1. Mexico & Mongolia:
Starting agriculture work in a
developing country
Dr. Lynn Brandenberger
Department of Horticulture
Oklahoma State University

2. Getting Started
• Contacts
• Learning about the
country
• Deciding how to help
• Sticking with it
• Funding

3. Same & Different
• People
– Understanding
Oats Mexican Style
– Respect
• Desires
• Agriculture
–Basics same
–How it’s done

4. • Networking
Contacts
• Many venues – Govt. funded projects
– NGOs • FAS
• Faith-based
• Social-based • USAID
• Agricultural-based
• Familiar with: • FAO
– Hunger Relief International
– FARM • UNICEF
– Vet Net
– JCS
– Sembradores de Cristo

5. • Websites to check out Learning About
– U.S. State Department the Country
• http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw
/cis_pa_tw_1168.html
– Central Intelligence
Agency
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publication
s/the-world-factbook/index.html
• Safety in travel—listen to host
• Mexico
– Population: 114,975,406
– Mean age: 27
– Language: Spanish
– Landmass: 1,964,375 sq km
• Mongolia
– Population: 1,300,000
– Mean age: 26
– Language: Mongolian, Russian
– Landmass: 1,564,116 sq km

6. Deciding How to Help
• Your expertise
• Clientele’s needs
– Their perception of needs
– Your perceptions
– Discuss prior to visit
– Flexibility
• Adjust after seeing
• Don’t show up with a
ridged plan
• Be prepared

7. Sticking With It
• Few need just one visit
– First visits are often
• Relationship building
• Fact finding & planning
• Some addressing of needs
– Successive visits
• Building trust
• Addressing needs
• You’ll need to consider
– Don’t spread yourself too thin
– How to fund visits
• Sources
– Clientele
– Agencies
– Self

8. Word of Caution
Be on the look out for craziness in your
traveling companions

9. MONGOLIA: Ancient Empire

10. A LAND BETWEEN TWO GIANTS
1206 1924
Mongolia Formed by Chinggis Khan Mongolian People’s Republic
1279 1987
Kublai Khan Conquers China Relations Opened with U.S.
1691-1910 1990
Mongolia Controlled by China Mongolia Becomes Independent
Parliamentary Republic
1912-1919
Russian Protectorate
1919-1921
China Controls Mongolia
1921
Mongolia Claims Independence

12. Traditional Mongolian House “GER”
Gers are covered with felt made from
sheep’s wool

13. Many Mongolians
wear their
traditional dress
during the
national holiday of
Naadam

14. Meat & flour products are the main traditional
food of Mongolians

16. MONGOLIAN AGRICULTURE
Preferred Herding
Meat-Milk-Fiber Production
During Chinggis Khan’s Time
Farming is encouraged

17. WORLDWIDE HUNGER IS INCREASING

18. A HEALTHY AGRICULTURE SYSTEM IS VITAL
Abundant inexpensive food stabilizes societies
Mongolia is an FAO low income food deficit country
Secure food system means a secure country
Mongolia exports meat and imports food crops

19. DORNOD AGRICULTURE
KOICA site in Khalkhgol
Mongolian Interstate

20. FARM’S AGRICULTURAL EFFORT
Family Agriculture Resources Mongolia
Sea buckthorn Hoop house vegetables FARM Director

21. MEXICO: It’s
Captured My Heart

22. Agriculture Near Palmas Altas
Oats Mexican Style

23. Zacatecas: High & Dry

24. Agriculture Near Monte Escobedo

25. Folks in Laguna Grande

26. AGRICULTURE A DRIVING FORCE
AGRICULTURE
is Complex and Difficult to Address
FOOD PRODUCTION
is Tied to Technology Adoption
AGRICULTURE
Has a Large Multiplication Effect

27. 2012 PLANS
OSU Study Abroad Course
Introduce Students to Mongolia
Natural
Culture Industries
Resources
FARM Service Work
Drip Possible
Irrigation Variety
Project Trials
MIU Service Work
Turf Test Plots

28. References & Acknowledgements
http://tinyurl.com/24p4f8h
Historical information
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_
pa_tw_1168.html Cultural information
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th
e-world-factbook/index.html Geographic information
Special thanks to Orgilbayar Zorigt Mongolia
International University for several slides