JICA and Uttarakhand Sign Agreement for Integrated Horticulture Development Promotion Project.
Banking & Finance
In February 2025, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing (DHFP), Government of Uttarakhand, signed the 'Records of Discussions', an official agreement document for a four-year Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled 'Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Promotion Project'.
- The project aims to enhance horticulture production and improve market systems in Tehri Garhwal and Nainital districts of Uttarakhand. It is expected to create a favorable horticulture model across the state.
- According to the most recent data, the majority of farmers in Uttarakhand own fewer than two hectares of land, and 39% of the state's population works in agriculture.
Main Point :- (i) TCP will accelerate progress and optimize the impact of JICA's ongoing Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan with the department, focusing on improving supply chains, strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and increasing the productivity of high-value crops.
(ii) The Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) strategy, a market-driven farming model developed by JICA, is expected to grow with the support of the new TCP.
(iii) This initiative will improve agricultural productivity, contribute to broader socio-economic development by promoting sustainable livelihoods, expanding rural economies, and building long-term resilience of the horticulture industry in Uttarakhand.
About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
President : TANAKA Akihiko
Headquarters : Tokyo, Japan
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