World Bank project to support Climate Resilient Agriculture in Odisha

 A new world bank project 'Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture' is on its way to implementation to support smallholder farmers strengn resilience of ir production systems, as well as to diversify and improve marketing of ir products for an increase in income. According to a government statement, Government of India, Government of Odisha, and World Bank signed a US$165 million loan agreement for implementation of project on Thursday. project has a grace period of six years and a maturity period of 24 years, read statement. 

According to  Additional Secretary, Department of Ecomic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Sameer Kumar Khare, project is one of many initiatives supported by government to achieve sustainable agriculture-related targets of SDGs by 2030, reported government statement. Furr, agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary of Department of Ecomic Affairs on behalf of Government of India, Surendra Kumar, Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department on behalf of Government of Odisha and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, on behalf of World Bank.

About project

According to government statement, project will be implemented in rural areas that are largely dependent on rainfall for agriculture. Furr, project will benefit around 125,000 smallholder farmers from around 15 districts in Odisha. It is also projected to strengn  resilience of smallholder farmers by improving ir access to resilient seed varieties and production techlogies. statement furr read that project will improve access of farmers to better water manment and irrigation facilities. 

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Project to support rehabilitation

According to government statement, project will be supporting  rehabilitation of 532 water tanks. Along with it, it will also support 'aquaculture' in  rehabilitated tanks. According to statement, rehabilitating existing tanks will make agriculture more productive and climate-resilient for smallholder farmers. Along with this, project will help disseminate improved aquaculture practices and post-harvest manment, read statement. 

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