Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Productivity Enhancement Project

An IFAD grant finances this project, which has the objectives of achieving more efficient and sustainable natural resources management and improving agricultural productivity in the southern part of the country. The grant supports the government's efforts to maximize the productivity of existing arable land in an area that is limited by topography, undeveloped water resources and inadequate market access. Increasing agricultural productivity is crucial to maintaining the recently achieved national self-sufficiency in rice. Pockets of food security are still common in the country, particularly in areas where the road network is underdeveloped.

IFAD funds will contribute to build capacity for informed management in the agriculture and natural resources sector. Project activities are in line with the government's overall objectives in relation to productivity and commercialization of agriculture and protection of natural resources. The project includes a policy link at the national level that anchors it to a similar initiative in the northern uplands.

Through the project, agency staff at the national, provincial, district and village level will receive capacity-building support. One of the project's main target groups comprises poor farming households in lowland areas, characterized by lack of market opportunities, limited marketing surpluses and lack of secure land tenure. Another target group includes poor farmers in upland areas whose livelihoods are threatened by lack of secure land tenure, limited land for agriculture, inadequate awareness of their rights, poor access to markets and low literacy levels.

The project will encourage poor farmers to join farmers' organizations and producers' associations, making them more attractive partners for the private sector and increasing their capacity to negotiate with potential investors.

At the provincial and national levels, the project will work to enhance capacity to manage natural resource-based development and promote agricultural productivity. A significant innovation is devolvement of responsibility for natural resource management to the provincial and district levels, with policy guidance provided at the national level.

Source: IFAD