Agriculture and Allied Sectors | Understanding Rural India from Policy to Practice
The Rural Immersion Programme is a flagship initiative by RMAI designed to provide first- hand exposure to the dynamics of rural India. It bridges the gap between classrooms and ground realities, offering participants an opportunity to experience, understand, and engage with rural markets, communities, and their evolving aspirations.
The Rural Immersion Programme on Agriculture is a three-day experiential learning initiative designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of India’s rural and agricultural ecosystem. The programme combines classroom learning with field exposure to bridge the gap between policy, theory, and ground realities.
The first two days focus on structured classroom sessions covering the fundamentals of Indian agriculture, farmer economics, agri value chains, government policies, rural marketing, and the growing role of technology and innovation in agriculture. Participants gain insights into allied sectors such as dairy, fisheries, horticulture, and rural enterprises, along with discussions on Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and market linkages.
The third day is dedicated to village immersion, offering first-hand exposure to rural life and agricultural practices. Participants interact directly with farmers, FPO members, and local institutions to understand livelihoods, challenges, aspirations, and the adoption of new technologies. The programme concludes with reflection and learning-sharing sessions, enabling participants to contextualise classroom knowledge with real-world rural experiences.
Overall, the Rural Immersion Programme aims to build practical understanding, empathy, and informed perspectives on agriculture and rural India, preparing participants to engage more effectively with the agri and rural development ecosystem.
Understand rural consumer behaviour, digital adoption, and lifestyle changes.
Explore opportunities in agriculture, fintech, and rural entrepreneurship.
Gain insights into policy frameworks, development models, and corporate engagement in rural markets.
Build a nuanced perspective on challenges and innovations driving growth in India’s heartlands.
The programme is designed for students, corporates, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and NGOs who wish to deepen their understanding of rural India. Every participant is awarded a certificate upon completion.
By immersing in real-world experiences, delegates return with not just knowledge, but also empathy, acionable insights, and a renewed vision for inclusive growth.
Venue : NAARM Campus, Hyderabad
- Participant registration
- Opening remarks & programme overview
- Objectives and expected outcomes of the immersion
- Structure of Indian agriculture
- Cropping patterns & regional diversity
- Role of agriculture in rural livelihoods
- Current challenges and opportunities
- Weather, Crops and Markets
- Traditional Farming vs Modern Agriculture
- YouTube: A Friend and a Foe for Farmers
- Small Farmers: The Backbone of the Indian Economy, Yet Underserved
- From farm to fork: value chain mapping
- Role of mandis, FPOs, aggregators & corporates
- How ITCMAARS model is enabling farmers and FPO ecosystem
- Importance Of Hyperlocal Strategies For Agri Input Marketing
- Paradox Of Digital Age And Bullock Cart Mindset
- Can Smartphones Bridge The Mental Disparities Of Farmers
- Precision farming, drones & mechanisation
- Digital platforms in agriculture
- Smart farming & climate-resilient practices
- Key central & state agriculture schemes
- Credit, insurance & subsidy mechanisms
- Role of NABARD, banks & cooperatives
- Concept, structure & governance
- Role in aggregation, branding & marketing
- Success and failure case studies
- Understanding Customers Needs
- Understanding Marketing Mix with a case study
- Ground-Level Challenges in Rural Last-Mile Distribution
- Role of Agri Distributors, Retailers, and Field Teams at the Village Level
- Innovations and Best Practices Strengthening the Last Mile
- Village profile & background
- Do’s and Don’ts during village interaction
- Group formation & observation checklist
- Key learning expectations
- Assignment for field immersion
- Meeting with village leaders / FPO representatives
- Overview of village economy & agriculture practices
- Farm visit: crops, irrigation & inputs
- Interaction with farmers (small & marginal)
- Visit to dairy unit / FPO / SHG / agri enterprise
- Livelihood patterns
- Technology adoption
- Market access & challenges
- Farmers’ perspectives on policy, markets & income
- Aspirations of rural youth & women
- Challenges and suggestions
- Group presentations
- Key insights & takeaways
- Feedback from participants
- Certificate distribution
- Closing remarks
Register now to engage hands‑on with communities, gain unique insights, collaborate on real‑world challenges, and deepen your understanding of rural ecosystems.
