Rural Action Learning (RAL) as a tool for countryside development

Cser, János – Kalmárné Hollósi, Erika – Schockemöhle, Johanna

Keywords: action learning, regional learning, regional potential, rural identity, local product

Education and training are important tools of rural development. Increased educational level also means increased capacity to acknowledge and utilise the economical and social possibilities of the region. Provision and transfer of information and knowledge concerning regional potentials (including rural identity) over a wider range and utilisation of such knowledge on a wider scale can serve as basis for sustainable development of rural areas. This study introduces the method of Rural Action Learning (RAL) and reports on the results of research carried out in the West-Dunántúl region on regional values and local products. We have found that most of the interviewees were unaware of agricultural production or local food processing in the region. The method of Rural Action Learning can be helpful for visiting farms or small-scale food processing facilities people gain direct experiences, they get to know the significance of agriculture and food production, the work of local farms and their products. RAL activities generated income for agricultural farms and food production units only in an indirect way. The participants became acquainted with local enterprises and their products that helped famers and food processors to sell their produce.

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