The governments of India and Chhattisgarh and the World Bank on Friday signed a $100 million project to develop sustainable production systems that allow tribal households in remote areas of the state to practice round-the-year production of diversified and nutritious food.
CHIRAAG -- Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth -- project will be implemented in the southern tribal-majority region of the state where a large population is undernourished and poor, a press release said.
The project will benefit over 180,000 households from about 1,000 villages in eight districts of Chhattisgarh.
Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, said: “The government of India is committed to achieving the goal of doubling farmer income by 2022. CHIRAAG project will lay the foundation for a diverse and nutritive food and agriculture system, mobilize smallholders into farmer producer organizations and increase incomes by improving their access to profitable markets.”
The loan agreement was signed by Dr. Mohapatra, Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director (India) for World Bank and Bhoskar Vilas Sandipan, Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Chhattisgarh.
To make agriculture nutrition supportive, the project will implement a series of activities that are climate resilient and profitable. Investments will be made in water-harvesting structures and irrigation facilities; integrated farming systems blending crops, fishery and livestock production; climate-smart production technologies and practices; developing value chains to ensure that surplus commodities reach profitable markets; and in making nutritious food available to tribal households.
The $100 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 17.5 years.