and limited bargaining power. But what if farmers could become owners of their own future? The Centre for Collective Development (CCD) is making that a reality. By building strong farmer cooperatives and focusing on sustainable agriculture, CCD is not just increasing incomes but also ensuring long-term resilience for farming communities.
- The Power of Cooperatives
CCD’s core philosophy is simple yet transformative: farmers should own the value chain. Through over 400 farmer cooperatives across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, more than 45,000 farmers are now collectively deciding how their produce is marketed, processed, and sold.
These cooperatives are farmer-led, farmer-owned, and farmer-benefiting, ensuring that profits stay within the community instead of getting absorbed by middlemen.
- Beyond Farming: Adding Value Locally
CCD doesn’t stop at helping farmers grow better crops. By setting up processing units – from dal mills to cotton ginning and even branded food production – farmers can now earn from value-added products. This means that the dal, oil, or fabric you buy is not just a product; it’s a livelihood multiplier.
- Water: The Lifeline of Farming
Through massive waterbody rejuvenation projects, CCD has:
- Removed 3.8 million cubic metres of silt
- Created 3.8 billion litres of additional water storage capacity
- Restored over 950 acres of lakes and tanks
These efforts have drastically improved irrigation access, reduced fertiliser use, and boosted crop yields – all while making farming more climate-resilient.
- Women at the Heart of Change
Nearly 80% of farmers engaged in CCD projects are women. By making them active decision-makers, CCD ensures economic empowerment that benefits not just individuals, but entire households and communities.
- A Sustainable Future, Farmer-Led
Unlike many development projects funded externally, CCD’s Annual General Meetings and key initiatives are funded through farmer-generated surpluses – not government grants, NGO aid, or donor dependency. This self-sufficiency ensures long-term sustainability.
Conclusion:
The CCD model proves that when farmers unite, they don’t just grow crops – they grow opportunities, dignity, and prosperity. It’s a model that could redefine rural India, one cooperative at a time.