AGRICULTURE IN THE DEVELOPING NATIONS I (IARD 4020) COURSE DESCRIPTION Cornell’s IARD 4020 course acquaints students with international agriculture and rural development in developing nations. The lectures and discussions establish a global and regional context for sustainable agricultural development and focuses on specific development challenges in India. It is primarily a preparatory course for participants who wish to enroll in the spring semester course Agriculture in the Developing Nations II (IARD 6020), which includes a 2-week field trip to India. Students enrolled in the 4020 class meet on a weekly basis during the fall semester for lectures relating to the varying aspects of agricultural development. At the beginning of the semester, students are asked to enroll in one of three thematic groups. Following the weekly lectures, students break into their thematic group to discuss the lecture as it applies to their area. Students are also required to visit the course’s online discussion board and answer weekly questions on each lecture. The thematic areas are:

• Agricultural Systems • Rural Infrastructure • Value Addition and Global Marketing

COURSE LECTURE TOPICS The fall 2011 lectures for IARD 4020; Agriculture in Developing Nations I were: Date Topic Topic Description Faculty 08/26/2011 Green Revolution History of the Green Revolution in India

including why and how it began, how it spread and its effects on the country. Addresses the ecological issues associated with the movement and the call for an Evergreen Revolution, as well as a Gene Revolution.

Dr. KV Raman

09/02/2011 Crops and Cropping Systems in India

Description of the large variety of crops grown in India, typical cropping patterns and cropping systems in diverse agro-climatic zones. Addresses the challenges facing present day farmers including natural resource degradation; subsidies for power, fertilizer and irrigation and less money for research, extension, infrastructure and development; and rural labor migration.

Dr. Peter Hobbs

09/09/2011 Agroforestry Explanation of agroforestry and how it can be used to alleviate such problems as drought, soil erosion, heat stress in livestock, wind and nutrition. Presents real examples of agroforestry being used around the world.

Dr. Ken Mudge

09/16/2011 India Textiles and Textile Process

Discussion on the current state of the Indian textile industry including its place in India’s GDP, its strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace and the opportunities for growth in the world market.

Dr. Anil Netravali

09/23/2011 The Food System and Human Nutrition

Addressing the relationship between food systems and human health and nutrition. Discussion of improved nutrition in developing nations including poverty alleviation; understanding context specific household decision making; prioritizing water, sanitation, food, and behavior; and altering nutrient composition in foods.

Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen

09/30/2011 Social Responsibility and Sustainability in the Textile and Apparel Industry

Discussion of child labor and standards to be considered in evaluating child labor; advantages/disadvantages of “power loom” production versus factory production from the point of view of the worker and the customer; the importance of hand labor in Indian textile production; and female employment in agriculture versus female employment in textiles and what affect might that have on the economy and culture.

Dr. Suzanne Liker

10/07/2011 Value Addition, Food Processing and Global Marketing

A case study in Indraprastha Ice and Cold Storage Ltd.’s (IPCSL) expansion and modernization of its cold storage capacity. Addresses whether the improved services provided by IPCSL are worth the premium that the company charges and how effective this can be in maintaining the customer base and increasing profit in the long run.

Dr. S.P. Raj

10/14/2011 Microfinance Discussion on agriculture finance. The history, current state and future of microfinance including the factors affecting the success of microcredit in developing countries.

Dr. Calum Turvey

10/21/2011 Animal Science / Food Supply

Addressing the increased need for food production in developing countries and the challenges it presents including increased productivity, increased land use, increased transportation and distribution systems, increased interactions between production animals and new pathogens and new public health problems.

Dr. Karel Schat

10/28/2011 Biotechnology Discussion on biotechnology for insect pest management including crop biotechnology; biotech pest management crops; possible deployment strategies for Bt plants; and bringing GM Technology to vegetables in developing countries. Also addresses the social context and politics of biotechnology.

Dr. Anthony Shelton

11/04/2011 Agricultural and Rural Development

Discussing extension and communication in agricultural and rural development. Addresses how technology is changing agriculture (biotech, new cultivation practices/SRI, market structures, farmer independence, reduced government support) and what tools developing countries can employ to benefit from these changes (digital extension, training rural youth, ICT Kiosks).

Dr. Royal Colle

11/11/2011 Agriculture Infrastructure

Addressing agriculture’s infrastructure changes and performance over the long run. Questions whether agriculture will meet future needs and the factors associated with agriculture’s recent success. Presents various agriculture policies that encourage growth.

Dr. Robert Herdt

11/18/2011 Food Processing & Value Addition

The role of food processing in international agricultural development. Discusses how food processing can improve poverty, hunger and health as well as developing countries overall GDP.

Dr. Syed Rizvi

PROJECT PAPER In addition to attending course lectures, participating in group discussions and submitting answers on the discussion board, students are also required to submit a project paper addressing one of the topics discussed in class or within the student’s theme group. Sample project papers submitted by students include:

Indian Students from TNAU

• Miracle Millets—Food Solution to the Future World, Parthiban Thathapalli Parthiban

Abstract

Millets are small seeded grain crops grown in dryland fields under rainfed conditions with lower soil fertility and inputs. They are the oldest crops that were domesticated for human food consumption. There are numerous species falling into the category of millets making it rich in genetic diversity. Millets account for important properties like short crop duration, easy to produce, high nutritional value, resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and storing capacity. With numerous benefits and advantages over other crops at present, these crops harbor the answers for food security issues that are prevalent especially in countries like India which has a large population. Change of food consumption patterns is a must and millets should be included in the human diet on par with rice and wheat in order to have a nutritious diet.

• Moringa—The Nutritional Powerhouse to Battle Against Malnutrition in India, T. Philomin Juliana

Abstract

Malnutrition is a serious issue in India that is hindering its progress and it takes the lives of many people every year. Moringa is the most nutritious plant in the earth and India is the leading producer and the centre of origin of this crop. The question is why the leading producer of the most nutritious crop is still a victim of malnutrition. According to me, Moringa would fulfill the vision of a “malnutrition free India”. This paper discusses the problem of malnutrition in India, the nutritional benefits of Moringa oleifera, cultivation practices of Moringa and the potential of utilizing it to combat malnutrition in India.

• Rural Development in India, Saurabh Gautam

Abstract

Rural Development in India is an important segment of economic development. The rural population in India comprises core of the Indian society and also represents the real India. About 67% of Indian population lives in villages and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Considering this fact, rural development is very imperative for development of India. Government of India recognizes this importance and has been implementing a host of programs and measures to achieve rural development objectives. Most of the programs aim to increase the agriculture production, combat rural unemployment, improving the living conditions, promoting self-help and cooperation, stress has been laid on the participation by the villagers in the planning and execution of the program. But most of the programs have very mixed effect on rural life due to much diversified society. The Indian society is a complex social system with different caste classes’ creeds and tribes This article attempts a stocktaking exercise of the initiative under taken by GOI for rural development, and in doing so, it draws attention to controversies associated with the implementation of these polices. Further, this report lists the possible recommendation for these controversies. In this article, I will be mainly concentrating on National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ( NREGA) started in 2006 to increase the employment opportunity in the rural areas and Bharat Nirman, under this program, action is proposed in the areas of Water Supply, Housing, Telecommunication and Information Technology, Roads, Electrification and Irrigation.

