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IFAD chief says rain-fed farms cover 60% of sown area
The Hindu BusinessLine··3d ago
IFAD president Alvaro Lario said water access and rain-fed farming remain major hurdles for India's rural economy. Rainfed agriculture covers nearly 60 percent of net sown area and 40 percent of food output, officials say. FAO data show 40.4 percent of Indians could not afford a healthy diet in 2024. IFAD has invested $1.5 billion across 37 projects in India.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Lario said the cost of a healthy diet remains one of the biggest challenges.
- IFAD's new 2026-2033 India strategy aims to reach about 3 million rural households.
- That equals about 13.2 million people under the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme.
What's Happening
- Lario spoke to PTI during an October 7 to 11 visit to strengthen rural development ties.
- He said every IFAD dollar in India has leveraged more than three dollars in total investment.
- On Friday he was due in Meghalaya to visit a livelihoods and markets project.
Where IFAD Is Focusing
- Lario said priority regions include the Northeast and Himalayan states.
- IFAD put about Rs 2 crore into an organic spice processing facility in Meghalaya.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated that facility in June.
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