AF Ecology Centre

What AF Ecology Centre does

AF Ecology Centre (Accion Fraterna Ecology Centre, AFEC) is a non-profit charitable trust founded in 1982 by Father Vincent Ferrer, headquartered in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It became autonomous from the Rural Development Trust in 2002 and operates with a total staff of approximately 75, comprising 12 senior professionals, 40 grassroots Socio Technical Organisers, and 12 support staff. The organisation works across 235 villages with around 60,000 smallholder farmers in one of India's most drought-prone districts (the second-lowest rainfall district in the country), focusing on participatory watershed development, climate-smart and chemical-free agroecology, drought-resilient cropping systems, women and youth empowerment, and the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Its core program portfolio includes the Sustainable Agriculture and Diversified Livelihoods (SADL) program, NABARD-funded watershed development, an ICRISAT partnership for value-chain enhancement, a Biogas Clean Development Mechanism project, agroforestry and Acorn carbon sequestration initiatives, climate-smart sustainable agriculture, the AF Youth Resource Center for skill development, and an Alternate Livelihoods Project for Rural Women. Technical capability is rooted in domain-specialised practices rather than digital technology: ridge-to-valley participatory watershed design adapted to Anantapur's rolling topography, low-external-input rainfed farming systems, women-led food processing through entities such as Rythu Nestham Food Producer Company Ltd (RNFPCL), and biogas/carbon engineering. The organisation does not sell commercial products; no pricing model exists.

Revenue is generated entirely through institutional grants and project implementation contracts from development agencies, government programs, and foundations, including NABARD, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (APDMP, AGEEWA), Bread for the World (SADL), ICRISAT, and the Walmart Foundation (with Flipkart as a commercial distribution partner for FPO produce). Services are delivered free to beneficiaries; no commercial pricing or revenue from product sales is recorded. Financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

AF Ecology Centre

Legal name

Accion Fraterna Ecology Centre

Website

https://af-ecologycentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AF Ecology Centre is a non-profit trust in Anantapur, India, founded in 1982, working with approximately 60,000 smallholder farmers across 235 villages on participatory watershed development, climate-smart agroecology, women-led Farmer Producer Organisations, and rural livelihood diversification, funded by government and international development grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) Program Development & Administration (AFAMAMAF)

Keywords

• Watershed development services
• Sustainable agriculture programs
• Rural livelihood development
• Climate smart farming
• Farmer producer organisations

Headquarters

HQ city

Anantapur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Development Grants and Donations: AFEC operates as a charitable trust receiving funding from international development agencies, governments, and foundations for watershed development, sustainable agriculture, and rural livelihood projects
2. Project Implementation Contracts: Implementing government and NGO-funded projects including NABARD watershed projects, APDMP, AGEEWA, and partnerships with ICRISAT and Walmart Foundation

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AF Ecology Centre is a non-profit trust that implements participatory watershed development, climate-smart sustainable agriculture, agroecology, carbon sequestration, and Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) programs for smallholder farmers in the drought-prone Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It delivers these services through field staff, community-based organisations, and partnerships with donors such as NABARD, ICRISAT, and Walmart Foundation, free of cost to beneficiaries.

