According to experts, only 55-60 per cent of the agricultural sector has met its investment needs, and if a new policy for the industry is not drawn up by the Government, the sector could be taken over by foreign companies. Although agricultural exports have recorded steady growth over the years, […]
Bangladesh hopes to achieve self-sufficiency in food production by 2050, with an ambitious scheme called the Blue-Green Revolution. It will achieve the goal of sustaining its rising population by adoption rice-fish farming. Read more here.
Drought-like conditions are widepread in the world at present, significantly bringing down the total food produced this season, even in the US, as well as in India and Africa. In view of consequence rising food prices, the World Bank and its partners are monitoring the situation closely in order to […]
How can smallholder farmers participate and benefit from the growing carbon market? A new report by the World Agrofrestry Center (ICRAF) shows through a SMART-CDM approach a project called Taking the Heat Out of Farming whereby through cooperation with livelihood programmes, smallholder farmers work together to implement 40 possible activities […]
The Maya Declaration is the first global and measurable set of commitments, spearheaded by developing and emerging country governments, to unlock the economic and social potential of the 2.5 billion poorest people through greater financial inclusion. Read more here.
The Micro-credit Regulatory Authority (MRA) has decided to provide ‘cushion’ to depositors of micro-finance institutions in the backdrop of failing of a MFI, Jubok. The proposal is that if any MFI goes out of business, the depositors would get their money back from the DSF (the proposed depositors’ security fund). Read […]
The Philippine Department of Finance has intensified micro-insurance literacy program through the advocacy seminar on micro-insurance dubbed, “Magpaseguro para Protektado” so as to decrease poverty levels in the country. Read more here and here.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) recently approved a €7 million equity investment in the I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs SME Fund which will allow it to increase access to finance and capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises and small MFIs in Central and Western Africa, thereby boosting income generation and job creation […]
Accion has recently completed an investment totalling US$ 1.9 million in a Mexican MFI CrediConfia, which will help expand financial services to micro-entrepreneurs and low-income households in rural and semi-urban areas in east-central Mexico. Read more here.
Eight Lessons Learned: Inputs for policy considerations in developing resilience against climate risks for small scale farmers in semi-arid regions, full report
India's latest GST reform, being termed as GST 2.0, is more than just slashing rates. By simplifying the tax structure, cutting levies on essentials, and supporting renewable infrastructure, it's open..
In 2023–24, Indian companies spent about ₹1,396 crore of their CSR budgets on sports — just 4% of the total ₹34,909 crore Indian corporates spent on CSR that year. Most of the rest went to edu..
Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), India has 7.5 million Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) spread across 27 states and 6 Union Territories. Each of these small, self-governed, and peer-co..