How we work
Supporting environmental sustainability and agroecology
As a technical support agency, we promote agroecology and collaborate with farmers to protect local ecosystems and biodiversity. We support the adoption of soil and water conservation techniques, encourage regenerative practices, and provide guidance to help reduce agricultural carbon footprints.
Through Farmer Field Schools, we build farmers’ capacity to adopt climate-resilient practices, including low-cost manure production and fodder plantation, which enhance soil fertility, reduce input costs, and ensure year-round livestock nutrition.
Our expert team provides technical support to help farmers integrate climate-smart agricultural methods that improve crop yields and strengthen resilience to climate-related shocks.
Developing resilient backyard poultry systems
We support smallholder farmers, particularly women, through resilient and profitable backyard poultry systems: a low-input, high-return approach that enhances household nutrition and provides a steady source of income.
Through improved animal management training, introduction of improved native breeds, and support in accessing veterinary services, we help strengthen women’s economic independence and food security.
Strengthening spice value chain development
We promote diversification and resilience in rural livelihoods by supporting farmers in their efforts to cultivate high-value spices like turmeric and ginger.
Our technical input strengthens the entire spice value chain, including sustainable cultivation practices, post-harvest processing, quality control, branding, and market linkages.
By enhancing farmer capabilities, we help create profitable and sustainable opportunities in the spice sector, enabling farmers to command better prices and access new markets.
Driving research for inclusive food systems
We collaborate with government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations to promote research that prioritizes smallholder farmers and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Through evidence-based pilots, applied research, and the development of scalable models, we aim to inform and influence inclusive food systems that promote climate resilience, gender equity, and increased farmer incomes.
Our work contributes to improving smallholders’ access to services, markets, and institutional support while aligning with national priorities for sustainable agriculture and rural transformation.
Building climate-smart livestock systems
To address the dual challenge of enhancing farmer income and responding to climate change, we promote climate-smart livestock systems that boost productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Key interventions include improved animal housing, integrated fodder management, composting, and the adoption of bio-secure and low-emission practices.
These efforts are aligned with national priorities under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), enabling farmers to adopt sustainable livestock practices that improve animal health, increase income, and build resilience to climate risks.
Nurturing Community Agro Veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs)
At Passing Gifts, we identify and train rural youth and women as CAVEs, community service providers who play a vital role in strengthening last-mile livestock healthcare systems.
Equipped with hands-on skills in vaccination, deworming, breed advisory, and improved animal husbandry practices, CAVEs provide essential doorstep services to smallholder farmers.
Through structured training programs, starter toolkits, and continuous mentoring, we train CAVEs to operate as independent entrepreneurs. By connecting them with farmer producer organizations, government veterinary systems, and agri-input suppliers, we help embed them in sustainable support ecosystems.
This innovative model improves animal health, boosts livestock productivity, and contributes to higher rural incomes. It also aligns with national priorities under the NLM and the National Skill Development Policy, fostering resilient livelihoods and inclusive, climate-smart livestock systems.
Advancing goat value chain development
We support the goat value chain by empowering smallholder farmers, especially women, to build resilient and profitable goat-based enterprises.
Recognizing goats as a ‘living bank’ for project participants, our interventions focus on breed improvement, feed security through fodder plantations, and the promotion of well-ventilated goat sheds that enhance animal health.
We provide practical training in improved animal management, regular vaccinations, deworming, and maintaining an optimal buck-to-doe ratio.
By strengthening farmer producer companies and linking farmers with Community Agro Veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs) and the veterinary department, we help ensure access to quality inputs, veterinary care, and organized markets, enabling farmers to boost productivity, secure fair prices, and achieve income stability.
