World Bank aided project 'SMART' for Maharashtra Details, Features, Aim

World Bank aided project 'SMART' launches in Maharashtra: Details, Features, Aim, Highlights

World Bank aided State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project to transform rural Maharashtra was launched o 7th December 2018.

The SMART project aims to revamp agricultural value chains, with a special focus on marginal farmers across 1,000 villages. This initiative is in line with the Union Government’s step towards doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

The SMART project main aim is to create and support value chains in post-harvest segments of agriculture, facilitate agribusiness investment, stimulate SMEs within the value chain.

The SMART project will also support resilient agriculture production systems, expand access to new and organised markets for producers and enhance private sector participation in the agribusiness.

The SMART project will be implemented in 10,000 villages of total 40,913 villages in states with an objective to achieve sustainable farming within the next 3 years. It will cover almost one-fourth of Maharashtra. Its focus is on villages which are reeling under worst agriculture crisis compounded by lack of infrastructure and assured value chains to channelize farm produce.

The SMART project will be implemented in 10,000 villages comprising 10,000 gram panchayats which were shortlisted by state government based on multiple parameters of socio-economic backwardness in terms of development and growth.

The SMART project is a big step toward the transformation of the rural economy and the empowerment of farmers and also sustainable agriculture through public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The SMART project also aims to sure higher production of crops and create a robust market mechanism to enable farmers to reap higher remunerations for the yield. It unites agriculture-oriented corporates and farmers by providing them with a common platform.