• Project Report on Impact of Operation Flood on Dairy Industry Supply Chain in India, Praghadeesh Manivannan

Abstract

During the last decade, India has overcome many infrastructural, market, and institutional and social challenges to transition from a dairy importing nation to the top producer in the world of both buffalo and goat milk, as well as the sixth largest producer of cow milk. In India, at least 70 percent households are involved in farming and comprising dairy cattle as major component. Dairy production is important for income levels, employment and improving nutritional quality of diets. A dynamic dairy production initiative, Operation Flood, laid the foundation for a dairy cooperative movement that presently ensures returns on dairy investments to 13 million

members. Operation Flood also advanced infrastructural improvements to enable the procurement, processing, marketing, and production of milk and to link India’s major metropolitan cities with dairy cooperatives nationwide. This operation brought huge changes in marketing policies, significant technological advancements into the rural milk sector, established many village cooperatives, and oriented the dairy industry toward markets.

• Post-Harvest Losses and their Effects on Indian Food Supply, Sowkya Jayaraman

Abstract

The current population of India is around 1.21 billion which is about 18% of the total world population approximately. Diversification and modernization of agriculture for higher productivity and equitable distribution of food commodities is necessary to support the survival of the population. In developing countries like India, this could be achieved to a great extent through selective mechanization of agriculture and appropriate post-harvest management and value addition which will lead to employment generation in the rural sector and minimization of losses of the harvested biomass. India produces about 470 million tons of raw food materials of plant and animal origin which are refined, stored and transformed into various usable products using conventional and modern post- harvest and food processing technology. This involves operations like cleaning, grading, drying, storage, milling, packaging, transport, marketing and utilization. So right after harvesting and throughout these processes a huge amount of the produce is gone as waste. Due to improper storage and handling of the raw materials lots of grains and greens gets deteriorated and results in loss. Due to this loss there is scarcity of food among the nation. These post-harvest technologies play an important role in minimizing the loss. By proper storage and handling this can be reduces to a great extent. Due to the carelessness of many people right from the farmer to retailer many food go as waste. India ranks among the top countries in production but the rate of processing and value addition is very low when compared to total production. After harvesting the agricultural produce (e.g. fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, fish,) are easily liable to undergo physiological, chemical, and microbial processes or changes that invariably lead to deterioration and loss of wholesomeness. It is then necessary to institute some measure of processing such as reduction in moisture content, denaturation of endogenous enzymes and microorganisms, or packaging in order to curtail perishability. When all these are not properly done then there is a huge amount of Post-Harvest loss. . It is the responsibility of the food scientist or technologist to understand the underlying processes contributing to food deterioration and spoilage and, to device appropriate measures and methods of preservation in order to ensure availability, acceptability, and safety of foods.

• Biofortification—A Novel Tool to Reduce Malnutrition, Devika Subash Abstract

Billions of poor people in developing countries like India are suffering from micronutrient malnutrition. Even though fortified foods are available in market, the rural people could not access it. But through Biofortification we can provide rural people with nutrient rich foods in very low cost. Using both conventional breeding and biotechnological approach we can produce biofortified crops. Various organizations around the world are trying hard to produce biofortified crops. Only a very few staple crops are biofortified yet. Government also holds responsibility to make the people aware about the need of micronutrient rich diet and biofortified food.

U.S. Students

• Agroforestry as a Method for Improving Rural Livelihoods in India, Sean Callahan

Abstract

This paper explores the potential benefits of agroforestry for improving rural livelihoods in India. Research has shown that agroforestry has many ecological, social, and economic functions, but is often not adopted by farmers due to improper extension and planning methods. This paper will describe the ways in which agroforestry can aid in the improvement of rural livelihoods and how extension methods that involve the participation of local populations in the knowledge sharing and planning aspects of policies can best achieve these effects.

• Investing in Information Communication Technology for Development—Confronting India’s 21s Century Challenges, Sara Cullen Abstract

Information communication technologies (ICTs) as a medium of knowledge and information dissemination is well recognized, but the downstream impact of ICT-based interventions in mitigating future development challenges is not. This research paper expounds upon two ICT-based interventions, the Pondicherry Experiment and the e-Choupals initiative, that have bypassed the poor infrastructure in rural India to facilitate social change and human development. Since India’s main challenge in the 21st century is urbanization—an increasing flow of rural youth to urban areas— it is paramount that ICTs are invested in to invigorate youth to participate and remain in rural activities.

• Leveraging Public and Private Finance Vehicles to Improve Small Farmer Access to Finance in Rural Indian Communities, Jehiel Oliver Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of rural lending in the context of agricultural development in India. Within the paper I will provide background on financial mechanisms within the Indian agricultural sector (both public and private), I will then investigate the need for appropriate inputs and finally explore viable intervention strategies to promote input purchases through the use of credit products. Borrowing heavily from my experience as a consultant within the Microfinance/impact investing industry and my course experience in IARD 4020, I will attempt to modify typical microcredit intervention strategies, utilizing best practices and lessons learned, to develop appropriate solutions modified to fit the Indian agricultural context.

• Successes and Failures of Operation Flood, Recent Trends and Future Promise, Simone Passarelli Abstract

Operation Flood, an Indian dairy development project initiated in the 1970’s, helped India to become the world’s foremost producer of milk in only three decades. The project succeeded in augmenting the incomes of millions of rural farmers, improving infrastructure and processing, and establishing cooperative dairy models throughout India. In the wake of Operation Flood’s implementation, India continues to achieve substantial increases in its dairy yields. However, these increases are mainly due to a rise in the herd size of India’s dairy animals and not from improvements in productivity. The principle obstacles to enhancing dairy production efficiency in India exist in the high participation rate of producers in unorganized supply sectors, the prevalence of nondescript dairy breeds from unmanaged breeding, and insufficient animal nutrition. In order to address these shortcomings, the Indian government must promote higher cooperative membership in order to connect India’s fragmented production chains.

• An Investigation of the Pros and Cons Associated with Participatory GIS for Forest-Dependent Peoples: Feasibility in India, Wade Simmons Abstract

Geographic Information Systems, a hardware and software combination used to analyze and visualize spatially referenced information, has quickly become an extremely valuable tool for researchers and policy makers. But can poor, traditional segment of society also utilize this technology to their benefit and empowerment, or does this technology epitomize the digital divide? This paper examines arguments for and against the use of this information and communication technology (ICT) as a participatory tool for communities who are dependent on the forests, and looks at the dynamics in India to gauge feasibility on the sub-continent.

• Population Growth Control Policies in India, Julien Wilson Abstract India, one of the largest countries in the world, and the second most populated has a fast growing population which may create problems for nation as a whole, but particularly for the poor as the people outgrow their resources. For millennia thinkers have discussed the dynamics of population change and control, but Thomas Malthus’s theories at the beginning of the 19th century have been the ultimate influence today throughout the world and in India. They have influenced policies that explicitly see the need to control population growth as to avoid the dire consequences of outgrowing subsistence. The family planning policies and programs employed over the past 60 years in India have varied from passive support to forced sterilizations. Ultimately these policies have had limited success because of their methods and the socio‐cultural traditions in India that promote high fertility.

GRADING Students enrolled in IARD 4020 are graded in the following areas, according to the following scale:

Category Maximum Points

Participation in class group discussions, interactions with Indian students, weekly participation in Blackboard Discussion Board, and class attendance.

