Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project

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The objective of the Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project is to increase the productivity, and market access of targeted farmers and community groups. Key indicators of success would be increased yields of crops, fish and livestock products - complemented by an increase in the proportion of marketed surplus. Although the over-riding objective is to stimulate growth of Assam's agricultural economy, project activities would be predominantly pro-poor, directed primarily at small and marginal landholders, poor fishing communities, and the landless. Project activities will be grouped into three components: 1) Investment Grant Scheme: to address the constraint of lack of capital in farm, and rural communities, for productivity enhancing investments - focusing on private minor irrigation, farm mechanization, and fish production in pond tanks and beels; 2) Agricultural Services and Market Chain Development: to address the constraints of inadequate market-linked technology transfer; limited basic producer organizations with links to markets; and, low productivity livestock resources - focusing on extension system reforms, upgrading programs for livestock and fish, improved marketing services, and formation of milk cooperatives, and, pilots in forestry and sericulture; and, 3) Infrastructure Development: to address the constraint of a poor rural road network, and inadequate market infrastructure - focusing on upgrading rural roads and market-yards, including the replacement of timber bridges.