A national delegation from Acli Terra visited the Fattoria Sociale Melagrana in Dugenta, in the province of Benevento, a farm described as combining agricultural activity with inclusion and services for people.
The visit was led on site by psychologist Roberto Malinconico, according to reports from NTR24 and Fremondoweb. Both outlets report substantially the same statement about the visit, so independent confirmation of the event remains limited.
At the center of the visit was social farming as a form of local welfare. Nicola Tavoletta said investing in social farming can provide support for assisted people, families, and caregivers through places for reception and inclusion. Michele Zannini was also quoted in connection with the visit and the same themes of inclusion, welfare, and support for families.
Acli Terra's position, as reported during the visit, is that social agricultural enterprises should be assessed not only for agricultural productivity, but also for the well-being, inclusion, and community services they generate. The organization argues that more resources and stable cooperation among agricultural enterprises, socio-health services, local authorities, and the Third Sector are needed.
That call fits the regional framework in Campania. Regional Law No. 21 of 16 October 2025 promotes social farming, socio-occupational integration, services for people, and integrated policies involving agricultural enterprises, social farms, and local institutions. Under that framework, social farming is connected with educational, social, socio-health, and socio-occupational integration measures and with the development of local welfare.
For readers, two points from the available sources are especially useful. First, the regional law provides the policy context for understanding what social farms are intended to contribute: not only production, but participation in education, social services, work integration, and community welfare through cooperation with institutions. Second, the evaluation issue raised by Acli Terra matters for how public support is discussed: if farms are judged only on agricultural output, the inclusion and service side of their work remains invisible.
What remains unclear is also important. The sources do not describe the specific activities carried out at Melagrana, the number of people involved, or results already achieved. They do not indicate funding amounts, programs, or operational deadlines connected with the requested resources, and it is not verified whether Melagrana is entered in the regional register provided for under Campania's legislation.