25 pts

Outline 10 pts

Final project paper 65 pts

TOTAL 100 pts

The final project paper is awarded a maximum of 65 points. Papers are awarded points following the criteria below. Points Criteria

65-55 (A)

The paper addresses the assigned topic in a full and interesting way. It demonstrates the person has read various viewpoints on the topic, synthesized this material and given a thoughtful conclusion. The content is comprehensive, accurate, and persuasive. Major points are stated clearly and are well supported. The structure of the paper is clear and easy to follow. The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. Paragraph transitions and web links are present and logical and maintain the flow of thought throughout the paper. Conclusions are logical and flow from the body of the paper. It is essentially free from errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The paper reveals a special lively intellect and interest about the topic. The paper labels any objects properly, assigns sources for gathered material and has a complete list of references properly cited. Links are present for further reading on the topic.

54-44 (B)

The paper addresses the assigned topic. It is well organized, but it may ramble a bit or suffer from excessive wordiness. Material researched for the paper may not represent both sides of a story and be somewhat biased and not complete. Some material may not be accurate, clear or persuasive. There may be a few minor errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation but no major ones. The paper reveals good, solid thinking but no particular spark or interest in the topic. Not all the objects are labeled and sources of information and references not all complete. Links to further reading are not complete. The paper is good but not great.

43-33 (C)

The paper addresses the assigned topic but only weakly or tangentially. It is poorly organized, and there are many minor mechanical errors and perhaps some major ones (such as incomplete sentences). Content is not comprehensive and /or persuasive and may be biased and not represent different viewpoints. Major points are addressed, but not well supported. There are some good ideas but fuzzy or illogical arguments to support them. Structure of the paper is not easy to follow. Introduction is missing or, if provided, does not preview major points. Paragraph transitions and links need improvement. Conclusion is missing, or if provided, does not flow from the body of the paper. The paper contains several grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. Objects are not properly sourced or labeled. The references used are incomplete or missing. Links to other relevant reading is missing.

32-22 (D)

The paper misses the assigned topic altogether. It is simply narrative with no apparent purpose. There is no discernible organization, and there are many major mechanical errors. Content is incomplete. Major points are not clear and /or persuasive. Organization and structure detract from the message of the writer. Introduction and/or conclusion is missing. Paragraphs are disjointed and lack transition of thoughts and there are no links between pages and themes. The paper contains numerous grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. Citations and references are not provided. There is no linkage to other web sites or materials

21-0 (F)

The paper was not handed in or it was plagiarized, as a whole or in part.

AGRICULTURE IN THE DEVELOPING NATIONS II (IARD 6020) COURSE DESCRIPTION The IARD 6020 course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to observe agricultural development in India and to promote interdisciplinary exchange among faculty, staff, students and their counterparts. A two week field-study trip in January is followed by individual reflection papers of the trip, group discussions, written projects and oral presentations dealing with problems in food, agriculture and livestock production in the context of social and economic conditions of India. COURSE STRUCTURE Field-Study Trip Students enrolled in the spring 2012 IARD 6020 course embarked on a 2-week field-study trip on January 2, 1012. Please see the attached trip itinerary for the details on places visited, topics explored and planned activities. WordPress Prior to departing for India an online resource called WordPress was created. WordPress is a website that allows students to post - through “blogs” - their reactions, thoughts and experiences during the trip. Students were also invited to post photos of the trip. A photo contest will be held in March and winners will be selected to receive prizes for the best photos submitted. Please see the attached collection of sample WordPress photos from the 2012 trip. Examples of Wordpress blogs are: • “It was my pleasure taking few members of my group to home and provided them Indian

snacks with tea. I was doubly happy that even Peter and Ken made it to my home and had a nice interaction with my family members. All became feasible only because of this IARD trip which I am enjoying to the fullest.” - Parthiban Thathapalli Parthiban

• “I really enjoyed the second day. We went to Mangala fish processing unit which is located 20 Km away from the city. The way how they processing the fish is really exciting to me since this was my first visit to a fish processing industry. Even though I don’t have a food science back ground I am happy that I was able to follow many of the food processing steps explained by the factory production manager. The unit is mainly doing the packing of cooked shrimps. The unit is 100% export oriented one with its pre-processing factory located in Aroor. Afternoon we went to Hill palace, one of the palaces built by Kochi Empire. It is really an eye catching building with a lot of wood works. Then we went for shopping in MG road. We also celebrated one of our friend, Bindhvi birthday in the night.” - Devika Subash

• “Visit to Central Coir Research Institute, Cochin was extremely informative and mind-blowing. It served as an eye-opener that even an less exploited agricultural by product like coir and pith from coconut could fetch huge market value. India had seen a revolution in coir processing during the last two decades. It has evolved into a completely modernized and eco-friendly process. Different handicrafts which were produced from the coir and pith were attractive and it was kind of depicting typical ancient Indian culture. It’s worth mentioning that Kerala’s coir industry is kind of Aladdin’s magic rope.” – Praghadeesh

• “Today was our last day of visit in Coimbatore and it was one of the best. To begin with in the morning we went to farmer’s market. I was a really good experience for me as this was my first time. It was nice to interact with the farmers. They welcomed us by serving delicious fruits and vegetables. After that we started our journey to Bannari Ammam Sugar Industry located in Sathyamangalam. We first visited their bio diesel plant where they extract oil from pungam seeds. After that we went to their sugar processing plant. It was a really huge factory and well maintained. The smell of sweet sugarcane juice was filled all over the place. We got to see their processing flow and finally packaging. And towards the end we tasted little bit of freshly made hot sugar. Then from there we went to Bannari Amman Institute. The campus is really beautiful and well maintained. We had a small interaction session with the current M.tech students. We also shared our experience in Cornell. The day was good and informative altogether.” - Sowkya Jayaraman

• “The visit to keystone has been the most exciting and the motivating part of my entire trip. Keystone has been a source of inspiration for me to help the tribal poor people. I was really inspired by the way they work among the villagers and the tribal communities and help them in living a better life. The girl who runs a newspaper just being a fifth grade student just impressed me. Besides we had a wonderful time interacting with the tribals and learning about their culture. The role played by keystone in transferring good technology to the tribals and giving them access to funds and such services was highly commendable.” – T. Philomin Juliana

• “Two days at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) were very cheerful and enjoying. Moving in the gangs with the fellow Americans was really exciting and answering the questions, like why Indian women put dots over their foreheads? Have certainly given me a new perspective, to my centuries old Indian culture. Being together, exploring the TNAU campus, and sharing the life experiences were awesome. Yesterday, I went to the TNAU canteen with Amy, Shawn, Sara, and Stephanie, and we had some typical south Indian food. Lately, while returning back to hotel, we had some interesting discussion on Indian and American marriage system and quite shocked to know that divorce rate in USA is over 50%. Experience at TNAU a leading institution for agricultural research in India is worth listing: Graduation ceremony at Anna auditorium, visit to E-extention center, meeting with some self- help groups, and discussion with the TNAU professors about precision farming and farmers call centers. I am really very much impressed by the work done by TNAU and just can’t wait to study at TNAU, next year.

