GUNTUR: Andhra Pradesh’s Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme, once a local innovation, is now drawing international attention for its farmer-led, climate-resilient approach to agriculture. This week, a 30-member delegation from Brazil, joined by representatives from Abu Dhabi and Sri Lanka, arrived in the State to study the initiative firsthand.
The delegation includes senior officials such as Vivian Libório de Almeida from Brazil’s Ministry of Agrarian Development, along with leaders from cooperative networks including UNICAFES and UNICRAB.
During their visit from October 1 to 10, they will engage with stakeholders and facilitators of the programme. Their itinerary includes village and farm visits in Guntur, where they will observe APCNF practices that help farmers reduce input costs, regenerate soil health and enhance crop resilience. The final leg of the tour will take them to Rajahmundry, focusing on scaling agroecology models and community mobilisation strategies.
Officials noted the visit’s timing is significant, as Brazil prepares to host COP30 and has recently taken over the G20 presidency from India.
With global focus on sustainable food systems and climate-smart agriculture, the delegation seeks to adapt APCNF’s principles for Brazilian smallholder farmers. Beyond technical insights, the emphasis is on APCNF’s holistic framework—community engagement, measurable ecological and social outcomes, and peer-to-peer learning.
“This is no longer just Andhra’s story,” said an APCNF official. “With interest from Brazil, Sri Lanka and the UAE, the principles of farmer-driven, climate-resilient agriculture are reaching a global audience. The world is watching—and learning.”