The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the award of a $1.7 million grant to the Centers for International Projects Trust (CIPT) to implement the Water-Agriculture-Livelihood Security in India program. The program will help improve farmers' livelihoods and food security in Punjab, Gujarat, and either Bihar or Jharkhand - all significant contributors to India's overall food security. Public and private sector collaboration coupled with innovation are key elements of this new program.

Reflecting on the grant, USAID India Mission Director William Hammink commented, "U.S. assistance is an important catalyst to test innovative development models that cut across sectors such as agriculture, water and climate change. By working with Indian public and private partners, we can help mitigate long-term threats that adversely and disproportionately affect India's poor and vulnerable populations."

Through this new program, USAID in partnership with CIPT will support local farmers to test and scale up innovative and integrated water and energy saving technologies and practices. The program aims to help farmers increase their yields and incomes, as well as to introduce best practices in groundwater management. Working with both Indian government agencies and the private sector, CIPT will seek to improve water and energy policies and provide modern extension services to farmers so they have better market information, which will better inform their crop and irrigation decisions.

Partners in this program include state governments, agricultural universities and research institutes, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Columbia University in the United States, and agri-businesses such as Field Fresh Del Monte.