Assam Government, IFPRI Sign MoU to Advance Agricultural Transformation and Rural Livelihoods

08 October 2026, Guwahati: The Government of Assam and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on agricultural transformation, climate resilience and rural livelihoods in the state.

The partnership will focus on generating evidence for policy and investment, strengthening state institutions and supporting the development of more resilient and diversified agricultural systems.

The signing ceremony was attended by Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Assam, and Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, who outlined the state’s agricultural priorities and the need for stronger institutional partnerships.

Assam Seeks Diversification Beyond Paddy

Hazarika said that while paddy will remain important to Assam’s agriculture, diversification into higher-value crops will be essential to improve farm incomes.

“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.”

He said research, technology, innovative approaches and sound policy design would be important to unlock the potential of horticulture and other agricultural sectors, adding that organisations such as IFPRI could bring significant value to the state’s agricultural transformation.

Chief Secretary Ravi Kota highlighted the need to strengthen institutional capacity as Assam enters a new phase of development. He noted that new recruitments and the entry of younger professionals into government institutions provide an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen institutional systems.

Kota also pointed to a growing pipeline of projects and policy initiatives across the Northeast over the next five years, saying the state expects partnerships with organisations such as IFPRI to contribute to improvements in the livelihoods of farmers.

Focus on Climate Resilience and Agricultural Diversification

Under the MoU, the Government of Assam and IFPRI will collaborate on research, evidence generation, institutional capacity building, policy engagement and advisory support.

Key areas of cooperation will include climate-resilient agriculture and flood adaptation, diversification of rice-based farming systems, and development of Assam’s tea, horticulture, livestock and fisheries sectors.

The partnership will also examine opportunities to improve farmer incomes and nutrition outcomes through stronger agricultural value chains and market systems.

The MoU provides a framework for strategic assessments of agricultural and allied-sector programmes, climate resilience and flood-impact analysis, and development of high-value agricultural value chains. Particular attention will be given to smallholder tea growers, fisheries and wetland-based livelihoods in floodplain ecosystems.

Dr. Paidipati Uday Praveen, IAS, Director of Agriculture, Government of Assam, said the partnership would support the state’s efforts to advance agricultural development through research, evidence and institutional capacity building.

Data and Policy Analytics to Support Farmers

The collaboration will explore the use of household-level data systems and longitudinal surveys to better understand farm incomes, risks, vulnerabilities and nutrition outcomes.

Other areas will include strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and market systems, policy design and programme evaluation, and building the capacity of government institutions in data analytics, policy modelling and impact evaluation.

According to Dr. Avinash Kishore, Acting Director for South Asia and Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI, stronger evidence and analytical capacity can help Assam develop policies and investments that better respond to the needs of farmers and rural communities.

He said the partnership would provide an opportunity for IFPRI to work closely with the state government on priorities shaping Assam’s agricultural future.

Joint Projects and Resource Mobilisation

The MoU also provides for joint resource mobilisation and development of project proposals aligned with the priorities of the Government of Assam and IFPRI. Specific initiatives will be implemented through project-specific agreements.

The partnership brings together Assam’s agricultural development priorities and IFPRI’s expertise in agricultural and food policy research, analytics and policy engagement.

The collaboration is expected to provide a platform for strengthening evidence-based approaches to agricultural development while supporting Assam’s transition towards a more resilient, diversified and market-oriented agricultural economy.

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