Agricultural development students from across Africa and Asia have visited a mixed farming enterprise in Glaston.

The visit is the first of several that the Marshal Papworth Fund will organise over the academic year, to complement the students' scholarship-funded Masters studies in the UK.

The nine students were hosted by Percy, Tre and Tom Gilman, who explained how they incorporate conservation work through environmental schemes, set up a robust business structure and work with the latest technology including RTK and GPS as part of a profitable and sustainable arable and sheep farm.

One of this year's Marshal Papworth scholarship recipients, Charles Kabena from Malawi, a Reading University MSc Communication for Development student, said: "We are very grateful to the Gilman family for giving us their time and such an all-encompassing learning experience, which helps us understand how we can help our communities take their production to a commercial level alongside a sustainable approach to wildlife conservation.

"The opportunity to see first-hand many of the theories that we are covering in class is also invaluable to our studies and will allow us to make a stronger impact when we return to our home countries."

The nine students are currently studying for their Masters degrees at Cranfield University, Harper Adams University, Reading University and Writtle University College, as part of agricultural development charity the Marshal Papworth Fund's intake of scholarship students.

Percy said: "I really hope that the Marshal Papworth students have been able to take some lasting learnings away from this visit - whether that's how to be more selective when choosing breeding genetics in commercial livestock production, or how to incorporate conservation and environmental work to not only benefit the environment around your farm, but also harness some of those natural resources to your business' benefit."

The Marshal Papworth Fund has welcomed 215 agricultural development students, working across developing countries to overcome issues including food insecurity, poverty and climate change in a sustainable way.

Whilst in the UK, the students attend a number of visits to farms and other agricultural enterprises, that allow them to see first-hand the techniques and management practices UK farmers use to build sustainable and profitable businesses.

Allied with their Masters studies, this practical learning enables the students to go back to their home countries with both policy design and practical implementation ideas that can benefit the farmers in their own communities.