Now, getting ready to have some hot and spice India breakfast and then live for a visit to farmers market in Coimbatore.” - Saurabh Gautam

• “I agree with the last post that Ooty has by far been my favorite part of the trip so far! The mountains and cool, fresh air are a welcome change from the bustling cities of Coimbatore and Chennai. Our visits to the village yesterday and school today have been major highlights of our time in India for me. I had so much fun dancing with the villagers yesterday, and I was thoroughly impressed by their hospitality. For next year, it would be nice if the group brought some food or presents for the children to the village, since I felt a little guilty taking food from people who live so simply. During the visit to the school today, it surprised me to hear how bright the children were, and how they could speak so comfortably and intelligently on such complex topics. Afterwards, K.V. and I discussed how schools could possibly expand these Eco Club models in order to provide more supplementation to their diet. Since the government provides funds for school lunches, perhaps schools that produce adequate amounts of vegetables for their lunches could receive government subsidies in order to help fund other areas of education.” – Simone Passarelli

• “After a long day of traveling yesterday, we arrived in Hyderabad last night and for a brief moment at the airport, all of the groups were in the same place for the first time since landing Dubai. The Ag Systems group left us for ICRISAT and the rest of us arrived late at the swanky Taj Hotel. This morning the Rural Infrastructure drove way out of Hyderabad to see the “Model Village”. The village, Ramchandrapuram, had a truly incredible array of successful projects. Immediately upon arrival the village seemed different. The roads were clean. The houses well kept. You could almost smell the sense of community and pride. The mayor of 10 years had spearheaded successful programs in the schools, power infrastructure, water resources, and agriculture. They had even formed a two tier parliamentary-style council to lead the village and solve problems. For most of the time I remained skeptical. After hearing success story after success story, I was waiting for the catch. Surely something must be wrong. Nothing could be this perfect. Before it was over, however, I was convinced that the achievements were genuine and made through effective management and utilization of government-provided opportunities coupled with a strong vision from the local leadership. The village can’t be perfect, but what they have achieved is unique and remarkable. The mayor travels all over the world to share their success story. Though I think that it would be difficult to replicate this exceptional story many more times, the lessons that can be learned can be applied repeatedly with success. Maybe not in every sector in every village, but certainly in some sectors in many villages: enough to make an impact.” – Julien Wilson

• “Hyderabad is a huge, cosmopolitan city – the density of which is something I have never

experienced. It turns the task of crossing the street into a real life game of Frogger. However, the city life is not for me. While I enjoy the hustle and bustle, I miss the rolling hills and green tea fields of Nilgris and the Western Ghats. My favorite field trip during our time in the mountains was the visit to the Keystone Foundation. This organization is tackling a wide array of Indian problems, but I really appreciated how they were focusing on environmental preservation. One of the biggest controversies of rural development is how well it can be coupled with natural conservation. This organization was examining exactly that issue and conducting rigorous participatory research that involved categorizing all endemic species of the region. It was also involved in helping to delineate tracts of land to establish formal land rights to traditional villages. The problem of land tenure and legal rights is a huge issue worldwide and a stumbling block to development. It was inspiring to see a solution that was utilizing new technologies of GIS and GPS while involving the local people.” – Wade Simmons

• “My palate dances with spices and warm tea as I continue to immerse myself into India’s colorful culture. Ooty and the surrounding areas are beacons of biodiversity, warmth, and bright faces. Tea, organic farming, floriculture, and local self-help groups have been the topics of our class conversations. The bright spots of our days have no doubt been the interaction we have had with the local villages and schools. After gawking yesterday over the vastly successful carnation flower business in the green valley, which was started by an uneducated farmer, our class visited traditions of a nearby local village. We were met with a procession of children and families who led us through the village with singing, instruments, and dancing to the common area where the stoic elderly wrapped in white shawls encircled the young children as they danced. We of course joined in happily, rhythmically emulating their movements to the traditional songs. Today, we were able to again lively interact with locals. We met students in the 6th grade attending a subsidized school by the government targeted to expand the organic farming, healthy and sustainable way of life. The students were truly phenomenal. Their presentations, in their native language, included detailed descriptions of soil structures and organic crop health benefits. The young children’s confidence, articulation, and exuberance were inspiring. The potential shown by these children gives hope and prosperity for India’s future, but also resembles the saddening loss of potential we seem to be experiencing in the U.S. educational system. I hope that more U.S. students are exposed to these sort of successful schools and entrepreneurial ventures undertaken by the Earthtrust Organization (the organization that supported our trip to the school today) so that we may continue to learn and grow too for a brighter future.” - Sara Cullen

Reflection Papers After completing the two week field-study trip to India, students must complete a reflection paper on their experience. The reflection paper is personal in nature, but not so personal that it cannot be shared with others. It allows each student to think about their field trip experience, what they learned, and how they can put theory into practice or further research. Attached are examples of reflection papers submitted students.

Group Projects During the field-study trip, students are grouped by their thematic areas and participate in several activities that address their specific theme. Groups work with their team leader(s) during the trip to identify a topic that they will explore for the remainder of the semester including completion of a group presentation and project paper. Below are a listing of this year’s groups, members, topics, and concentrations. Agricultural Systems Group #1

Title of Project Paper: Technology Transfer in Agricultural Systems

Group Members & Focus:

• Preeti Sirohi; Advanced Technologies • Philomin Juliana; Communication Technology • Samantha Klasfeld; Private Sector/NGO’s • Myra Manning; Public Sector/Extension

Group #2

Title of Project Paper: Cropping Systems for Global Climate Change

Group Members & Focus:

• Josh Cobb; Genetic Variation in Legumes • T.P. Parthiban; Analyzing Yield Potential I Millets • Juan Arbelaez; Crop Management in Rain fed Ecosystems • Fred Gouker; Water Management in Dry Land Agriculture

Group #3

Title of Project Paper: Strategies and Policies for Achieving Food Security for a Changing India

Group Members & Focus:

• Sean Callahan; Agroforestry and Community Forestry Contribution Solutions to Food Security

• Navendu Shekhar; MDG 2015; India perspective • Anna Levin; Case Study of Successful and Unsuccessful NGO Initiatives in India in

Relation to MDG • Kaileigh Ahlquist; Policies & Subsides • Bill Holdsworth; Security Adequate & Affordable Labor • Joanna Fisher; Crop Protection infield and storage where it is today and where it needs to

be in the future • Wade Simmons; Literature Review of Successful Approaches Addressing Food Security

and Preservation of Ecological Function Rural Infrastructure Group #1

Title of Project Paper: Model Village

Group Members & Focus:

• Aleksandra Janjic; Economic/Finance Aspects • Tiwonge Kanyenda; Education/Nutrition • Girish Singh Mahra; government/administration • Linda Majani; Social Infrastructure

Group #2

Title of Project Paper: Measurements for Success of SHG’s and their Future Prospects

Group Members & Focus:

• Swati Pahuja; Intro, Statistics, Case Study • Mohit Kumar Singh; Case Study, Conclusion • Amy Couch; Case Study, Large Scale Growth, Discussion • Jehiel Oliver; Microfinance • Justine Lewis; Case Study, Future Goals

Group #3

Title of Project Paper: Balanced Approach in Indian Agriculture Group Members & Focus:

• Saurabh Gautam; Intensive Agriculture Systems • Lindsey Patterson; Traditional Agricultural Systems • Stephanie Supa; Extension and Education on the Importance of Both Systems

Group #4

Title of Project Paper: The Sustainability of Village Subsidization

Group Members & Focus:

• Simon Passarelli; Case Study - Irrigation Extension • Sarah Cullen; Case Study - USAID AIP Partnership vs. TNAU Partnership with Farmers • Matt Fisher-Post; The Impact of the Village Led Model on Food Security • Julien Wilson; Policy Analysis - How Government/State/Allocates Development Funds

