Agricultural Innovations Discovered
Exposure Visit Translates into Action Planning for the Maldives

A diverse group from the Maldives united by a common concern for island development recently participated in a learning program facilitated by IIRR.Participants represented the Ministry of Agriculture, island councils, farmers, farmholders and UNDP.. Through interactive sessions, field visits and reflections, participants discovered innovative agricultural approaches and technologies.The group considered participatory approaches to rural development, including farmer-led extension, farmer field schools, decentralized governance arrangements, multi-stakeholder cooperative development as well as exemplary marketing arrangements. Through visiting projects, technologies such as hydroponics, integrated pest management, grafting fruit production and solid waste management were explored. From this exposure, participants returned to the Maldives with many ideas for translating their concern for agricultural and organizational development into action plans.

Posted on: November 2007