A New Kind of Learning
Prior to my arrival in India, my impression of scientific research was limited to pristine labs and bright fluorescent lights; yet as much as I appreciate the skills I developed mixing media and centrifuging smooth muscle cells, there is nothing like meeting the people for whom all the labor is for.
Decades of arduous research and people-based science are the backbone of ICRISAT (the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics), and I had the honor of exploring the fruits of its labor in Andhra Pradesh this past week.
With the help of my supervisor, I conducted personal interviews with sixteen farmers and two agricultural researchers from RARS Nandyal (the Regional Agriculture Research Station in Nandyal) to see how the introduction of a mechanically-harvestable chickpea variety impacted society.
Sitting down and speaking with individuals who depended so heavily on steady crop yields and low input costs was not only an incredible and humbling experience, but it also emphasized the value in strong, trusted relationships between scientists and farmers. Scientific discoveries may (sometimes) occur in a vacuum, but multidimensional issues such as malnutrition and crop wastage involve complex sociological, economic, and cultural lenses. For some, the beauty may be in the sanctuary of a lab or the precision demanded of a technician, but I find the nuances and social dynamics refreshing.
I visited four different villages in Andhra Pradesh: Appalapuram, Udumulpuram, Patha Kandukur, and Balapanur. Big thank you to Shankar, Kavitha, and Sudher for making the few days fly by!