Value Addition Group #1

Title of Project Paper: Efficient Use of By Products in Processing

Group Members & Focus:

• Arti Singh; Introduction, Marketing Aspects and Conclusion • Jeanne Ho; Animal By Products (Poultry, Fish, Shrimp and Dairy) • Sowkya Jayaraman; Byproducts Obtained from Fruit and Vegetables • Aastha Singh; Byproducts Obtained from Sugarcane, Coir

Group #2

Title of Project Paper: Biofuels in India - Prospects and Challenges

Group Members & Focus:

• Sanchita Rastogi; Introduction to Biofuels, Which Crops Would be Used to Obtain Fuels, Advantages and Disadvantages, Ethics

• Bindvi Arora; Technology Involved, Physical Extraction Process, Chemical Modifications, Microbial Manufacture Using Algal Potency To Synthesize Lipids

• Devika Subash; Status of Biofuels in India, Crops Cultivated, Research Going On, Breeding Aspects, Future Prospects

• Susanna Khan; India, Biofuels, and the World; Technologies Used Elsewhere Adaptable by India, Possibilities for Indian Biofuels for Export, Global Political and Economic Conveyance of Indian Biofuel Productions

Group #3

Title of Project Paper; Current Status & Future Potential of Coir Industry in India

Group Members & Focus:

• Rajmani Prajapati; Procurement & Processing of Coir • Elizabeth Fullerton; Dyeing of Coir, Past, Current, Future • Nidhi Bhardwaj; Products of Coir, a Holistic View • Praghadeesh; Means to Revolutionize Coir Industry, Conclusion

GRADING Students enrolled in IARD 6020 are graded in the following areas, according to the following scale: Category Percentage of Grade Reflection Paper 10% Power Point Presentation 20% Project Paper 60% Attendance 10%

TOTAL 100% Reflection paper (10%): The reflection paper should be one page in length and highlight a few key issues that struck the student as important for future success in agriculture and rural development in India. Project paper (60%): Each member of the topic group must write at least 10 pages (double spaced, 12 point). The project paper for each group should be integrated with each section connecting to those that proceed and follow it. Provide transitional sentences or paragraphs as needed. There should be a title, names of group members, abstract, introduction and a conclusion. Suitable images, tables, figures and references should be used where useful in explaining the material. References should be given in a suitable format. PowerPoint Presentation (20%): The group power point presentation is intended to be an outline and summary of what each group is focusing on in their final paper. Students should seek advice from faculty theme leaders and ask him/her to review it ahead of time for feedback.

Grading Criteria for IARD6 020 Presentation (20%) Points The group presentation has an introduction that states the sub-group theme/topic, title of presentations with student names in a clear way. 2

The second group slide introduces the overall topic of the group 2 Each student uses no more than 8 slides to introduce their own topic for the group paper in a clear and understandable way including an introduction and conclusion slide

8

There is a group conclusion slide that clearly indicates the conclusions for the group 2

Sources for data and photos are properly cited on the slides 2 The references used by each student are presented in the last slide 2 The student presents the information confidently, with eye contact and at a speed easy to comprehend 2

TOTAL 20 Attendance and Participation (10%). This will be based on attendance and participation (discussions on the presentations) for the Feb 12 and 13 classes.

REFLECTION PAPERS

TOUR TO INDIA

T.P. Parthiban It was not just like any other trip but was indeed a true learning experience. Being a resident of

south India I have travelled to all the places scheduled in the itinerary before but then this time it

was something very different. I occupied the center seat and witnessed the unforgettable

reactions that the international students expressed when they were exposed to the contrasting

climate, culture and food. Right from the start of everyday my tour begins, such as clarifying

their doubts about the food (Spotting the less spicy food), teaching them few words in local

language, etc. Travelling through the traffic was one exciting thing for every student and Indian

students helped them to cross the lanes and roads every time they were out in the streets. The

tour could have never been better as we stayed at my home town (Coimbatore) for three days and

I was very comfortable in guiding them for the small needs and even took few of them to my

home. Ooty was the next destination which was a hill station and probably the best place for

international students considering the cool climate. I witnessed extreme delight in every eye,

loosen feet and free flying soul of every international student on seeing the grand reception

(Local music and dance) at a small village near Ooty. Finally reached Hyderabad where dryland

agriculture was focused much and trip was oriented in visiting field plots and model villages. At

the final day everyone dressed turned up wearing the Indian costume which made the evening a

colorful one than ever. Every discussion we had with our group members was very productive

and we shared the experiences of every visit. When it comes to academic discussions it was me

who got most of the benefit as I had the wonderful opportunities to share the ideas of many

students with respect to Indian agriculture. It was so nice to see the enthusiasm in every student

in viewing, analyzing and drawing out solutions to the problems in agriculture for contemporary

India. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of Dr. Peter and Dr. Ken who led our group for the

entire trip. This trip gave us the rare chance to interact with the students other than the hectic

campus environment and thus induced new relationships and enhanced existing ones. Thus

IARD trip to India was filled with fun, knowledge and love throughout its entire course and will

be a memorable time in my life.

INCREDIBLE INDIA

T. Philomin Juliana

The IARD trip to India was filled with fun and frolic and it was one of the most memorable trips

of my life. It was a trip that kindled in me, the spirit to work more for Indian agriculture and for

the betterment of the farmers. Having read a lot about the Indian farmers and their poverty, this

trip indeed gave me an opportunity to interact with them and think more on improving their

lives. The visit to TNAU- an institution that has been transforming the lives of the farmers for

over 100 years was highly informative. The Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and its research

on transgenics, tissue culture and transformation left behind a great impact in me. It was also

great to note that the university has been a forerunner in bringing nanotechnology to agriculture.

The nano fertilisers, nano herbicides and encapsulations that the nanotechnology department was

working on would work wonders when delivered to the farmers in the near future. The farmers

market was truly a best example of the Government’s initiative to promote agribusiness

opportunities among the small farmers and ensure a sustainable income generation for them. It

was convincing to know that the farmers are offered free cold storage facilities to store their

produce. The Kisan call centre plays a really important role in transfering technology to the

farmers and giving them the right guidance.

The trip to Ooty was of great interest as it taught a lot about organic and biodynamic farming. It

was interesting to observe how the people there live in harmony with nature and take all

measures to conserve it. The ‘Panchakavya’ and its immense value in organic farming was

convincing. The tea gardens and the experience of plucking tea were memorable. The visit to the

floriculture unit enabled me to get lots of information about the prospects of floriculture in India.

The tribal village and the wonderful time spent there interacting with the indigenous tribes is an

evergreen memory to be cherished forever. The Earth trust and its biodynamic farming strategy

using stag bladder and cow’s intestine generated mixed views. The ‘Cow pat pit’ and the

demonstration was reasonable and a practice that could be scaled up. The medicinal herbs in the

garden that could even cure dreaded diseases were indeed awesome. The Earth trust school and

the warm welcome by the children were very special. It was amazing to see how brilliant they

were and how actively they participated in organic agriculture.

The visit to an international institute like ICRISAT and a tour to their fields was just awesome.

