Regular Update
ATM News Network: In a significant development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at pioneering data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems. This strategic collaboration is set to make a substantial impact on the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Under the umbrella of this MoU, both organisations will collaborate in the endeavour to enhance the well-being of smallholder farmers. The key areas of focus include sharing open-source data for product development, technology transfer, and the formulation of agrarian policies. By pooling their expertise and resources, NABARD and UNDP India aim to revolutionize the agriculture sector.
One of the flagship initiatives stemming from this partnership is the creation and dissemination of collaborative digital public goods, exemplified by DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture). DiCRA provides open access to crucial geospatial datasets relevant to climate-resilient agriculture. Curated by UNDP and its partner organizations, DiCRA offers insights into climate resilience covering a staggering 50 million hectares of farmland across India.
NABARD will play a pivotal role by hosting and maintaining the DiCRA platform. Leveraging its extensive geospatial datasets, the institution will engage in policy formulation, research, and development activities, bolstered by UNDP's technical support. This collaboration is poised to create a robust digital public infrastructure for India's rural farming communities.
Open data innovations hold immense potential in highlighting best practices, optimizing agricultural investments, and safeguarding vulnerable populations from various risks. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and securing livelihoods, particularly those of women smallholders, this collaboration between UNDP and NABARD strives to create a resilient and prosperous future for India's farming community.
NABARD Chairman Shaji K V expressed optimism about the collaboration, acknowledging the vast opportunities it opens for both organizations to harness data as a digital public infrastructure for rural India. He emphasized that such innovations have the potential to optimize agriculture investments, share best practices, and enhance resilience against various challenges.
UNDP India Deputy Resident Representative Isabelle Tschan underscored the significance of this partnership, highlighting its role in fortifying support for sustainable agriculture practices and livelihood security. She emphasized the reduction of vulnerability among small farmholders, particularly women, as a central goal of this collaboration.
This landmark partnership between UNDP and NABARD represents a pivotal step in leveraging data-driven solutions to uplift smallholder farmers and transform India's agriculture and food systems for the better.
