Two Andhra women farmers to visit Europe, learn organic farming

Amaravati: Two women farmers from Andhra Pradesh have been selected for a prestigious 30-day multi-country study tour of Europe, where they will engage with leading institutions, policymakers, and global platforms on natural and organic farming.

Women at the forefront of natural farming

The selected representatives are Arika Narasamma, a farmer-scientist from Durubili village in Kurupam mandal of Parvathipuram–Manyam district, and Lalam Jyothi, a community mentor from Santhapalem village in Rambilli mandal of Anakapalli district.

Both are associated with the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming programme (APCNF) and are known for achieving strong results through natural farming practices.

Europe-wide engagement across Seven Countries

The delegation will travel across Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Belgium, along with two other European nations, interacting with universities, research institutions, organic farmer networks, civil society platforms,s and policymakers.

The itinerary includes visits to organic and natural farming fields, research centres, universities focusing on sustainable agriculture, and international organic trade fairs.

A key highlight of the tour is participation in Biofach, the world’s largest organic trade fair, where global stakeholders converge to discuss trends and innovations in organic agriculture.

Academic and policy-level interactions

The programme features academic dialogues with institutions such as Wageningen University, Weihenstephan University of Applied Sciences, BFH Bern, and PIK Potsdam. The delegation will also engage with the European Commission in Brussels and take part in the Weltacker Global Field Conference, which focuses on women in agriculture and sustainable food systems.

Discussions will centre on climate resilience, soil microbiome science, biodiversity conservation, food sovereignty, and the expanding role of women in agroecological transitions.

Andhra Pradesh model on the global stage

The tour is being organised by the Berlin-based Foundation of Future Farming in collaboration with European agroecology institutions. It is seen as a step towards deepening global partnerships and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leading example of community-managed, climate-resilient agriculture.

The Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), which implements the APCNF programme under the Andhra Pradesh Government, said the selection reflects the strength of farmers as the driving force of the Natural Farming movement.

Delegation and expected outcomes

Agriculture officials Yerrakonda Sudhakar and Swathi Renduchintala will accompany the farmers. The team is scheduled to depart on Tuesday, with Berlin as the first destination.

RySS Executive Vice Chairman and Advisor to the State Government (Agriculture & Cooperation) T. Vijay Kumar said it was a matter of pride that smallholder and tribal women farmers from Andhra Pradesh are representing India on international platforms.

He noted that the learnings from the tour are expected to enrich field practices in the State, strengthen scientific collaborations, and expand international cooperation in sustainable agriculture.

The visit underscores the growing global recognition of Andhra Pradesh’s natural farming model, with women farmers emerging not just as cultivators but as decision-makers, community leaders, and contributors to global agroecological knowledge.