The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir (GoJ&K) have launched a $217.2 million programme to provide an impetus to the growth of small-scale farmers and enable them to adopt climate-smart and market-led production practices in the region, an IFAD press release stated.
The project, titled ‘Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project in Jammu and Kashmir (JKCIP)’, aims to enhance the competitiveness and climate resilience of small-scale farmers and promote sustainable agriculture practices in the region. The project will benefit 300,000 families and 1.5 million people across the 20 districts of the state by encouraging them to adopt good agricultural practices, promote diversification into high-value crops, and expand the niche crop and horticulture crop cultivation areas. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is contributing $100 million to the project, of which $50.77 million will be directed towards climate action. The Government of Jammu & Kashmir is contributing $26.4 million, while the private banks will contribute $20.8 million.
The project participants will also contribute an additional $45.8 million of their own funds. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir (GoJ&K) have launched a $217.2 million programme to provide an impetus to the growth of small-scale farmers and enable them to adopt climate-smart and market-led production practices in the region. The project, titled ‘Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project in Jammu and Kashmir (JKCIP)’, aims to enhance the competitiveness and climate resilience of small-scale farmers and promote sustainable agriculture practices in the region.
It will also provide support for the development of agribusinesses by stimulating the growth of agri-enterprises and start-ups, particularly those led by young women entrepreneurs, and connecting them to new markets.