Aizawl, Apr 8: Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma held a meeting with the IFAD design team on Tuesday to review the proposed implementation plan for the FOCUS 2.0 project in the state.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the need for further refinements to the proposed initiatives, emphasizing the importance of aligning the project with existing schemes to maximize impact and avoid duplication. He also highlighted the necessity for enhanced inter-departmental coordination and encouraged innovative approaches in implementing the project effectively.

Piyush Kanal, Country Programme Analyst for IFAD & ICO, presented an overview of the previous FOCUS project, which ran from 2019 to 2024. The project benefited around 55,000 rural households across 272 villages in six districts, with 41,888 households adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Alessandra Cage, Mission Director & Agri-Business Expert, outlined the key objectives of FOCUS 2.0, which will cover 700 villages across 26 RD Blocks in 11 districts. The project will focus on improving market access, fostering entrepreneurship, developing value chains, and promoting climate-resilient farming practices among rural youth and farmers.

The meeting was also attended by Pi Lalengzami, Additional Director of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and State Project Director for FOCUS, along with other project officials.