GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM & IFPRI SIGN MOU TO STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN ASSAM
The Government of Assam and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 October in Guwahati, to strengthen cooperation on agricultural transformation, climate resilience and rural livelihoods in the state. The signing ceremony was attended by Shri Pijush Hazarika, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Assam, and Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, who shared their perspectives on Assam’s agricultural priorities and opportunities for strengthening institutions and partnerships in the state.
Speaking at the occasion, Shri Pijush Hazarika said, “Paddy will continue to remain important for Assam, but it is not necessarily the most lucrative crop for our farmers. We need to look at diversification, and horticulture is now a key focus area for the Government of Assam. To realize its full potential, we need new research, technology, innovative approaches and sound policy design. This is where organizations like IFPRI can bring significant value to Assam’s agricultural transformation.”
Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to support Assam’s next phase of development. “Assam has gone through some tumultuous times, but things are changing. With new recruitments and a growing number of young people entering our institutions, this is an important time to rebuild and strengthen our institutions and systems. There are also a large number of projects and policy initiatives in the pipeline across the Northeast over the next five years. With organizations like IFPRI and other forward-looking partners increasingly interested in the region, we look forward to seeing this partnership contribute to meaningful and lasting improvements in the lives of farmers in Assam.”
The partnership will promote collaborative research and evidence generation, capacity building of state institutions, and policy engagement and advisory support. The cooperation will focus on climate-resilient agriculture and flood adaptation, diversification of rice-based farming systems, and supporting the development of tea, horticulture, livestock and fisheries, with a focus on improving farmers’ incomes and nutrition outcomes.
The MoU provides a framework for collaboration on strategic assessment of agricultural and allied-sector programs; climate resilience and flood impact analysis; development of high-value agricultural value chains, including support to smallholder tea growers; and strengthening fisheries and wetland-based livelihoods, particularly in floodplain ecosystems.
“The Government of Assam welcomes this partnership with IFPRI, which will strengthen our efforts to advance agricultural development through research, evidence and institutional capacity building. The collaboration will support our focus on climate resilience, diversification, value chains and the development of agriculture and allied sectors, with the broader objective of improving livelihoods and incomes of farmers,” said Dr. Paidipati Uday Praveen, IAS, Director of Agriculture, Government of Assam.
The cooperation will also explore the use of household-level data systems and longitudinal surveys to better understand farm incomes, risks, vulnerabilities and nutrition outcomes. Other areas include institutional strengthening of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and market systems, policy design and program evaluation, and capacity building of government institutions in data analytics, policy modelling and impact evaluation.
“Assam is at an important stage of agricultural transformation, and stronger evidence and analytical capacity can help inform policies and investments that respond to the needs of farmers and rural communities. This partnership provides an opportunity to bring IFPRI’s research and policy expertise to Assam and work closely with the Government on priorities that are important for the state’s agricultural future,” said Dr. Avinash Kishore, Acting Director for South Asia and Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.
The MoU also provides for joint resource mobilization and development of project proposals aligned with the priorities of both parties. Specific activities will be taken forward through project-specific agreements.
The partnership brings together the Government of Assam’s development priorities with IFPRI’s global expertise in agricultural and food policy research, analytics and policy engagement. It creates a platform for strengthening evidence-based approaches to agricultural development in Assam and supporting the state’s efforts toward a more resilient, diversified and market-oriented agricultural economy.
