Bhubaneswar: The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a new eight-year strategic partnership framework under the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for the period 2026 to 2033.
The new strategy is aimed at strengthening India’s rural economy by enhancing rural incomes, improving resilience and expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities across the country.
Officials said the COSOP framework will focus on inclusive rural transformation, with emphasis on financial inclusion, agricultural market access, women-led entrepreneurship and climate-resilient livelihoods.
According to IFAD, its initiatives in India over the past two decades have delivered significant outcomes in promoting large-scale financial inclusion of women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), improving farmers’ access to markets through infrastructure support and encouraging women-led enterprises through value addition and e-commerce integration.
The programme is expected to further deepen collaboration between India and IFAD in areas related to rural development, poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth in underserved regions.
-OdishaAge
