Agriculture Sector

Lead grassroots efforts to fight hunger in a changing world. Agricultural Volunteers work with small-scale farmers and families to increase food security and production and adapt to climate change while promoting environmental conservation practices. They introduce farmers to techniques that prevent soil erosion, reduce the use of harmful pesticides, and replenish the soil. They work alongside farmers on integrated projects that often combine vegetable gardening, livestock management, agroforestry, and nutrition education.

Training and Experience for the Agriculture Sector

Leveraging concrete knowledge and skills is central to on-the-ground international development work. Through this PC Prep program, you will begin to build a professional specialty, which should serve your career well whether or not you become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

For PC Prep, you need to complete at least 3 courses that align with a specific work sector (they can but do not need to come from your academic major or minor). You also must accumulate a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer or work experience in that same sector, preferably in a teaching or outreach capacity.

If you choose Agriculture, take 3 courses from one of the following areas:

1. Agronomy
2. Horticulture
3. Botany
4. Entomology
5. Agriculture Science
6. Agribusiness
7. Agricultural Economics
8. Business or Economics
9. Biology

Recommended courses include (if there is another course in the catalog that you feel meets this requirement, please discuss it with your PC Prep Coordinator):

• SOIL 2010: Soil Science
• AECL 1000: Agroecology
• PLNT 2025: Horticultural Science
• FDSC 1410: Food and Our Well Being
• AGEC 3860: World Food, Ag and Development

AND, build 50 hours of related field experience through an activity such as:

• Working with a large-scale or family-run business involving vegetable gardening, farming, nursery work, tree planting or care, urban forestry, landscaping, livestock care and management, or fish cultivation and production
• Teaching or tutoring the public in environmental or agricultural issues/activities
• Working on the business management
• Volunteer at the ACRE student farm
• Work for Plenty
• Be a member of the collegiate FFA chapter
• Participate on a livestock judging team
• Participate in an alternative spring break specific program

Read the Peace Corps Prep Student Guide for more information or to answer any questions.