Matale Regional Economic Advancement Project

Matale Regional Economic Advancement Project

The objective of this IFAD-initiated project is to increase the level of profitable economic activity in the district and make a permanent improvement in the incomes of rural poor people. It aims to:

• increase productivity of poor farmers
• improve the marketability and marketing of farm produce
• increase opportunities for employment and self-employment, especially among women and unemployed youth, in both agricultural and non-farm enterprises

The project targets the poorest people, particularly households headed by women, in poor communities in the district, where more than half of small-scale farmers eke out a livelihood on landholdings of less than 0.2 ha. Innovations include commercialization of non-plantation crops, and helping rural poor people take advantage of the province's well-established private sector, good infrastructure and dynamic business environment. The project also provides credit for rural entrepreneurs, including women, to promote off-farm employment.

Source: IFAD