The tag line “science with a human face” and how ICRISAT works for the development of the

people in the rainfed and dry regions of the world was inspiring. The peanut breeding strategies

and the huge genetic variation in it were really amazing. The chick pea types –Desi and Kabuli

and the wild varieties and the range of differences in them that contribute to their complex

genetic diversity was also amazing. The tour to the Platform for Translational research on

transgenic crops and the strategies they adopt to transfer technology to the farmers was highly

commendable. The vermicompost and how it generates income to the poor households was good

to note. The visit to the Kothapally watershed was an important one that taught me to think on

watershed management for the rural poor. The dry regions around me and the interaction with

the farmer who was poor but still happy with the Bt cotton helped me to understand that if

technology is taken to the farmer in the right way then it could be made a successful one. The

visit to the Directorate of Rice research was highly informative and helped me learn a lot about

the crop, its importance in India and the research work going on. The role played by CRIDA as a

government agency in transferring technology to the farmers was really impressive. Finally the

visit to the Pochampally Handloom park and the traditional Indian style of weaving was a great

experience. The whole trip was an enjoyable one with loads of good memories to be cherished

forever.

REFLECTION PAPER

Saurabh Gautam

India is very diverse country with different types of climatic conditions and culture practices.

And it became more apparent to me, during IARD 6020 visit. While, travelling from Chenni to

Hyderabad via Ooty and Coimbatore, I realized that a single frame work of policies cannot be

implemented either for agriculture or for law and order, across the India. While India has done

good job, in case of modification of criminal and other laws, according to the local culture and

practices but a lot has to be done on agriculture side, which employ about 70% of the work force.

On one hand, farmers in hilly areas with very low land holding and resources are cultivating

organic produce with help of some NGOs and government institutions and on another hand, in

plains, where farmers have resources are more interested in intensive agriculture and they are

working more closely with multinational firms. So here is a big gap between requirements of the

farmers from hill areas and plains. Therefore government should think to form the balance policy

to fill this gap.

It was really very fascinating to move with Americans and answer the question, which I have

never thought off? The dot on the forehead of Indian women was the center of attraction. Among

the entire places visited, I found Hyderabad most interesting and learning. Visit to model village

is a perfect example, which shows, how the cooperation among people will lead to the

development of the village? Then, visit to Akshya Patra an NGO, explained how planned

execution of the public policy can produce repels of effects in the society? After this comes the

shopping mania at Shilparaman, with lot of handmade stuff to buy. Lastly, the Galla Party, rap

by agriculture system group, Stunning silent performance by BHU students, Punjabi song by

Rajnesh followed by fashion show, and then American dance on Punjabi songs was wonderful.

During IARD trip, I lived the best moment of my life. Moving in the group, discussing all sorts

of topics from the Bollywood to the Hollywood was awesome. As the entire group members

were from different background, here I got the opportunity to learn, how the background of the

person changes his or her perspective about certain things? I kindly, thank the Cornell Faculty,

Sathguru Foundation for Development and all other members for making this trip so wonderful,

successful and memorable.

REFLECTION PAPER

Sowkya Jayaraman

Seems like yesterday when I started from home towards Chennai for the IARD trip. We reached

Chennai on 3rd January and checked in at the hotel. The American students then arrived

sometime later and that day evening we had a very nice welcoming function which had a

beautiful classical dance and also a lecture on acupressure which was very informative. So the 1st

day came to end and we were ready to leave to Coimbatore next day morning. The following day

we left to Coimbatore and reached there. We spent three days in Coimbatore visiting places like

poultry processing industry, sugar processing factory etc. We got to see the new technologies and

methods they follow to produce their products. We enjoyed our visit to farmer’s market where

we got to see huge amounts of fresh produce and also interact with the farmers. We also had a

visit to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University where we attended the convocation of my senior

batch MPS students and took a tour of the university. So the trip in Coimbatore was really nice.

After that our next destination was Kochi. As rest of the groups went to Ooty, the value addition

group left to Cochin. Kochi is a really big city, so the traffic was really bad. After a long a tiring

bus ride we reached our hotel and after lunch we left to a spice processing industry. So in Kochi

we visited spice industry mainly and I came to know that it is good to have an EOU rather than

having our own processing unit and trying to sell our brands. We also visited Institute of coir

where we got to see really different and innovative products made from coir. We spent four days

in Kochi visiting industries and during our free time did some shopping and sights seeing too.

Our final part of the trip was visit to Hyderabad. We reached Hyderabad on 10th January night.

We spent almost five days there. We visited hand loom park and also did some shopping in

Shilparamam. Then we had a small speech by the US consulate General and our final visit was to

a retail store which helps farmers in various ways. I got to learn about something new called the

farm mechanization process.\

So soon fiifteen days almost came to an end and on the last day we had a fun dinner and special

programs where everybody actively participated. We all wore traditional Indian outfits and all

the Americans were looking really pretty in saree. The trip was fun filled at the same time very

much informative. We all really bonded well and made lots of friends. This trip will be among

one of the sweet memories for me. I wish and hope we have more trips like this where we get to

learn lots of new informative things.

A TRIP EXPLORED SOUTH INDIA

Devika Subash As the title mentioned the trip was really an exploration of South India. Both in culture wise and

education wise. I belong to the group value addition and marketing. Our group visited the places

like Chennai, Coimbatore, Cochin and Hyderabad. Each and every place presented me with

beautiful memories.

Days at Coimbatore were very useful one. Visit to TNAU gave me an opportunity to meet my

friends and staffs there. We got chances to visit industries like poultry farm, sugar factory,

biodiesel extraction plant etc. As soon as we visited the biodiesel plant I and my group members

decided this will be our paper topic. That much it convinced us. All the industries we visited

were top most in their products and their maintenance also surprised us. Experience at farmers

market was unforgettable to me. Their welcome and affection was mind blowing. We Indian

students spent a lot of time with Cornell students, explaining our native fruits, vegetables etc.

Visit to Cochin was also exciting and remembering one. Spices industries, Coirfed and Fish

industries were totally a new experience to me. I was surprised by seeing such export oriented

units in a single city that too from spices alone. We understood the presence of spices and fish in

the export economy. Sea facing hotel which we stayed was really a treat to me.

Hyderabad, the Pearl City is a highly populated fast growing city. We felt that we were in north

India. The culture there was a combination of north and south. We visited Monsanto cotton

breeding station, Pochampally silk park, Shilparamam etc. The places we visited were very

diverse in their products. These visits gave me a chance to see and experience the making of

clothing, craft wood etc. Monsanto visit was very useful to me since my major is plant breeding.

The Gala at the last day of our trip was unforgettable. Each and every program was extremely

good.

The most important thing I got from this trip was friendship with students from universities such

as Cornell, BHU and SVPUAT. Shopping for sarees and other Indian costumes with them were

really unforgettable. I was really excited to explain about my country to them. This trip provided

me a wonderful opportunity to understand my country more and more.

DAWN OF A NEW YEAR COULD NEVER BEEN BETTER THAN THIS 2012

Praghadeesh

IARD 6020 – for me it’s not just a trip to India, It is a journey which kindled different thoughts

about alternate thinking, opportunities yet to be explored in agricultural and food processing

sector in India. Its just the beginning…..Unlike normal educational trips, IARD had given

memorable experience in education, cultural and social aspects of life. The trip had covered most

of the upcoming flourishing avenues in agriculture and food processing industries in India. It had

given me an opportunity to visit the higher end processing industries especially export oriented

organizations. It is suffice to say that India is so diverse and dynamic in her own ways.

Group – Value addition and marketing, as the name denotes, had added value to the each and

every group member and showed us how to market oneself in this evolving competitive world. It

had thrown spotlight on different arenas of agriculture one could possibly imagine off. like

poultry processing industry, sugar industry, fisheries processing and export agencies, coir

industry, spices industry, handloom industry etc.

