Agriculture

What do agriculture Volunteers do?

Agriculture is the primary economic activity of most of the world's people, and yet many countries cannot produce adequate supplies of healthy food. Deficiencies in the quantity and quality of food can cause serious health and economic problems.

Peace Corps Volunteers help farmers improve local diets and increase income through farming techniques consistent with environmental conservation. They work with communities and farmers on projects such as implementing agroforestry techniques to improve soil quality and conserve water, fisheries, beekeeping and honey production, organic vegetable gardening, and nutrition education. Agriculture Volunteers also work with farmer cooperatives, nongovernmental organizations, and agribusinesses on basic business practices, crop and livestock production, organizing networks of farmers, and conducting production cost-and-price analyses.

How can you get ready?

If you're interested in volunteering now in the agriculture field, a good place to start would be to learn about farming techniques, whether through practice or reading. Joining your local gardening club or Future Farmers of America chapter are other ways to get involved and learn more about agriculture.

The Peace Corps' agriculture programs attract Volunteers with a variety of backgrounds. Many have a bachelor's degree (in any discipline) and a strong interest in agriculture and gardening, while others have specialized degrees and experience in agricultural and animal sciences and agribusiness. Volunteers have worked as gardeners, nursery managers, park rangers, zookeepers, natural history museum docents and civil or sanitary engineers.

To learn more about the Peace Corps in the agriculture sector, see here.