IFPRI AND GOVERNMENT OF BIHAR SIGN MOU TO STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND RURAL LIVELIHOOD
On May 2, 2025, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Government of Bihar (GoB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance strategic cooperation in agriculture, rural development, and food and nutrition security. The MoU provides a framework for joint research, policy advisory, and capacity-strengthening initiatives to support inclusive and evidence-based development in Bihar.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Sri Amrit Lal Meena, IAS, Chief Secretary of Bihar, and aligns with the state’s 4th Agricultural Roadmap (2023–2028). Under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister, Sri Nitish Kumar, Bihar has prioritized rural transformation through targeted investments in agriculture, livestock, dairy, fisheries, and nutrition. This partnership builds on those efforts by integrating IFPRI’s global research expertise and analytical tools into policy planning and program implementation.
The MoU outlines the following priority areas for collaboration:
- Policy support and evidence generation across agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, food systems, and rural development.
- Diagnostic analyses to inform the design and implementation of programs tailored to Bihar’s agro-ecological and socio-economic diversity.
- Generate empirical evidence to support and, where needed, recalibrate flagship state programs such as the Agriculture Roadmap and initiatives under Climate-Resilient Agriculture.
- Promotion of high-value sectors such as horticulture, poultry, livestock, and fisheries through value chain development and inclusive strategies.
- Capacity strengthening for government institutions to strengthen data use, modeling, and evidence-based decision-making.
The five-year MoU provides a structure for ongoing collaboration through analytical studies, technical advisory services, training programs, and stakeholder consultations. It also envisions deeper engagement with Bihar’s academic and research institutions to promote knowledge exchange and institutional capacity development. Through the MoU both parties will identify opportunities for joint resource mobilization and the development of additional collaborative projects to support Bihar’s rural transformation agenda.
Find additional details and coverage from the MoU signing here
