The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialised agency of the United Nations with the specific mandate of combating hunger and poverty in the most disadvantaged regions of the world, has undertaken several projects in the North-East.

One of its projects is the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP) and is being implemented under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is aimed specifically at the uplift of the vulnerable upland farmers of the North-Eastern India. The areas of operation in the North East are West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts in Meghalaya, North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts in Assam, Senapati and Ukhrul districts in Manipur.

Since 1978, IFAD has financed 578 projects in 115 countries, allocating almost US $ 7 billion in the form of loans and grants. Through these projects, about 250 million rural people have had a chance to move out of poverty.

Meanwhile a public reception was organised recently, at Don Bosco Technical School auditorium in Shillong to felicitate Phrang Roy who has recently taken over as assistant president of IFAD last month. The joint reception was organised by the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP), Bosco Reach Out (BRO), Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod SELDA (KJPSSELDA) and Seng Khasi.

Phrang Roy’s promotion equates him with an assistant secretary General in the UN system. Before taking over as the Assistant President of IFAD, Roy was the Director for its Asia and Pacific Division and is based in Rome. He has taken charge of IFAD’s Economic Policy and Resource Mobilisation division. His selection was officially announced after the meeting of the IFAD Governing Council, and after stiff competition from more than 500 other applicants for the post.
    
| Meghalaya | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |