National Agro Foundation
Training and capacity building for farmers
Empowering farmers through knowledge.
Sustainable change in agriculture begins with knowledge. NAF's training and capacity-building work gives farmers across its project areas the technical skills, scientific understanding and practical know-how to adopt modern, sustainable farming practices, and to pass them on to their communities.
Our impact in 2025-2026
- Training and capacity-building programmes, at CFRD and across project locations
- 277
- Participants benefited
- 9,208
- Training days delivered over the year
- 264
- Acre demonstration farm at CFRD
- 2.20
Centre for Rural Development
The Centre for Rural Development, a campus for learning by doing.
At the heart of NAF's training is the Centre for Rural Development (CFRD) at Illedu Village, Cheyyur Taluk, Tamil Nadu. Set on a serene rural campus and serving as NAF's primary training and capacity-building hub.
Two training halls
Two well-equipped halls for classroom sessions, workshops and group work.
Residential accommodation
Rooms on campus for trainees, so a programme can run over several days.
2.20-acre demonstration farm
A farm showcasing sustainable and advanced agricultural technologies, where every technique is seen working before it is taught.
The centre functions as a practical learning laboratory, giving participants hands-on exposure to improved farming practices, low-cost innovations, farm mechanisation, organic farming, water conservation and climate-smart agriculture.
Recognised as
- Nodal Training Institute for the Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centre (ACABC) programme
- Resource institution for FPO capacity building
Why it matters
Training is the foundation every other intervention is built on.
From soil health cards to green manure adoption to farm mechanisation, every NAF intervention rests on farmers who know how to use it. By combining classroom learning with field demonstrations, NAF follows two principles that help farmers not just understand new techniques but confidently apply them on their own land.
This investment in human capital ripples outward: trained farmers become local champions, encouraging neighbouring farmers to adopt sustainable practices and multiplying the impact of every session delivered.
Principle
“Seeing is Believing”
Principle
“Learning by Doing”
Looking ahead
NAF remains committed to expanding the reach and depth of its training programmes, introducing farmers to emerging technologies like drone-based farming and climate-resilient techniques, so that agricultural communities are equipped not just for today's challenges, but for the future of farming.
Field training in a tree plantation 
A farmers' club meeting 
A site visit to a village tank 
A yellow sticky trap demonstration
