India, IFAD ink 46 million dollars deal to scale up climate-resilient farming in Mizoram
Guwahati: The Government of India has signed a financing agreement worth nearly 46 million dollars with the International Fund for Agricultural Development to strengthen climate-resilient and market-driven agriculture in Mizoram.
The project, titled Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming Systems in the Northeast (FOCUS 2.0), aims to expand sustainable farming practices across all 11 districts of the state between 2026 and 2032. It aligns with Mizoram’s Bana Kaih policy, which promotes self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods, as well as India’s broader goals of inclusive and climate-resilient growth.
Building on the success of its first phase (2018–2024), where participating farmers saw income gains of 43 percent, the new phase will scale up proven models. Around 150,000 people are expected to benefit from improved farming systems, better market access, and enhanced livelihood opportunities.
The programme will focus on transitioning smallholder farmers from subsistence agriculture to market-oriented production. This includes strengthening value chains through improved storage, aggregation and processing facilities, along with financial and capacity-building support for farmer producer organisations and rural enterprises.
Highlighting the initiative, IFAD’s India Country Director Marc de Sousa Shields said the programme will connect farmers to structured markets through aggregation systems, processing centres and formal partnerships with agribusinesses.
In Mizoram, agriculture is largely characterised by small and fragmented landholdings, low productivity, and dependence on shifting cultivation. Increasing climate risks and limited market infrastructure have further constrained rural incomes.
FOCUS 2.0 seeks to address these challenges by promoting climate-smart farming techniques, improving rural infrastructure resilient to extreme weather, and enhancing financial and digital inclusion.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen self-help groups and farmer organisations, enabling them to better access markets and scale up agribusiness activities.
India and IFAD have collaborated on 36 rural development projects over the past five decades, with total investments amounting to 4.6 billion dollars. Currently, four ongoing projects are being implemented with IFAD support across the country.