366731 [Sustainable Agricultural Systems]

366731

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

First Semester 2007

Prerequisite:

Course objectives: - to understand and broaden perspective of sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods - to have developed analytical skills in assessing diverse farming systems and to increase student competence in assessing sustainability of agricultural systems.

Course Description: Concept of sustainability in agriculture and development of sustainable agriculture. Transforming sustainable agriculture by small farm-holders under resource constraints and market competition. Use of agroecological principles to examine properties of various production systems and use of multiple criteria and indicators for assessing farm and community performance. Application of participatory learning approach for sustainable agroecosystem management, and delivery of agricultural services. Issues on up-scaling of sustainable agriculture innovations and integrative research in sustainable agriculture will be discussed.

Instructor: Phrek Gypmantasiri ()

Class meeting:

Practicum: .

Course schedule:

Week	Lectures	Lab Assignments	File Attach
1	Concepts of sustainability, agricultural sustainability and sustainable development
2	Historical perspective: from Green Revolution forming systems research approach to sustainable agriculture initiatives
3	Transforming sustainable agriculture by small farm holders in the globalizing world
4	Agro-ecological principles and practices in transformation of sustainable agriculture
5	Diversified farming systems and rural livelihoods
6	Assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems
7	Knowledge-based community management of agro-ecosystems
8	Mid-term
9	Services and facilitation of learning in sustainable agriculture
10	Scaling up sustainable agricultural innovations
11	Integrative research in sustainable agriculture
12
13
14
15
	Final Exam

Recommended Books:

Course Evaluation:

Internet Link :