WORLD FARMING
FAD-funded project to create opportunities of employment and economic inclusion for rural youth in the Dominican Republic The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Dominican Republic signed a financing agreement yesterday that will support the implementation of the Productive Inclusion and Resilience of Poor Rural Youth Project (PRORURAL Joven). This rural development operation aims to improve opportunities for rural youth to access jobs and establish businesses, and to build resilience among them and their families to climate, social and economic shocks and stresses. With a total investment of US$ 33.38 million, PRORURAL Joven will benefit around 27,000 households. The project is expected to improve opportunities for 18,600 young people (50 per cent women) to gain fruitful occupations (either by accessing jobs or as entrepreneurs) and to improve the resilience of 14,800 households with young members. “The Dominican Republic’s economic performance and the Government’s social inclusion programmes have resulted in a significant reduction of the country’s poverty levels over the last few years. However, inequalities persist, with rural youth and women bearing the brunt. This project seeks to empower rural youth to be agents of change and to thrive through the employment and entrepreneurship opportunities they build in rural areas” said IFAD’s Country Director for 22
the Dominican Republic, Maija Peltola. Rural young people in the Dominican Republic face significant vulnerabilities. Their jobs tend to be part-time and poorly remunerated. They frequently cope with low levels of human capital, education and job training; scarce participation in decision-making processes; very limited access to land and financial services; negative perceptions about agricultural activities; and limited access to alternative economic activities or high-quality employment. To counter these barriers, the project will heavily invest in building rural youth life and professional skills, relying on public-private partnerships. Alongside these investments, the project will advocate for
public policies that address the root causes of the challenges faced by rural youth. Training will be complemented with financial support to two types of business plans: group plans, focused on agricultural and livestock
production and value addition initiatives, and micro-business plans, not necessarily related to agriculture. Innovation will be encouraged through technological initiatives that foster inclusion of the most vulnerable.
NGO welcomes Dutch plan for 0% VAT on fruit and vegetables Food awareness organisation ProVeg International has welcomed plans by the Dutch Government to reduce the VAT rate on fruit and vegetables to zero as part of efforts to encourage healthy eating. “We really welcome the government plans to lower the VAT on fruit and vegetables which we believe will support
a shift to healthier, plant-based diets,” Pablo Moleman, Manager Food Industry and Foodservice of ProVeg Netherlands, said. “Plant-based diets are shown to have a much lower impact on the environment than diets based on animal foods, so a zero VAT rate will also contribute towards putting the brake on climate change,” Moleman added.
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Until recently, the EU applied a minimum VAT rate to this category of 5% so any change would have required consultation with the European Commission. However, EU finance ministers have since agreed to offer Member States the option to set the rate at 0%, under EU Directive No. 2022/542, which
