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BAIF Development Research Foundation helps promote sustainable livelihood in rural India. The organization currently serves 54.1 lakh poor families living in nearly two lakh villages spread over 16 states. BAIF has developed the Village Cluster Development Approach to identify problems and appropriate technologies to solve them. Self-Help Groups of men and women of the same socio-economic status identify needs, and initiate income generation activities, as well as community development activities.

Their programmes are:

• Livestock Development: The programme provides doorstep breeding services to about 59 lakh families spread across 13 states. To improve the productivity of livestock, BAIF has collaborated with several leading international and national scientific organizations to introduce cutting edge technologies in dairy husbandry. They focus on the promotion of small flocks with genetic improvement, feed supplementation, minor health services such as de-worming and vaccinations. They have created 4,195 cattle development centres. Goat development programme has been well adopted by the farmers.
• Natural Resource Management: The Watershed development programme, spread over 781 micro-watersheds and 1,412 villages, helps facilitate best use of the available water resources for consumption of human, livestock, and crop production. It has improved the ground water table, biodiversity and micro climate, and also motivated farmers to introduce tree-based farming on marginal lands. The rehabilitation of old tanks through desilting and soil and water conservation in the catchment area has enabled farmers to enhance crop yield by 30 to 40%, while reviving inland fishery. As a State-level Resource Organisation of YASHADA and NABARD for capacity building in Maharashtra, BAIF conducts a series of training programmes on watershed, irrigation, and gender development.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Under the National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP), a methodology for promoting sustainable agriculture is developed to promote good agricultural production practices, introduction of tree-based farming, tassar silk production, livestock development, and value addition for the produce.
• Agri-Horti Forestry: The Wadi programme includes establishment of drought-tolerant fruit trees and cash crops, thereby ensuring food security. BAIF has introduced various innovative activities to improve bio-diversity and employment. Establishment of wadis has enhanced the earnings per family by Rs30,000 per annum.
• Other Activities: Focus on Women Empowerment, Health, Research and Technology Development, and Partnering with Corporate Houses.