In a major step towards transforming agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region, Heifer International and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 23 at the ICA-AP Regional Office in New Delhi.
The partnership, forged under the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement Phase 2, aims to strengthen farmer cooperatives and promote inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient food systems. The agreement focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, to become central agents of agricultural and social transformation.
Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP, highlighted the shared mission of both organizations to uplift rural communities through cooperative models, providing farmers with access to resources such as quality seeds, farm inputs, and technical support.
The partnership will work to foster enabling environments for agricultural cooperatives, promote inclusive governance structures, and integrate climate-smart, regenerative agricultural practices across the region. It will also focus on knowledge generation, policy advocacy, and the strategic use of communications to amplify local innovations and leadership.
Speaking at the signing, Neena Joshi, Senior Vice President for Asia Programs at Heifer International, emphasized that organized farmers gain a collective voice and access to better opportunities, unlocking their potential as leaders in building resilient food systems.
To mark the UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the two organizations launched a regional campaign titled “Seeding Strength: Empowering Farmer Cooperatives.”
This initiative will spotlight the stories of cooperatives in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Cambodia that are helping farmers achieve living incomes, adopt sustainable farming practices, and build strong social capital. Gurpreet K. Bhatia, Regional Communications Director – Asia at Heifer, said the campaign aims to give voice to smallholder farmers, whose contributions to transforming food systems often go unrecognized.
The MoU signing was attended by key leaders including Neena Joshi, Gurpreet K. Bhatia, Rina Soni (Country Director, Passing Gifts Pvt. Ltd., a Heifer subsidiary), Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, Savitri Singh (Deputy Chief Executive, National Cooperative Union of India), and ICA-AP officials.
Founded in 1960, ICA-AP is one of four regional arms of the global ICA, which has promoted cooperative enterprise since 1895. Heifer International, established in 1944, operates in 19 countries and has supported over 52 million people worldwide in building secure livelihoods while caring for the planet.
