Ursula von der Leyen recently referred to the trade agreement between India and the EU as the ‘mother of all agreements’, stating that two giants had chosen a win-win partnership. We would now like to introduce you to two mothers from India who are developing a win-win partnership between smallholder farmers, communities and microorganisms, from which agriculture and horticulture around the world can learn a great deal.
Over the next few weeks, these two young women farmers are touring Europe to share their natural farming approach.
An invitation from Weltacker, in cooperation with ARC2020, to join an Indian-European exchange on agroecology.
Their Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative is arguably the world’s largest and fastest-growing agroecological movement. It is based on cultivating diversity, the targeted stimulation of the soil microbiome without the use of chemicals or genetic engineering, and solidarity among the women of the participating communities.
Over the last 10 years, more than a million farms (in Germany, a total of 250,000 farms are left) have adopted the nine principles of APCNF. While these principles are similar to organic principles, they also go beyond them. APCNF is successful as it immediately increases income and food security, and clearly improves the health of both people and soil.
In the 1970s, Andhra Pradesh was the heartland of high-yield rice cultivation using artificial irrigation and chemicals. However, the productivity gains of this ‘green revolution’ have not overcome hunger, poverty and the excessive debt of small farmers, and they are causing ever greater damage.
Above all, ‘chemical agriculture’, as it is known locally, offers no solutions to the local consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat, droughts, cyclones and floods. In contrast, APCNF women farmers collaborate with scientists worldwide to develop grassroots innovations tested and optimised in practice. Their toolkit includes new seed mixtures and biological preparations, the use of drones, and data and knowledge management using mobile phones, as well as the introduction of an additional growing season.
Learn more about this inspiring garden and field revolution from Bobbili Jyothi and Narasamma Arika, two young women farmers who each cultivate half a hectare of land and an ‘Anytime Money’ kitchen garden. Incidentally, the United Nations has declared 2026 the Global Year of Women Farmers.
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Tour dates
The Indian delegation will visit Germany, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. Here is an overview of all the dates:
“Natural Farming – What Can We Learn from Indian Women Farmers?”
Öffentliche Verannstaltung in Bamberg am Stephanshof
“Women* in Agriculture: Panel Discussion”
Public event in Nuremberg, Pfannenschmiedegasse
February 17, 4 pm (CH)
“Women Leading the Change in Agriculture: Insights from India and Switzerland”
Öffentliche Veranstaltung in Bern, Berner Generationenhaus
February 19, 5pm (PO)
February 23, 7 pm (DE)
“APCNF – Farming for Climate and Health” (with Alexander Müller and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)
Public event in Berlin, KulturMarktHalle
February 26, 6 pm (DE)
“Women for sustainable agriculture – perspectives from India and Kenya” (with Daniel Wanjama of Seed Savers Kenya and local guests)
Öffentliche Veranstaltung in Bonn, Kunstmuseum Bonn
March 2 – 4 (DE)
Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen
March 5, 1 pm (NL)
“Feminism & Agroecology II: Doing engaged research together with farming women.”
Öffentliche Veranstaltung, Futurum in Wageningen
March 6, 3 pm (BE)
Meeting in Mundo B in Brussels
March 7
Registration is obligatory by sending an email to this address
The tour is organised by the Weltacker (Global Field) coordination team at the Foundation on Future Farming (click here to email). Each stop on the tour is co-organised with local partners. The visit to Belgium is co-organised by ARC2020 with local farmers Fazia Smail and Tijs Boelens.
What can we learn from Indian farmers? What can we offer? Join us for an Indian-European exchange on agroecology!
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