A one-day Farmers Exposure Visit was conducted on 08 February 2026 at Rajendra Farmhouse, Satoli, under the WADI Project of the Integrated Village Development (IVD) Programme, Rudraprayag. The exposure visit was organized by Development Alternatives (DA) with support from ReNeW Jal Urja, with the objective of enhancing farmers’ practical understanding of horticulture-based livelihoods, allied agricultural enterprises, and climate-resilient farming systems.

The visit saw the active participation of 65 farmers, including both men and women, from Bashti and Falai villages. The activity encouraged peer learning, inclusive participation, and experience-based knowledge sharing among small and marginal farming households.

During the exposure, farmers were provided hands-on learning on high-value horticulture crops, including kiwi, plum, stone fruits, passion fruit, malta, and lemon varieties (Kagzi and Pahadi). Demonstrations and field interactions also covered allied livelihood activities such as poultry farming, fisheries, and dairy farming, highlighting opportunities for income diversification under the WADI model.

Technical guidance was shared on nursery development and management, kiwi grafting techniques, soil preparation, pruning and trimming practices, and the efficient utilization of polyhouses for protected cultivation. Farmers gained insights into cultivating perennial and horticulture crops on marginal and less-productive land, which is otherwise unsuitable for traditional crops.

The exposure visit strengthened farmers’ confidence to adopt region-specific, high-return crops suited to local agro-climatic conditions of Rudraprayag. Participants expressed readiness to replicate the demonstrated practices on their own small landholdings.

Overall, the initiative contributed to livelihood enhancement, capacity building, sustainability, and climate resilience, while aligning with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty reduction, food security, decent work, climate action, and sustainable land use. Continued exposure visits and technical handholding are expected to further strengthen long-term project outcomes.