AFARM was born out of an acute need for an Apex Institution to co-ordinate efforts of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in their tasks of providing Drinking Water and Agricultural Extension services to villages in drought affected Maharashtra. It was one of the first organizations to operate as an Apex institution, in the country.
Prior to 1967, Missionary Organizations were engaged in making available the drinking water to the rural communities who were facing scarcity of drinking water. Number of National & International funding organizations also took up the said program on their agenda and supported the missionaries with drilling units & equipments.