KfW Germany Team Visits Natural Farming Fields
The team comprised KfW Germany sector economist Iris Harder and KfW New Delhi senior specialist Sangeetha Agarwal: Reports
KADAPA: A research partners’ team associated with KfW Germany visited natural farming fields in YSR Kadapa district on Wednesday to study cultivation practices, farmers’ experiences, income levels, market linkages and research-based interventions.
The team comprised KfW Germany sector economist Iris Harder and KfW New Delhi senior specialist Sangeetha Agarwal.
The team first visited banana cultivation fields at Dr YSR Horticultural University in Pulivendula mandal, where it observed fields cultivated through conventional chemical farming and natural farming methods. The members gathered details on crop management, yields, cultivation practices and farmers’ incomes under the two systems. They also discussed improving market access and export opportunities for farm produce.
Later, the team visited the banana farm of Shivakumari at Erram Reddypalli village, being implemented under the University of Reading project. The team explored the possibility of using banana stems left after harvesting to produce value-added products and generate additional income for farmers.
At the Indo-German Global Academy of Agro-Ecology Research and Learning Centre in Pulivendula, the team was briefed on ongoing research and its field-level outcomes.
Sangeetha Agarwal appreciated the research results and stressed the need for greater coordination among research institutions, scientists, farmers and farmer mentors to improve outcomes in natural farming.
