Michigan State University (MSU) Extension has collaborated with India's National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) to establish the Centre for Agricultural Development in African and Asian Regions. This initiative aims to provide a foundation for capacity-building in developing nations, with a focus on advancing agricultural practices, empowering farmers, and fostering agricultural entrepreneurship and innovations.
Karim Maredia, the director of international programs at the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, expressed that the Centre will significantly impact farmers and agribusinesses in these areas, potentially altering the landscape of agricultural development. "MSU's goal is to diffuse good management and business practices across the globe", he said. "Working together with MANAGE, this Centre will help make this goal a reality in the agricultural sector by offering policy support to promote agricultural development in areas that have sometimes struggled to feed their growing populations".
Quentin Tyler, the director of MSU Extension, has made two trips to India with colleagues to further enhance the initial partnership with MANAGE. He holds the belief that by examining agriculture's most challenging issues from a global perspective, opportunities for addressing them can emerge.
"Climate variability, technology, labor and access to markets are universal challenges", Tyler said. "Bringing diverse minds from different cultures together is helping us lean into our mission of improving individuals, families, businesses, communities and countries through education. Looking at familiar problems in an unfamiliar territory helps us broaden our view. We have learned a lot by looking at how others tackle these issues, and we bring that knowledge home to Michigan to help local farmers".
P. Chandra Shekara, the Director General of MANAGE, oversees the Centre located in Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. "This is a milestone achievement in the partnership journey of MANAGE and MSU Extension," he said. "We envision that this Centre will address the challenges of smallholder farmers in developing countries with global expertise".
"We're proud of Michigan State University's status as a historical leader in agricultural research and Extension – and the farmers in India are forging new paths forward in cutting-edge agritech", said Kelly Millenbah, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at MSU. "I'm excited to see what we can learn from one another".
As the outreach division of Michigan State University, MSU Extension comprises over 600 professionals statewide. The organization plays a vital role in tackling pressing issues, fulfilling needs, and seizing opportunities by directly disseminating the extensive knowledge resources of MSU to individuals, communities, and businesses.
