Expanded partnership focuses on empowering smallholders, improving value chains and scaling resilient agricultural systems

International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of India have entered a significant new phase of strategic cooperation aimed at accelerating climate-resilient rural transformation, strengthening agricultural livelihoods and expanding inclusive rural economic systems amid intensifying climate and food-security pressures.

The renewed engagement follows a high-level five-day visit to India by a senior IFAD delegation led by Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President of IFAD’s Department of Country Operations, during which extensive discussions were held with senior officials across the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development to shape a long-term roadmap for sustainable rural development.

The collaboration seeks to operationalise an ambitious eight-year framework focused on rural finance, climate adaptation, agricultural value chains, institutional strengthening and rural enterprise development, while simultaneously accelerating investment flows into underserved agrarian ecosystems.

The proposed roadmap is designed to move beyond conventional development financing by embedding scalable innovation within India’s broader rural governance architecture. Central to the strategy is the strengthening of community-led institutions including self-help groups, farmer producer organisations and cooperatives, which are increasingly being viewed as foundational pillars for rural economic resilience, financial inclusion and decentralised agricultural transformation.

The discussions additionally underscored the growing strategic importance of climate-resilient agriculture as India confronts mounting vulnerabilities arising from erratic weather patterns, declining soil productivity, water stress and fragmented rural supply chains.

During deliberations with Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, the IFAD delegation explored pathways to strengthen farmer producer organisations, improve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, enhance input-use efficiency among smallholders and expand digital agriculture infrastructure in geographically remote and climate-sensitive regions. Particular emphasis was also placed on promoting climate-resilient crops such as millets within India’s evolving food-security and sustainability framework.

Parallel discussions with Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal focused on flagship rural resilience initiatives, including smart villages and integrated rural prosperity programmes aimed at improving local economic ecosystems through infrastructure, digital access and community-led enterprise models.

As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district to assess grassroots implementation of the IFAD-supported Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP), which has emerged as a significant model for community-based rural development. The delegation interacted with farmer collectives, processing facilities and local institutional networks working to strengthen market access and rural entrepreneurship.

The visit also included high-level consultations with Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, regarding future collaboration opportunities, while separate discussions were held with Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, on a proposed initiative focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and rural livelihood systems across Assam.

The evolving partnership reflects the increasing importance of long-duration institutional collaborations in building sustainable rural economies capable of withstanding climatic, economic and geopolitical disruptions. IFAD officials indicated that future interventions would prioritise co-financing mechanisms, innovation de-risking and policy integration to ensure scalable and durable rural-development outcomes.

India remains one of IFAD’s most strategically significant global partners. A founding member of the organisation, India has maintained a development partnership with IFAD for more than 48 years. The institution currently finances 35 rural-development projects across the country with a combined portfolio value of approximately $ 4.2 billion, making India one of IFAD’s largest operational landscapes globally.

The renewed alliance arrives at a pivotal moment as India seeks to modernise its rural economy while balancing climate resilience, agricultural productivity, food security and livelihood sustainability across one of the world’s largest agrarian populations.