The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $77 million loan for a new project aimed at boosting ecotourism and sustainable farming in Meghalaya, India, the Bank announced. The goal is to create jobs and support the environment, with more than 8,000 local residents—including women and Indigenous people—expected to benefit.
Called the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-Based Livelihood Development in Meghalaya Project, the plan will link nature tourism, climate-friendly farming, and forest conservation. The project supports Meghalaya’s Vision 2032 to become a top ecotourism hotspot and raise farmer incomes through sustainable agriculture.
“By combining conservation with tourism and rural markets, the project opens up new ways for people to earn a living and offers a model other states can try out,” said Mio Oka, ADB’s Country Director for India.
The program will set up new ecotourism centers, demonstration areas for traditional crafts, and marketplaces for local products. It aims to restore 25,000 hectares of community forest through payments that reward good land management, and will help farmers adopt smart practices to revive degraded fields and dry lands. Support will also go toward building processing plants and improving irrigation systems.
ADB is also providing an extra $1 million grant to strengthen local institutions, improve market access, and make the program sustainable through new financing ideas like carbon and biodiversity credits. The project will support agriculture and tourism cooperatives, bring in public-private partnerships for facility management, and launch an innovation fund for tourism businesses, agribusiness, and gender-focused projects.
This plan aims to create steady, climate-resilient livelihoods for rural communities in Meghalaya, with special efforts to help women lead local entrepreneurship, tourism, and farming organizations.
