Project Goal and Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to enhance our knowledge of sustainable agriculture and watershed management practices being implemented in developing countries through a partnership with the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) located in Patancheru, India.

ICRISAT is evaluating the effectiveness of sustainable management practices in selected benchmark watersheds and has a wealth of data on runoff, soil and water quality, crop yields, nutrient management and socioeconomic conditions in the watersheds. We will use this information to:

  1. (a) enrich the international content of eight existing University of Delaware courses;
  2. (b) develop an stand-alone online course on sustainable management practices in developing countries;
  3. (c) provide “hands-on” experience to students and faculty through visits to India;
  4. (d) share curricular materials with high school students in Delaware;
  5. (e) educate extension personnel;
  6. (f) initiate new research collaborations between faculty from the University of Delaware and ICRISAT;
  7. (g) evaluate the production and marketing constraints to the development of value added agricultural industries in India and other Asian developing economies.

This work will be completed over a period of three years by a strong interdisciplinary team of scientists and economists.