Product overview

AF Ecology Centre (Accion Fraterna Ecology Centre) is a non-profit trust founded in 1982, focused on freeing poor farmers from drought, poverty and distress in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs: a core Sustainable Agriculture and Diversified Livelihoods (SADL) program that encompasses agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, and carbon sequestration projects; watershed development initiatives with NABARD; value chain enhancement through ICRISAT partnerships supporting Farmer Producer Organizations; biogas and renewable energy projects; and skill development programs for youth and women. The portfolio is organized around participatory development approaches, working through farmers' organizations with emphasis on women and youth, promoting ecological farming, drought mitigation, and diversification of livelihoods. The organization does not offer technology products or SaaS offerings; rather, it delivers social impact programs focused on agricultural development, watershed management, and rural empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Agriculture and Diversified Livelihoods (SADL) A core program delivering sustainable agriculture practices combined with off-farm, non-farm, and skill-based employment/self-employment support for poor farming households. Targeted at drought-affected smallholder farmers and rural women and youth.
• NABARD Watershed Development Project Participatory watershed development program focused on soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, restoration of traditional water bodies, and ridge-to-valley interventions. For rural communities in Anantapur district.
• Accelerating Value Chain Benefits for Improved Income and Nutrition (ICRISAT Partnership) Program implemented with ICRISAT to strengthen FPOs and smallholder member-farmers through interventions across the agricultural value chain, including a secondary processing unit for groundnut, millet, and nutritious products. For FPOs and smallholder farmers.
• Biogas Clean Development Mechanism Project for CERs Project developing biogas-based clean development mechanism to generate Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) while providing clean energy to rural households. For rural farming communities.
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) Program Program supporting the formation and development of Farmer Producer Organisations, including women-led FPOs such as Rythu Nestham Food Producer Company Ltd (RNFPCL), to enable collective market access and value addition. For smallholder farmers and rural women.
• Climate Smart Sustainable Agriculture Program Program promoting climate-resilient farming systems including drought-resilient cropping systems, drought mitigation technologies, and rain-fed farmers' cooperatives. For rainfed small and marginal farmers.
• Agroecology Project Project developing agroecology-based rainfed farming systems and practices that are chemical-free, low external input, drought-resilient, food-secure, regenerative, and remunerative for rainfed small and marginal farmers.
• Agro-forestry Carbon Sequestration Project Carbon sequestration project combining agriculture and forestry practices to sequester carbon while providing sustainable livelihoods for farmers.
• AF Youth Resource Center (Skill Development) Skill development program providing employable skills and alternative livelihood opportunities for young people in rural areas. For rural youth.
• Alternate Livelihoods Project for Rural Women Program providing alternative livelihood options for rural women through skill development and income generation activities. For rural women.
• Acorn Agroforestry Carbon Sequestration Project Agroforestry-based carbon sequestration initiative focused on tree planting and sustainable land management practices, generating carbon credits for smallholder farmers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000 households benefited from watershed development projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FlipkartminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 August 2022Partner in launching Secondary Processing Unit to support local FPOs and farmers. Flipkart's association with FPOs deepens commitment to creating shared value across supply chain and communities, expanding reach of farmer products to consumers nationwide through e-commerce.
• ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Accelerating Value Chain Benefits for improved Income for farmers and Nutrition for consumers. ICRISAT works with AFEC as project implementation partner to support FPOs and smallholder farmers through improved crop practices, post-harvest management, and food processing opportunities.
• Community Natural Farming Project (CNF) / APPIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Climate Resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming Programme (CRZBNF) supporting sustainable agriculture practices among farming communities.
• Government of Andhra PradeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnerships for Andhra Pradesh Drought Mitigation Project (APDMP 2017-21), policy advisory through AP State Agriculture Mission, and collaboration with various government schemes and programs.
• Rural Development Trust (RDT)coreOthersSister organization founded by Father Vincent Ferrer. AFEC separated from RDT in 2002 to become autonomous but remains affiliated and retains roots and motivation. Both organizations share founder and work in Anantapur district.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action): Operates livelihood programs for poor rural communities including natural resource management, agriculture, and women's collectives. Strong functional overlap with AFEC's FPO and women-empowerment programming.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: Large Indian rural development non-profit implementing watershed, sustainable agriculture, and livestock livelihoods across multiple states. Closely comparable to AFEC in mission, beneficiary profile, and donor-funded program structure.
• Action for Social Advancement (ASA): Bhopal-based non-profit working on watershed, climate-resilient agriculture, and FPO formation with tribal and smallholder farmers. Strong direct comparability to AFEC's integrated watershed-plus-FPO model.
• Samaj Pragati Sahayog: Indian non-profit focused on water security, sustainable agriculture, and women's livelihoods in central India's drought-prone regions. Strong methodological overlap with AFEC's watershed and agroecology work.
• Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI): Tata Trusts initiative working with tribal and rural communities on agriculture, water, and livelihoods. Comparable program mix and rural community-led implementation model.
• Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR): India-based non-profit specializing in participatory watershed development and climate-resilient agriculture across drought-prone Maharashtra and other states. Direct functional peer to AFEC's watershed + climate-smart agriculture model.
• Centre for Sustainable Agriculture: Indian non-profit advancing agroecology, non-pesticidal management, and sustainable farming among smallholders. Comparable to AFEC's agroecology and climate-smart agriculture portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) / Indira Kranthi Patham: Andhra Pradesh government body implementing large-scale rural poverty programs including FPOs and watershed work. Competes with AFEC for state government scheme funding and beneficiary reach in the same geography.
• Development Alternatives: Larger Indian non-profit covering sustainable livelihoods, climate, and natural resource management. Comparable on environmental and rural livelihood programming, though with a much wider geographic and thematic scope.

Emerging players

• Digital Green: Tech-enabled agricultural extension using community video for smallholder farmers in India and globally. Relevant emerging peer as extension mechanisms for sustainable agriculture evolve.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/af-ecology-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AF Ecology Centre