The Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have signed a multi million dollar loan to help smallholder farmers in Asia and the Pacific.
Photo: AFP/ Jay Directo
Under the arrangement the money goes to two companies which will work to improve inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains for smallholder farmers in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.
Up to 20,000 small farmers stand to benefit.
An ADB investment specialist says "developing formal value chains is essential for farmers in Asia and the Pacific to integrate with the global economy and increase the value of their products".
He said this arrangement would help the smallholder farmers expand their production and operations, and improve their livelihoods by promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
