India highlighted its progress in rural development, women’s empowerment and climate-resilient agriculture at the IFAD–India Day event held in Rome, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

A key focus of India’s presentation was its globally recognised model of women’s collectives, which have evolved from small self-help savings groups into strong community-based economic institutions. The Ministry of Finance said these collectives demonstrate how local initiatives can drive large-scale, inclusive rural transformation with relevance beyond India.

Over the past 48 years, India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have jointly supported 36 rural development projects with a total value of $4.4 billion, including $1.5 billion in direct IFAD financing. India currently has six ongoing projects worth $459 million, with a co-financing ratio of 2.65, significantly above global averages, reflecting strong national ownership of the partnership.

Flagship initiatives include improved market access for more than 45,000 rural enterprises in Meghalaya, expanded employment and income opportunities for women in Maharashtra, enhanced climate resilience for around three lakh small and marginal farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, and programmes aimed at boosting incomes and reducing migration in Uttarakhand.

IFAD President Alvaro Lario praised India’s leadership in scaling community-driven development models, noting that several India–IFAD initiatives have emerged as global reference points. Anu Mathai, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs and India’s Alternate Governor to IFAD, said the partnership is rooted in shared values of inclusivity, sustainability and community-led growth.

As a founding member and one of IFAD’s largest contributors, India continues to play a significant role in South–South and Triangular Cooperation, particularly in rural institution-building and agricultural value-chain development.