A nine-member team of delegates from various countries visited Visakhapatnam as part of their International Training Programme on ‘Participatory Rural Development’. Members from Ghana, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Lebabnon and Malawi visited the city. After their visit to rural areas of Kurnool, Anantapur, Ranga Reddy, Visakhapatnam agency, they headed to city dwellings.

The team members expressed their appreciation of the agricultural practises in the rural areas, especially the water shed development in Kurnool, people’s participatory plan in Ranga Reddy district and various techniques adopted by farmers for the healthy growth of crops.

The members also visited Visakhapatnam agency to study the coffee plantations and assess their growth and measures taken at regular intervals.

“The main difference we have observed in India is in agricultural activities. Though the approach is the same, the execution is different. Moreover in India, sustainable development in the forest areas receives special appreciation. However lack of infrastructure for farming is evident in almost every place,” said Edward Antoun, Agriculture Engineer, Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Rural Development, Baabda, Lebanon.

Shanika Anuradhi, a lecturer from Sri Lanka said the working of Self Help Groups, NREGA works are completely different in India, while water issues in agriculture sector and few other ailments in the area remain the same.

The team visited the Self Help Groups in Pendurthy mandal and were impressed with the personality training programmes rendered to the children.

The team members also interacted with local NGOs and learnt their awareness programmes on environmental issues. They also discussed organic farming and ancient techniques of farming with a few agricultural experts.