Government of Norway and WFP Sign Project Agreement
On 16 November, the Government of Norway and WFP signed a 1.5 year project agreement. The project aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers, particularly women, in the north-eastern state of Assam. Its main goal is to tackle the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of International Development, Government of Norway, the Ambassador of Norway, and the Joint Secretary (NRM/RFS), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
Operational Updates
Social Protection and Supply Chain
- Annapurti – a standalone grain-dispensing solution was unveiled in Odisha state. The solution will provide around-the-clock access to food grain entitlement for the Targeted Public Distribution System beneficiaries, supplementing the existing mechanism through the Fair Price Shops. In Uttarakhand, WFP has installed thirteen Annapurti solutions as part of the state-wide scale-up.
- WFP has installed a Flospan, a prefabricated storage structure, in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the fourth Flospan installed in India under the partnership with the Government to modernise their grain storage systems to increase the storage capacity and reduce losses.
- WFP completed a supply chain optimisation analysis of the transportation network for the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) in 30 states.
- WFP facilitated the participation of government officials from the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog (an apex public policy think-tank of the Government of India) in the Evaluation Learning Programme held at WFP Headquarters.
Nutrition and School Feeding
- A session was held for 200 members of Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (JEEVIKA) to promote awareness about the consumption of fortified rice, as part of social behaviour change communication.
- The Department of Community Sciences, College of Agriculture in Kerala and WFP have agreed to collaborate through a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Technical Support Unit to ensure the effective implementation of the rice fortification programme.
- WFP is collaborating with the State Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in scaling up the decentralised take-homeration (THR) production units. Of the targeted 204 THR units, 203 have become operational. Provision of improved THR products is also ongoing in the states of Rajasthan and Odisha. Further, 375 frontline functionaries of Integrated Child Development Services in UP and Odisha have undergone capacity-building sessions.
FAQs
Q: What is the aim of the project agreement signed between the Government of Norway and WFP?
A: The project aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers, particularly women, in the north-eastern state of Assam to tackle the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture.
Q: Where was Annapurti, a standalone grain-dispensing solution, unveiled?
A: Annapurti was unveiled in Odisha state and has also been installed in Uttarakhand as part of a state-wide scale-up.
Conclusion
November 2023 briefing on WFP operations in India highlights the progress and initiatives taken in the area of social protection, supply chain, nutrition, and school feeding. The signing of the project agreement between the Government of Norway and WFP marks a significant step towards enhancing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers in Assam. It’s commendable to see efforts being made to address the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture and contribute to the overall well-being of communities in India.
