ADB Clears $77 Million Loan for Meghalaya
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $77 million (₹688 crore) loan to Meghalaya. The fund will help restore 25,000 hectares of community forest land and promote ecotourism, climate-smart farming, and other sustainable livelihood projects. The initiative focuses on improving the lives of women and children in farming communities.
Focus on Climate-Smart Practices
The project will use performance-based payments for ecosystem services. Farmers will receive support to adopt climate-smart and sustainable methods that protect forests and increase income. The goal is to create long-term livelihoods and make communities more resilient to climate change.
Integrated Ecotourism & Agriculture Development
Named the Integrated Ecotourism and Sustainable Agri-Based Livelihood Development Project, it combines nature-based tourism with conservation and agriculture. The program aims to benefit over 8,000 indigenous people, especially women.
ADB Country Director for India, Mio Oka, said the project supports Meghalaya’s Vision 2032 to become a leading ecotourism destination while boosting farmers’ earnings through sustainable practices. She added that the model can be replicated in other states to promote inclusive development.
Facilities and Market Linkages
The project will build ecotourism visitor centres, craft demonstration sites, and marketplaces for local agricultural and handmade products. It will restore degraded lands, improve drip irrigation systems, and set up processing and post-harvest facilities.
ADB will also give a $1 million (₹8.9 crore) technical assistance grant to strengthen institutional capacity and market linkages. The assistance will support innovative financing tools such as carbon credits and biodiversity credits.
Boost to Local Cooperatives
The initiative will strengthen agriculture and tourism cooperatives and encourage public–private partnerships for facility management. An innovation fund will be launched to support tourism enterprises, agribusinesses, forest management, and women-led initiatives.
Women-Centric Growth
The project aims to create inclusive and climate-resilient livelihoods across Meghalaya. A strong focus will be on enabling women to take leadership roles in local entrepreneurship, farmer groups, and tourism cooperatives, ensuring long-term community empowerment.
