The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) celebrated their long-standing partnership in Rome, highlighting successful models of rural transformation that can be scaled across the Global South. IFAD President Alvaro Lario emphasized that joint investments in India demonstrate what scalable, sustainable development looks like, particularly in women’s empowerment, food systems transformation, and agroecological transitions. Many of these initiatives have become models for IFAD programs globally and for other development organizations and governments. He also recognized India’s leadership in South-South and Triangular Cooperation, especially in building rural institutions and fostering value-chain innovation.
IFAD’s investments in India focus on integrating small farmers into markets and improving their incomes, transforming small-scale agriculture into sustainable agri-businesses. Notably, IFAD-supported projects have developed women’s collectives that evolved from small savings groups in the 1980s into robust institutions providing access to credit, training, and markets, enabling women to start microenterprises, expand farms, and enhance household incomes.
Anu Mathai, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and IFAD Alternate Governor, highlighted that India’s partnership with IFAD is grounded in shared values of inclusive, sustainable, equitable, and participatory development. She emphasized that rural communities are the real drivers of transformation, with India and IFAD providing the tools, knowledge, and institutions needed to improve livelihoods.
India represents one of IFAD’s largest portfolios, with 36 rural development projects financed over 48 years at a total value of US$4.4 billion, including US$1.5 billion in direct IFAD investment. Six ongoing projects, totaling US$459 million, benefit from a high domestic co-financing ratio of 2.65, reflecting India’s strong trust in the partnership. IFAD supports climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices, innovative partnerships between farmers, organizations, and private companies, and initiatives to improve resilience to climate and market challenges.
Dr. Jujjavarapu Balaji, India’s Alternate Permanent Representative to IFAD, underscored the commitment to scaling successful models and ensuring rural communities are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing world. Current projects address critical needs such as increasing market access for over 45,000 enterprises in Meghalaya, enhancing rural women’s employment in Maharashtra, improving climate resilience for 300,000 farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, and doubling incomes while reducing migration in Uttarakhand.
Together, India and IFAD focus on building skills, strengthening community groups, and improving access to services, resources, and markets, empowering rural communities to lead their own development and enhance their quality of life.
