International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and India renewed their partnership in 2024 to enhance climate-resilient agriculture and rural livelihoods. The collaboration focuses on strengthening farmer producer organizations, expanding sustainable farming practices, and supporting smallholder farmers. IFAD has invested over $1.2 billion in India across 35 projects since 1979, benefiting 4.5 million rural households. The partnership emphasizes climate adaptation, agricultural innovation, and women's empowerment in rural communities.

IFAD-India partnership represents a strategic alliance between the Rome-based UN specialized agency and India's agricultural transformation agenda. IFAD operates as a multilateral development finance institution exclusively focused on rural poverty reduction and agricultural development. The renewed collaboration aligns with India's climate commitments under NDCs and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. Key mechanisms include funding for farmer producer organizations (FPOs), climate-smart agriculture technologies, and value chain development. The partnership addresses India's dual challenge of feeding 1.4 billion people while adapting to climate change impacts on agriculture. IFAD's concessional financing complements India's budgetary allocations for agriculture and rural development. The collaboration emphasizes inclusive growth by targeting smallholder farmers, tribal communities, and women farmers who constitute the backbone of Indian agriculture but face significant climate vulnerabilities. Projects focus on watershed management, soil health improvement, and crop diversification to build resilience against erratic monsoons and extreme weather events.