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World Bank launches program to support farmers in Kerala
World Bank’s $200M project in Kerala to support farmers’ climate resilience, agribusinesses, and women entrepreneurs.
Farmers harvesting coffee beans on a lush plantation in Kerala, India. / Image - World Bank/Adobe Stock
In an effort to strengthen climate resilience and improve the agricultural value chain, the World Bank has approved a $200 million project to support 400,000 farmers in India’s southern state of Kerala.
The Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) Project will focus on climate-smart practices, value addition, and commercial financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those led by women, an official release stated.
Kerala, a major producer of spices like cardamom, vanilla, and nutmeg, accounts for roughly 20 percent of India’s agri-food exports. However, extreme weather events, including floods and forest fires, have increasingly threatened farmers' livelihoods in the state, underscoring the need for climate adaptation efforts.
The program includes replanting climate-resilient varieties of key crops, including coffee, cardamom, and rubber, as well as expanding Kerala’s rural food parks to enhance infrastructure for agribusinesses in food processing. These parks will be equipped with essential services such as water, power, and waste management systems to support businesses producing value-added products.
“This project will further infuse private sector investment and integrate agricultural value chains for the benefit of farmers and SMEs,” said Auguste Tano Kouamé, the World Bank’s country director for India. “Moreover, it will support agri-based SMEs—especially women who currently own only 23 percent of MSMEs in the state—to gain access to commercial finance by providing training for business plans and to strengthen their commercial viability.”
The initiative also aims to form alliances between farmer groups and agribusinesses to improve supply chain linkages, while a public sector role will help incubate agri-tech startups to drive innovation.
The $200 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity period of 23.5 years, including a six-year grace period.
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