Head of UN rural development agency in India to boost efforts to eradicate poverty

Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will meet with government leaders in India to strengthen joint efforts to boost farmers’ incomes and build sustainable food systems, and review project activities that have already empowered more than one million rural women.

India has set an ambitious goal of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022. In spite of India’s achievement of middle-income status, eradication of rural poverty remains a critical challenge. While achieving food sufficiency in production, rural communities face challenges in raising household incomes, improving nutrition, and tackling the effects of climate change.

“As one of the countries hardest hit by effects of climate change the partnership between India and IFAD and its shared work to build the resilience of rural communities has become increasingly important. IFAD maintains its commitment to India to support their efforts in fortifying smallholder food production to be economically, socially and environmentally viable,” Houngbo said.

There are currently seven IFAD-funded projects in India that support state governments’ efforts to increase farmer incomes, enhance their access to markets and financial services, and promote sustainable, climate resilient agricultural development that improves household nutrition.

Since 1979, IFAD has directly invested $1.28 billion in 30 rural development projects in India, benefitting an estimated 5.2 million households.

Original source: IFAD
Published on 28 October 2019