Agriculture plays a central role in the global economy. It is not only an economic venture, but a necessary way of life. In countries where the welfare safety net is slight or non-existent, agriculture generates much-needed income for investment, health care and education. Farmers in developing countries can also be negatively affected by a variety of circumstances such as environmental unpredictability or a lack of tools, capital and skills training.

Globalization has dramatically changed the face of agriculture around the world, offering mixed fortunes to workers in this sector. By empowering individuals and groups in rural areas to expand their capabilities, they can move beyond subsistence agriculture, improve their livelihoods and participate in sustainable environmental practices. However, trade barriers in the form of agricultural subsidies limit access to markets where fair trade practices may provide significant opportunities to farmers.

The Mercy Corps programs represented in this slideshow seek to help small farms all over the world by improving access to skills education, installing microcredit lending programs and supporting recovery efforts in areas affected by drought, tsunami and other natural disasters. The following photographs attempt to portray the difficulties and triumphs of the agricultural experience in developing countries. Previous Slide 1/18 Next The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World An elderly woman picks her tea crop in a rural area of China. Tea is a major export crop for China and provides much needed income in rural areas. Mercy Corps has several projects in rural areas of China which provide small loans to local entrepreneurs and offer vocational and agricultural training to local farmers. Photographer: Jeremy Barnicle/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World This young girl is caring for her family's herd in Ethiopia. Mercy Corps works with agro-pastoralists in the West Hararge Zone of the country to support recovery efforts from the 2003 drought and foster ways to minimize the effects of future crises. Photographer: Geoff Oliver Bugbee/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Mercy Corps' agricultural technical specialists are training residents in Guatemala to grow pineapples which provide them with a sustainable source of income. Mercy Corps helped residents of Nuevo Almanecer negotiate with a local land owner, which gave them the opportunity to own clear title to their land and homes. For the first time, women are listed on the land titles. Photographer: David Evans/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Many of the products that are farmed in Guatemala are sold locally in stores like this one. This is an easy way for local growers to sell their products without having to worry about export costs. Photographer: David Evans/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World In India, near Villengani, forty men, mostly farmers, worked to dig a mile-long trench through farmland towards the sea after saltwater from the tsunami flooded their lands and restricted agricultural production. The men are Hindu, Muslim and Christian of over a dozen different castes. Although India has a long-standing tradition of religious tolerance, a scene like this is extremely rare, especially in rural areas where religious divisions are more pronounced. The cooperation between groups shows how important agricultural income is in the area. Photographer: John Stephens/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World In the impoverished Darjeeling region of India a man processes tea with a machine on a tea estate. This Mercy Corps project is a part of the Tazo-funded Community Health and Advancement in India (CHAI) program, which is helping to improve health care as well as agriculture in the region. Photographer: Colin Spurway/Mercy Corps, 2002 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World In Indonesia, agriculture employs almost half of the work force. It is an important part if the economy and is even more important for men like this one The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World A girl stands by her family's fruit stand in Indonesia, which is supported by a micro-finance organization that Mercy Corps funds. They repay their loans based on a percentage of their profits - a much cheaper option than the 20 percent interest per month that they previously paid to a moneylender. Photographer: Bob Newell/Mercy Corps, 2003 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Prior to the tsunami, beautiful rice fields like this one were common in Indonesia. There was fear after the tsunami hit that the salt water which flooded the land would adversely affect crops in the area, but recovery efforts have enabled local farmers to cultivate the land. Photographer: Thatcher Cook/Mercy Corps, 2001 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Rice farmers in Muelaboh, Indonesia work to plant and tend their rice fields. With assistance from Mercy Corps, over 263 hectares of rice fields devastated by the tsunami have been rehabilitated and are now under cultivation. Despite earlier fears that tsunami affected lands would not be able to support rice crops, the farmers in Meulaboh expected a bumper harvest. Photographer: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Children from a boarding school in Red River, Kyrgyzstan work on a sugar beet harvest. The aim of this school project is to develop a subsidiary farm for food security. The project seeks to empower the children by giving them the opportunity to feel like land owners and see the benefits of agriculture. Photographer: Mercy Corps, 2000 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World These villagers in Lebanon are at work on an agricultural road. Roads are an integral part of transporting agricultural products for trade. It is important for these farmers to be able to continue working their lands and for displaced rural residents to be able to return to their homes. Photographer: Mercy Corps Lebanon, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Magdeleno Benavides participates in an agro forestry project that grows coffee plants under various indigenous shade trees in Nicaragua with Mercy Corps partner Aldea Global. Local farmers with the help of Aldea Global are starting a new, coffee plantation near Lake Apenas in a high-elevation cloudforest. They will expand agro forestry techniques to include contour lines and erosion control. Photographer: Roger Burks/Mercy Corps, 2004 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Twenty-four-year-old Hamani is a millet farmer in the Loga region of Niger. Niger has faced a devastating famine and this millet crop is an important part of the recovery. Hamani will use the profits from his crop to support and feed his family. Photographer: Thatcher Cook/Mercy Corps, 2006 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Hazelnuts are being processed through this washing machine at Evergreen Nursery in North Korea. Mercy Corps' projects help to assist North Koreans in the development of agriculture, a sector particularly hard hit by fuel shortages in the region. Photographer: Mercy Corps, 2000 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World These women dressed in bright orange were selling tomatoes on a city street in Darfur. Aside from offering humanitarian assistance and protection, Mercy Corps programs in this area work to provide skills training for more than 117,000 displaced people. Photographer: Linda Mason/ Mercy Corps, 2005 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World Mercy Corps' agricultural programs in Uganda are helping families feed themselves and their children. This sunflower crop was a part of Mercy Corps' Seed Bank program in the area. Many families need a little extra assistance to get back on their feet after years of violence and living in refugee camps. Photographer: Roger Burks/Mercy Corps, 2006 The Many Faces of Agriculture in the Developing World This is Mrs. Changiwa, a community garden member in Murambinda, Zimbabwe, and her family, at the family's garden. Mrs. Changiwa explained to Mercy Corps staff that vegetables represent a meal both before and after school for her children and are also sold to buy needed household items such as sugar, soap, and other supplies. Photographer: Robert Maroni/ Mercy Corps, 2004

To read more about agricultural ventures in developing countries, click on the following articles:

Planting Seeds in Yanbian

Agricultural Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries

Sweet Science: Sri Lanka's Rural Treacle Industry




Contributed by Rachelle Vanderzanden, Project Intern at GlobalEnvision.
Rachelle is an undergraduate student at Portland State University where she is currently studying political science. She comes to Global Envision and Mercy Corps through a community-based learning program at her university called Student Leaders for Service. Prior to starting her college education Rachelle participated in Americorps' National Civilian Community Corps, a 10-month national service program. Upon completing her degree, Rachelle hopes to pursue a career in international development .



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