Centre for Pastoralism

What Centre for Pastoralism does

Centre for Pastoralism (CfP) is a non-profit research and advocacy organization founded in 2016 in India, structured as an initiative of Sahjeevan (the Gujarat-based organization that conducted two decades of pastoralism work in Kachchh). CfP operates as a virtual collaborative network rather than a traditional institution, with offices in New Delhi, Bhuj (Gujarat), and Dehradun (Uttarakhand), and works across four program areas: livelihoods (Milk Matters and the Desi Oon Initiative), research, outreach (Living Lightly exhibition, Pastoral Times broadsheet, Pastoral Dialogues series), and Access to Forage through Forest Rights Act 2006 advocacy. Its primary constituents are sheep, goat, camel, and cattle herding communities including the Raika, Rabari, and Van Gujjars, alongside wool artisans, academics, and policymakers; no commercial products or services are sold.

CfP does not operate a proprietary technology platform. Its "deliverables" are programs and publications: a travelling exhibition (Living Lightly), a quarterly broadsheet (Pastoral Times, 16 editions published), a conversation series (Pastoral Dialogues), FRA facilitator guides in Hindi, Telugu, and Gujarati, and a National Wool Report. The FRA program, initiated in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat in 2020 and expanded to five states by 2021, has secured 57–58 Community Forest Rights claims approvals for pastoralists in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — described as the first instances of pastoralist communities receiving titles to traditionally grazed lands. Desi Oon Hub is being positioned to grow into an autonomous body with an Advisory Committee for indigenous wool supply chain work.

The organization is funded entirely through donor grants from foundations and corporates (Ford Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Axis Bank Foundation, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation, and Dasra). CfP has no disclosed revenue, no product pricing, and no commercial monetization of its programs; rather, it acts as an intermediary, knowledge producer, and capacity builder linking pastoralist producers to commercial buyers (Käse Cheeses, Aadvik Foods, AMUL/GCMMF), government bodies (NBAGR, state forest departments), and research partners (WASSAN, ANTHRA, Kalpavriksh). Revenue model is grant-funded professional services / advocacy work.

Name

Centre for Pastoralism

Legal name

Centre for Pastoralism

Website

https://centreforpastoralism.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pastoralism Advocacy and Research

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAG

Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYBPAGAIAJ

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

SECONDARYAFAEALAC

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

SECONDARYBPAGAGAI

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Pastoralist advocacy
• Indigenous wool markets
• Forest rights claims
• Pastoral livelihood research
• Mobile livestock grazing

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding and Grants: CfP operates primarily through donor support from foundations and corporate entities. Major donors include Axis Bank Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation, Dasra, Ford Foundation, and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Centre for Pastoralism is a non-profit research and advocacy organization that enhances pastoralist livelihood security in India through market access programs for indigenous milk and wool, Forest Rights Act claims for securing grazing access, academic research and publications, and public outreach including exhibitions, broadsheets, and dialogue series. It emerged from Sahjeevan's two decades of pastoralism work in Kachchh and operates as a first dedicated national organization on pastoralism, with offices in New Delhi, Bhuj, and Dehradun working across five states.

Product overview

Centre for Pastoralism is a non-governmental organization that emerged from Sahjeevan's work on pastoralism in Kachchh, Gujarat, operating as a collaborative network rather than a commercial product company. The organization offers a portfolio of programs, publications, and outreach initiatives focused on enhancing pastoralist livelihood security and raising awareness about pastoralism in India. The main offerings include: Living Lightly (travelling exhibition), Pastoral Times (quarterly broadsheet), Pastoral Dialogues (conversation series), Milk Matters and Desi Oon initiatives (livelihood programs), Access to Forage/FRA Program (rights advocacy), Research Program, and various publications including FRA Facilitator Guides and the National Wool Report. These offerings function as interconnected programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Lightly: A travelling exhibition on the land, lives and livelihoods of Indian pastoralists, capturing their history of mobility, ecosystems, culture, science, art, politics, spiritual moorings and economics of herding. Curated by Sushma Iyengar, premiered in Delhi in December 2016.
• Pastoral Times
• Pastoral Dialogues
• Desi Oon Hub

