The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday announced its decision to extend the Smallholder Tea and Rubber Revitalization Programme funded International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)  till the end of 2022.

The project kicked off in 2019 and was to come to a close in 2021.

The decision to extend the IFAD-funded rural finance programme was taken since it did not reach the expected outcomes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposal was presented by the Minister of Plantations.

The assistance is extended under the agricultural development agenda of the IFAD where the objective is to support the stakeholders of the small tea and rubber estates to increase revenue generation, and diversify markets.