The Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) aims to facilitate the transformation of a subsistence-based rural agricultural economy into a sustainable value chain and market-driven productive sector by promoting climate-smart approaches in agriculture and strengthening the capacities of communities and local institutions.  It builds on prior IFAD interventions focused on increased agricultural production and makes a basic shift in approach towards marketing and climate-resilient farming practices.

CARLEP’s approach is aligned with RGOB’s 11th FYP strategy to (i) stimulate the pull factors driving climate-resilient production; (ii) build value chain systems for vegetables and dairy and a comprehensive marketing system to enhance the commercial viability of other agricultural products; and (iii) facilitate institutional linkages and policy dialogues towards commercialization of agriculture.

The total programme cost of US$ 31.526 million, over seven years, is financed by –IFAD (US$ 14.27 m), ASAP (US$ 5.023 m), RGoB (US$5.5.739 m), FCBL (US$4.802 m), and Beneficiaries (US$ 0.659 m).

*amount in Million Dollars ($)

The Programme was scheduled for seven years from 2015 to 2022. However, with an approval of Additional Financing in the form of a loan in the amount of $ 10.28 million and a Debt Sustainability Framework grant (DSF) of $ 1.0 million, the project period has been extended until end of December 2025. 

The programme shall work with approximately 28,975 households in 6 eastern Dzongkhags (Lhuentse, Mongar, Pemagatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashi Yangtse, and Trashigang) to expand the Programme’s impacts by targeting entire villages and then clustering communities by commodities produced. This will ensure inclusin, greater adoption and enhance knowledge, enable production on a sufficient scale to attract buyers, increase access to markets and promote greater climate sustainability.