States which we visited like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala though differ in their

language, culture, food habits but they are very similar when it comes to opportunities it has to

offer for younger generations to transform India from developing nation to developed nation. I

was very much impressed about the spice industry which highlighted about variety of spices

available in India and the technical specifics of how best they can be commercially exploited to

conquer a huge share in global market.

The bottom line is ‘Opportunities are abundant in India; the trick is how to identify it and make

itself self-evolving into successful business’. This trip is one of its kinds in bringing out these

opportunities to spotlight.

Cornell faculty and Sathguru members had meticulously planned each and every moment of the

trip, which resulted in a fruitful, informative and ever memorable journey of my life time. Above

all, Trip experience adds color to the memories and knowledge, while friends whom I had gained

through the trip add life to my living. It is hard to realize that the trip had ended so soon, in a

brink of an eye, yet here I am, cherishing each and every moment spent with dear ones.

Kudos to IARD team……!!!

REFLECTION PAPER

Sean Callahan Looking back on our trip it is hard to know where to begin. The two weeks we had were packed

full of activities ranging from attending graduation ceremonies to navigating the busy streets of

Hyderabad. I have to say that the most striking thing I found in India was the genuine

friendliness of its people. I have never felt so welcome in my life; from professors to farmers and

schoolchildren, everyone was excited to share their stories and projects and time with us. I think

I consumed more sugar in the form of offered “tea” in those two weeks than I have in any year of

my life.

TNAU seemed to make up a large chunk of the first half of the trip, and we saw an impressive

array of things over the days we spent there. It was inspiring to see so many people who truly

cared about the work they were doing and the people they were helping. The presentation on the

telecenter for agricultural outreach stood out to me because so many people have access to

mobile phones in India that it was an incredibly effective way to reach a large number of

farmers. We had a chance to visit the telecenter itself and see how people there dealt with the

calls and recorded the questions that were asked so that there would be data on which types of

problems were recurring. The biotechnology/nanotechnology lecture was also fascinating. It was

very exciting to hear about all the possibilities nanotechnology held for helping both small and

large farmers in India. For example, they had developed a safe material to wrap produce in which

greatly extended its shelf-life and prevented farmers from losing profits due to spoilage. There

was also some interest in creating foods that were incredibly calorie dense, and what their

applications could be in terms of creating food security.

Ooty was the second chunk of our trip, and an absolutely breathtaking place. It was a relief for

many of us to get out of the busy cities and up into the mountains where the weather was cooler

and the traffic was calmer. I enjoyed our tea picking competition despite my sub-par harvest, and

I’m going to have to make some of that rosemary tea that we tried for myself back here in Ithaca.

The time we spent in the government rose garden was very peaceful. It was nice to have a break

from learning and experiencing so many new things, though I didn’t realize how exhausted I was

until we finally had the break. One of the most unique and unforgettable experiences was when

we had a chance to visit a small village in the mountains. We were greeted by the village leader

and then quickly swept up into a parade of dancing and singing down to the town square. Once

there we watched a dance put on by the children of the village and were invited to join in and

dance ourselves. It was a fantastic experience, trying to follow the dance unsuccessfully and

occasionally being assisted by sympathetic locals who seemed at least somewhat pleased with

our revised stumbling patterns. Afterwards we were given tea and snacks (of course) and then

invited back down to dance. We continued to celebrate until sunset when we finally loaded the

buses and drove back to our hotel.

Moving on from Ooty brought a mixture of emotions. I was excited to see what more India had

to offer, but I was hesitant to leave the mountains for a city of 7 million people. Hyderabad was a

wonderful experience though, and we got out of the city several times to visit a few villages. The

model village was very inspiring; they had implemented their own local government to deal with

specific affairs within the village. They had enforced a successful prohibition to deal with the

high level of alcoholism and they had offered programs to help those afflicted. The whole village

was very clean and ordered and the people seemed proud of their work. They were energetic and

excited about what they had achieved so far and what they could go on to do. That last sentence

defines India for me in many ways, and I left feeling renewed and inspired about the possibilities

for our future.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS ON AWE-INSPIRING INDIA

Sara Cullen “Namaste!” India’s vibrant culture first greeted the bright-eyed IARD group at the Taj

Connemera, one of many grand and spectacular Tajs (hotels) we snoozed in throughout our stay.

At our first destination, Coimbatore, we were able to interact with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University (TNAU), a pioneer of agricultural research in Southern India and a model for the rest

of the world. We were warmly welcomed at the University by a graduation ceremony for the

students in the 2 in 2 degree program, a collaborative effort between Cornell University and

TNAU, which speaks to some of the new and impressive efforts at TNAU. At our first glimpse

of India, I found myself intrigued by TNAU’s approach to public extension and how they are

able to help the small rural farmers through call centers, revolutionary (nanotechnology!)

research, and consulting in technology adaption, farming inputs, methods and techniques.

The brief exposure in Coimbatore provided the IARD group with an overview of the current

challenges facing India’s agriculture—namely labor shortage, rural to urban migration, and lack

of information—while also showing us the generally successful initiatives undertaken by the

public sector. As we dizzyingly winded up the roads into the tea hills of India, we found a

fundamentally whole new system where the mutually beneficial exchange of energy between the

environment and farmers created a tranquil atmosphere. Situated in the rolling green tea fields

and lovely rose gardens, we were offered a meditative atmosphere to listen to the informative

lectures by Dr. Selvaraj on compost, organic farming, horticulture, and floriculture. Apart from

understanding the less glamorous compost recipe, we participated in the IARD trip’s famous tea-

plucking competition and aided in the bundling of carnation flowers.

Ooty, in all of its serenity, complemented the more bustling cities that framed our trip. In Ooty

we also visited Earthtrust, a successful NGO promoting organic farming education in rural

communities, and Key Stone Foundation, a unique operation working with the indigenous

communities of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR). More than a week into the trip, we

essentially were able to see what is every international development kid’s dream—specially

tailored and small-scale adapted operations that serve marginalized populations, transforming

rural poverty-stricken communities into thriving sustainable centers.

Our final destination, Hyderabad, pieced together the larger development puzzle, showing us the

broader initiatives undertaken at the state, national, and multinational level. The cosmopolitan

hub of Southern India initially dazzled us with its model village. The model village of

Ramchandrapuram transformed from an impoverished, disorganized center to a flourishing,

sustainable community in less than a decade thanks to the dedication and diligence of a few

community leaders. We learned while in Hyderabad that all it takes is a few effective leaders to

transcend the perpetual cycles of poverty and malnutrition to stimulate healthy lives. For

instance, Akshaya Patra, is an awe-inspiring non-profit partnership headed by Rajahamsa Dasa

that successfully provides 1.2 million underprivileged children with nutritious school lunches.

The food lab has expanded rapidly in the past year and now reaches eight Indian states!

And finally, our last few days in India were spent listening to Americans, from USAID and US

Embassy, seeking to continue strengthening the relationship between India and the United States.