Products and services

• Living Lightly – Journeys with Pastoralists Living Lightly is a travelling exhibition capturing the history of mobility, ecosystems, culture, science, art, politics, spiritual moorings, and economics of Indian pastoralists through testimonies, ethnographic material, archives, crafts, film, and performance. Targeted at the general public, students, academics, designers, and policymakers.
• Pastoral Times Pastoral Times is a quarterly broadsheet publication serving as a current source of information on pastoralism, covering crafts, foods, breeding practices, struggles, and other facets of pastoral lives. Distributed via Medium blog and physical channels to academics, policymakers, and the public.
• Pastoral Dialogues Pastoral Dialogues is a curated set of conversations on all things pastoral, covering the histories, lives, and cultures of pastoral communities. A joint initiative of Kalpavriksh, Centre for Pastoralism, and the Indian Commoner targeted at academics, researchers, and the engaged public.
• Milk Matters Milk Matters is an initiative focused on enhancing returns from pastoral milk, facilitating procurement of milk from pastoral populations, and strengthening pastoral dairy ecosystems. Partners with enterprises like Käse Cheeses for value-added pastoral cheese production. Targeted at pastoral dairy producers and artisan dairy enterprises.
• Desi Oon Initiative Desi Oon Initiative is a multi-year program working with researchers, craft-based organisations, and government agencies to rebuild markets for indigenous wool in India. It links shepherds with artisans and includes the Desi Oon Hub collaborative and the Hamara Apna Fleece & Fibre Festival. Targeted at wool artisans, shepherds, and craftspeople.
• Desi Oon Hub Desi Oon Hub is a collaborative platform anchoring indigenous wool textile work, bringing together organisations from pastoral landscapes to work with shepherds and artisans. Anchored by CfP and growing into an autonomous body with an Advisory Committee.
• Access to Forage / FRA Program Access to Forage / FRA Program works with pastoral communities and government agencies to facilitate filing and settling of claims to traditionally grazed lands through the Forest Rights Act (2006), operating across five states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Targeted at pastoralist communities and government stakeholders.
• Research Program Research Program is a commissioned research and partnership-building initiative with researchers, universities, and NGOs to facilitate the development of pastoral studies in India, including fellowships, field stations, and curriculum development. Targeted at academics and policy researchers.
• FRA Facilitator Guides FRA Facilitator Guides are training and guidance documents available in Hindi, Telugu, and Gujarati for facilitating Forest Rights Act claims and community forest rights awareness. Targeted at field facilitators and community organizations.
• National Wool Report National Wool Report is a comprehensive study on India's indigenous wool published as part of the Desi Oon Initiative, launched at the 4th Desi Oon Festival. Targeted at policymakers, wool industry stakeholders, and researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58 Community Forest Rights claims approved for pastoralist communities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SahjeevancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSahjeevan is CfP's parent organization that emerged from Sahjeevan's 20+ years of pastoralism work in Kachchh, Gujarat. CfP was set up to expand this work outside Gujarat across India.
• HunnarshalacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit organization based in Bhuj, Gujarat partnering with CfP to test efficacy of wool as insulation material in buildings under construction.
• Environment Design SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelhi-based sustainability advisory firm partnering with CfP to test market viability and implement wool insulation solutions for the built environment.
• Earthen TunesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign consultancy based in Hyderabad partnering with CfP to develop wool-based insulation packaging for cold chain supply of perishable foods.
• Wool Research AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by Woollen Textile Industry and Union Govt of India, partnering with CfP to develop wool-based packaging solutions for temperature-sensitive goods.
• Käse CheesescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChennai-based artisan cheese brand working with CfP to procure sheep and goat milk from Saurashtra, Gujarat and produce and market specialized pastoral cheeses.
• Urmul Seemant SamiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRajasthan-based organization partnering with CfP to explore development of camel and goat milk markets and enhance livelihood opportunities for camel herders.
• Desi Oon HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative anchored by CfP working with shepherds, knitters, felters, spinners, and weavers to revive pastoral and indigenous wool economy across India.
• Centre For People's CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Maharashtra, studies governance models and legal policy frameworks to strengthen grassroots democratic institutions. Supports CfP's work on breed recognition and pastoralist access to forage.
• CONAREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization facilitating socio-economic development of marginalized communities in Nagarkurnool District, Telangana. Partnering on securing herder access to forage.
