The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have signed a US$45.78 million agreement to strengthen inclusive, market-led and climate-resilient agricultural value chains in Mizoram, in northeast India. The initiative, titled Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming Systems in the Northeast (FOCUS 2.0), will support sustainable rural development in line with Mizoram’s Bana Kaih policy and India’s broader goals for inclusive and climate-resilient growth.
FOCUS 2.0 builds on the success of its first phase implemented between 2018 and 2024, during which participating households reported a 43 per cent increase in income through integrated farming systems that combined climate-smart agriculture, livestock support and improved access to markets.
The new phase will expand its reach from six districts to all 11 districts of Mizoram, aiming to benefit around 150,000 people over a six-year period from 2026 to 2032. It will focus on strengthening agricultural value chains by connecting farmers to structured markets through farmer producer organizations, aggregation and processing centres, and formal agreements with agribusiness buyers.
According to IFAD, the programme will help smallholder farmers transition from subsistence agriculture to more market-oriented production systems. This will be achieved by improving production, storage, processing and marketing systems for crops and livestock, while also providing capacity building, financial support, and stronger market linkages for rural producers.
The initiative also aims to enhance resilience by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, developing infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather, and improving financial and digital inclusion for rural communities. These measures are expected to support the growth of small and medium agribusinesses and increase household incomes across the region.
India and IFAD have maintained a long-standing partnership spanning 49 years, during which they have jointly invested in 36 rural development projects worth a total of US$4.60 billion. IFAD currently supports four ongoing projects in India with a total investment of US$325.6 million, reflecting continued cooperation to advance rural development and poverty reduction.
