Course Description
Since 1968 Cornell University has offered students a field study course in agricultural development involving a two-week trip to the tropics. Field courses were held 1968 to 1975 in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, 1976 to 1982 in México, 1983 to 1990 in Costa Rica, 1991 to 1997 and 2001-2002 in Honduras, 1998-2000 in Ecuador, in India since 2003, and in the Gulf region of México since 2006. These host countries provided excellent field laboratories for the study of soils, crops, and animals in farming systems under a wide range of ecological, social and economic conditions. These courses have been sponsored by the Program in International Agriculture of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD) with the collaboration of many host institutions. Two sections offering field studies in India and the Gulf Region of México were created for 2006 and 2007. The host institutions in México are the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Universidad Veracruzana, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, and the Colegio de Posgraduados, Campus Cárdenas. About 1500 students and 150 faculty and extension educators have participated in this course, including citizens from the US and most developing countries in the tropics.
The tropics are of special importance and concern. Droughts, floods, and disease and insect manifestations have decreased agricultural productivity in many areas of the world. In addition to these common constraints to agricultural production, the world is experiencing shortages of fuels and fertilizers. At the same time, population growth and rising demands for more and better food have increased food needs. Continuous adaptive research efforts are necessary. Similarly, farm communities must be capable of adjustment. Both of these requirements imply a deeper knowledge of the organization of research, on the one hand, and the organization of communities on the other. Thus, it is essential to broaden our concept of the process of agricultural development beyond simply that of productivity.
It has been estimated that half the world's population depends on a subsistence (mainly traditional) type of agriculture, and that 40 percent of the world's cultivated land is in the hands of subsistence farmers. The figures for many Latin American countries are even higher. Many feel that it will be necessary to work closely with small farmers over a period of years to thoroughly comprehend not only their farming systems, but the cultural, social, economic, political, and religious forces influencing them. This understanding is required to provide a sound basis for the introduction and the improvement of appropriate technologies.
Obviously it is not possible to thoroughly examine the many facets of the many problems that are faced by small farmers in a mere two weeks. Nevertheless, this course provides a valuable opportunity to see first-hand how they live, to see their crops and animals, to speak with them, to visit projects of various institutions designed to help them, and to listen to professionals who have devoted careers to understanding and helping them. (See A Living Laboratory)
See article about the 1995 field trip that appeared in the magazine Cornell Focus, Two Weeks in Honduras Transforms Students
