World Bank clears funds for India's Agriculture in Punjab and Maharashtra

It has sanctioned two major projects for expanding digital learning in Punjab and enhancing climate-resilient agriculture in Maharashtra, thereby benefitting over 60 lakh people of both states.

Cleared by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on November 25, the programmes underscore India's rising reliance on technology to upgrade public services. The POISE programme in Punjab will deploy digital tools across the state's government schools to track and improve students' performance with loan size aggregating to USD 286 million. It covers 13 lakh students in primary classes and over 2.2 million students in secondary schools besides supporting early childhood education for near about 59 lakh children.

Second, the $490-million Maharashtra Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture or POCRA Phase II will scale up precision agriculture practices in smallholder agriculture. It will ensure more than 20 lakh small and marginal farmers, including 2.9 lakh women farmers, get digital systems in nutrient management, soil health and water-use efficiency, among other things. According to the World Bank, the interventions will improve climate resilience and increase incomes by about 30 per cent across 21 districts.

Digital Push Drives Development

According to Paul Proccee, Acting Country Director for the World Bank in India, these initiatives are in tune with the country's vision of "Viksit Bharat." He added that digital infrastructure continues to remain a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and better outcomes in essential sectors like education and agriculture.

"These two projects will contribute towards India's vision of Viksit Bharat - through quality education for better jobs, and use of technology for increased crop productivity and improved livelihoods," said Proccee. The POISE loan has a final maturity of 19 years, including a five-year grace period, and the POCRA Phase II loan has a maturity of 24 years, with six years of grace. With the twin approvals, the World Bank renews its commitment to India's technology-led development model-one that plans to bring about measurable improvements in learning outcomes and agricultural productivity at scale.