Jaipur: A group of agricultural scientists from African countries Kenya, Malawi and Liberia observed the ongoing development and employment-generating projects in the rural areas of Bharatpur district recently. The African scientists were impressed with the rural economy being strengthened by different ventures.
The visit of scientists to the Bharatpur district last week was sponsored by the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur. The 30-member team evinced a keen interest in the beekeeping and marble handicraft activities and said that similar initiatives could be taken up in their respective countries.
Led by the NIAM Director-General, Dr. R.P. Meena, the group visited the model Aanganwadi centre and integrated dairy and biogas plant at Borai village in Kumher Panchayat Samiti, where the villagers informed them about the animal husbandry and related profitable activities. The Lupin Human Welfare and Development Foundation, working in Bharatpur district for the last two decades, organized an exhibition of apparatus used in irrigation and crop harvesting on agricultural fields for the visiting scientists. The foundation offered to work with the non-government organizations in African countries for taking up development projects.
The State Government’s women and child development programme and its benefits by providing nutrition to children and pregnant and lactating women were also explained to the African scientists. During its visit to Nagla Saman village, the group was shown a processing plant which deals with Amla (gooseberry) and different fruits. The plant owner, Mr. Amar Singh, said it was started seven years ago when the concept was unknown in the rural areas and its annual volume of business has now touched Rs. 18 lakhs.
The marketing strategies adopted by women’s self-help groups for handicraft items and the operations of a beekeeping unit in Chak Bahnera village especially impressed the scientists from the three African countries. They asked about the income generated by the sale of marble handicraft items prepared in the village.
The group was accompanied by the Lupin HW&D Foundation’s Chief Programme Coordinator, Mr. Milind Pandit, and Chief Project Coordinator, Mr. Bhim Singh. The members of the African group included Chris Nicer, Edvin Nimle, Isaal Matosa, Wata Anthony, Chires Nyasa, Roosevelt and Moluva Talwar.
Kalyan Singh Kothari
Media Consultant
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