• Himachal Ghumantu Pashupalak MahasabhacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization working with Himachali pastoralists to secure access to forest rights, wool-based livelihoods, and social justice. Supporting CFR claims via Forest Rights Act.
• KhamircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft organization in Gujarat working to revive and strengthen local sheep-wool value chains. Collaborative work on indigenous wool economy of Kachchh culminated in Desi Oon exhibition.
• AvaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUttarakhand-based community organization working with local spinners and weavers. Partnered to blend various wools and develop value addition through natural dyeing of fibres.
• ANTHRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization of women veterinary scientists in Pune working with marginalized animal rearing communities. Partnered on HERDING project and documentation of veterinary health care.
• KalpavrikshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental and social organization since 1979. Collaborating on Pastoral Dialogues series highlighting histories, culture and lives of pastoral communities.
• Aadvik Foods Private LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany working intensively with Sahjeevan and herders in Kachchh to procure camel milk at fair prices and market products derived from camel milk.
• GCMMF / AMULminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation and its marketing arm Amul. Interested in marketing products derived from camel and goat milk.
• Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva SangathancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization of Van Gujjar pastoralists in Uttarakhand. Co-hosting Living Lightly exhibitions and working on FRA access programs.
• NBAGRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources working on identification, evaluation, conservation and utilization of livestock genetic resources. CfP works with NBAGR to facilitate breed recognition.
• WASSANminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization improving policy and practice related to rainfed agriculture and livelihoods. Partnered on indigenous breed registration and migration route mapping.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kalpavriksh: Kalpavriksh is an environmental and social organisation active since 1979 that co-runs the Pastoral Dialogues series with CfP. It shares CfP's interest in pastoral communities, commons, and policy advocacy around land and livelihoods in India.
• Sahjeevan: Sahjeevan is CfP's parent organisation and has worked on pastoralism in Kachchh, Gujarat for over two decades. It shares CfP's mission on pastoral livelihoods, Forest Rights Act advocacy and indigenous wool revival, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• WASSAN: WASSAN is a national organisation improving policy and practice related to rainfed agriculture and rural livelihoods. It partners with CfP on indigenous breed registration and migration route mapping, and shares a focus on supporting pastoralist and smallholder livelihoods in India.
• ANTHRA: ANTHRA is an organisation of women veterinary scientists in Pune working with marginalised livestock-keeping communities on animal health, breed documentation and pastoral livelihoods. It collaborates with CfP on the HERDING project and shares CfP's focus on pastoralist welfare and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB): NDDB is the apex body for India's dairy cooperative sector and works closely with Amul. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the dairy value chain that CfP's Milk Matters programme engages with around pastoral milk procurement.
• PRADAN: PRADAN is a prominent Indian NGO promoting livelihoods for rural poor communities through agriculture, livestock and natural resource management programmes. It is comparable to CfP as a larger incumbent focused on rural livelihoods but with a broader remit than pastoralism specifically.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: BAIF is a large, established livestock and rural livelihoods organisation working across India on animal husbandry, breed improvement and pastoralist development. It is comparable to CfP as a much larger incumbent operating broadly in the same livestock-development space.
• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): SEWA organises self-employed women in India's informal economy, including livestock keepers and wool/dairy workers. It overlaps with CfP's pastoral-livelihood work as a much larger incumbent addressing rural and pastoral women's economic security.

Regional players

• Himmotthan Society: Himmotthan is an Uttarakhand-focused development organisation working on Himalayan livelihoods and pastoral communities. It is comparable to CfP's Uttarakhand office activities around Van Gujjars and Himalayan pastoralism, but operates regionally rather than nationally.

Emerging players

• Foundation for Ecological Security (FES): FES works on commons, community-managed lands and pastoral landscapes across India. It is thematically comparable to CfP's Forest Rights Act and grazing-access work, with overlapping goals of securing community rights over natural resources.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CPastoralism
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFPzRurSFj89c7PP-IcyYjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Centre-for-Pastoralism-100067081009640
• Instagraminstagram.com/centreforpastoralism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfpindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Pastoralism