In fact, this is what I found to be the ultimate take-away from this trip— collaboration and

partnership can have a profoundly successful impact on rural development initiatives. True

testaments to this are the self-help groups in India. By combining their entrepreneurial abilities,

progressive mindsets, and hard-work ethic, members of the self-help groups are able to

overcome their limited resources and often disadvantaged place in society to accelerate growth in

whole communities. These shining examples revealed to us how India is transforming the

approach to rural development from blanket (one-way or the highway) solutions to collaborated,

amalgamated small-scale efforts. Collaborative relationships—on the local level (self-help

groups), community level (TNAU extension work with small farmers), state/national level

(Akshaya Patra and government partnership) and multi-national level (USAID-AIP Program)—

are the solution to end poverty, malnutrition, and hunger in India and the rest of the world. IARD

6020 is just one step towards building strong partnerships and collaborative relationships as it

allows enthusiastic students to grab a glimpse of a foreign, colorful culture. This exposure

subsequently serves as a platform for opportunity to turn academic pursuits and aspirations into

global successful missions. We left India, not only draped in pearls and wrapped in silk, but with

a reflective reverence for India and a refreshing perspective.

REFLECTION PAPER

Jehiel Oliver Beginning on January 1st, 2012 roughly sixty students from Cornell University (U.S.), BMU

(India) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (India) embarked on a trip to southern India that

would prove to be both insightful and life changing. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this

group of students, comprised of both graduate and undergraduate, and consider it a real honor to

have had the opportunity to share in these wonderful experiences with such an amazing group.

The full breath of benefits from this trip I am only now beginning to realize.

Working as a consultant in international development for the last three years I was a bit weary

about the value I would gain from traveling to India as a student. I visited the region in the past

on work assignments and didn’t think that there was much more to be gained from a school

“fieldtrip” but boy was I wrong. The level of access our group was provided during our stay in

country was unimaginable. I was given the opportunity to sit and interact, one-on-one, with some

of the great minds within Indian agricultural development. From NGOs to high-ranking

government officials to trailblazing academics, the faculty organized a robust set of interactions

that gave our group a very diverse look at Indian agricultural development. What I found most

striking was the flexibility of the trip coordinators to accommodate all group members’ unique

interests. A great example of this was my ability to cut away from my group and meet with the

agricultural economists at Tamil Nadu University, speaking with them about various research

topics. Surprisingly, my meeting with the agricultural economics group resulted in conversations

about future collaborations on research projects.

The relationships I was able to cultivate in India have also carried over to the U.S. as well. While

discussing my interest in development finance with one of the many great facilitators in India,

the facilitator suggested that I reach out to his colleague that happened to be based in Ithaca!

Coincidentally, this person also worked with some of the same organizations that I worked with

in the past. I met with him in India and we are already making plans to collaborate on future

initiatives.

I really can’t say enough about my trip to India. I found the trip to be incredibly productive and

extremely well planned and executed. The faculty members did an amazing job of exposing us to

a wide spectrum of experiences that, in aggregate, gave us a holistic view of India’s agricultural

industry. I am very appreciative of my experiences and would certainly recommend this trip to

anyone interested in exploring Indian agriculture and development.

INDIA–A COLORFUL WHIRLWIND

Simone Passarelli When last year’s IARD 4020 students told me that their trip to India was one the best thing they

did during their time at Cornell, I had my doubts. I only knew a few members of our class, I was

not sure what types of activities we would doing in India, and the only knowledge I had about

the country was from our lectures. Today, I can say with confidence that the India trip was one

of the highlights of my undergraduate experience. I have come back to Cornell with new friends,

both Indian and American alike, as well as a more cogent understanding of the current strengths

and challenges associated with India’s food systems.

My first impression of India was of its people, especially how many of them there were! I will

never forget that first night in Chennai, when many of our group members took a walk to one of

the world’s longest beaches. Not only was I surprised by the vast number of people surrounding

us, so much so that we had to practically push our way toward the water, but I was impressed by

what they were doing. The path to the beach was lined with vendors selling anything and

everything. The hard-working, entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian population continued to

amaze me throughout our time in India. These characteristics represent one of the main reasons

why India has been able to advance itself in the world economically, technologically, and

agriculturally. I hope that India can teach its unwavering work ethic to other countries in the

developing world.

The culture of another country is never something one can anticipate. India possesses such a

colorful, spiritual, and diverse society that had an undeniably inviting feeling. Visiting Ooty was

an especially memorable experience for its spiritual perspective of the country. The clean air of

the mountains combined with the smooth scenery of the tea plantations offered a soothing

environment for reflection on our time in India. Furthermore, our discussions on biodynamic

agriculture and pranic energy as well as our meditation sessions helped me understand the

spiritual paradigm that shapes Indian culture and farming.

Lastly, I was truly impressed by the technical advances India has made in agricultural

development. The progress that TNAU’s Nanotechnology Lab has made in just two years

amazed me, and I hope they continue to produce valuable research in the future. The days we

spent at TNAU were inspiring, though it was discouraging to hear that similar progress has not

been made in the North. One of the topics I hope to cover in my paper is the effect of state

resource allocation to universities in the South and North, and if this has been one of the reasons

for development disparities in the two regions. In the future, I hope to visit the North in order to

gain a deeper understanding of regional challenges and differences that affect development in

India.

Overall, this trip has taught me that agricultural research is easy in the United States. We have

our food systems mostly figured out, and any tweaks to may be improvements, though not

monumental ones. In India, a little bit of research can go a long way towards improving food

security, infrastructure, and agricultural systems. I would like to be a part of these

improvements, and hope to incorporate examples from India into my graduate studies of food

policy next year.

REFLECTION PAPER

Julien Wilson The IARD 6020 trip to India was easily one of the most valuable trips I’ve taken in my life. The

three things that had the biggest impact on me were the the activities and lectures we had, the

dynamic culture I was exposed to, and the people I was with.

During the course of the trip we had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of operations,

organizations, and schemes that were designed to battle poverty. Many of the schemes had very

little in common. Some days we were observing small biodynamic gardens and other days we

were learning about the latest agricultural nanotechnology or the recent microfinance crisis. A

major theme I did observe, however, was the intimate role of the government played in the

success of the ventures. Even where the government had no part in the implementation, the

importance of subsidies and government support was widely apparent. This dedication and

ubiquitous approach to development that the government has taken to development provided the

inspiration for my paper topic.

After spending some time elsewhere in South Asia, I felt prepared for many aspects of the

culture, but there were noticeable differences that I was not expecting. In India there is an

everpresent strong eye on the future. There is optimism everywhere about what can be

accomplished and it seems to be working. The optimism we experienced was inspirational and

reassuring as I look towards careers. Another thing that stood out to me is the fact that we did not

talk about caste at all. As an institution thats so heavily engrained in Indian society it was strange

to not discuss the importance of caste at all. I would be interested in learning more about the

relative impacts development projects have on different castes. I also hope that in future trips the

course leaders can find a way to incorporate this important topic.

Finally, the people are what made this good trip excellent. In the Rural Infrastructure group we

had a very diverse array of people, about half undergrads and half grads, with a healthy portion

of Indian students, as well as some from Africa and Europe. We stopped holding formal

discussions early in the trip but almost everyday in the back of the bus we discussed the days

topics with as many diverse perspectives as there were people. I enjoyed being able to get some

real on site experience with the same people I met my first week at Cornell as well as spend time

with the graduate students who I saw as somewhat of a template for my future. I easily gained as

much from the trip from the discussion and group processing of the material as I did from the

material itself. I feel that from this trip to India I finally got to experience what I’ve been

studying for four years and feel excited to jump into the field and head back to India

PHOTOS

The following photos are copied from student submissions on WordPress.