India: Agroecology and Food Security in the Himalaya (Summer) 

Explore agroecological principles and systems, food production, and nutritional security in the Himalaya—one of the most fragile, biodiverse, and important ecological systems in the world.

Program Highlights

• Study in Sikkim, a stunning mountainous state and ecological hotspot.
• Examine how climate change, globalization, and government policies impact local food production and nutritional security in mountain communities. 
• Meet experts and practitioners with unique perspectives.
• Spend two weeks in the foothills of the Himalaya.
• Get hands-on agricultural experience doing farm work during four village homestays.
• Design and participate in a collaborative group project relevant to local farming communities and focused on food and agriculture systems.
• Explore traditional and integrated agricultural systems, agro-biodiversity conservation, and food culture.

Key Topics of Study

• Key issues of food systems at global, national, and state levels
• Agroecology basic principles and values and its application in mid-hill small farming ecosystems
• Soil fertility, sustainable land use, agroforestry, and livestock in ecological agriculture vs. industrial food systems
• Agro-biodiversity: food culture and habits
• Women’s role in agro-biodiversity conservation and management and local food and nutritional security
• Globalization’s effects on Indian agriculture and small farmers in mountain communities
• Food and nutrition diversity in the context of globalization, climate change, and conflicting government policies
• Climate change, agriculture and food security
• Food and Nutritional security

Money Matters

Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor.  

SIT tuition and room and board fees include the following:

• All educational costs, including educational excursions
• All accommodations and meals for the full program duration
• Transportation to and from the airport, and on all educational excursions
• Health and accident insurance

Scholarships:

SIT awards nearly $1.6 million in scholarships and grants annually.

• All scholarships and grants are need-based.
• Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000.  
• The SIT Pell Grant Match provides matching grants to all students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding when it is applied to an SIT Study Abroad semester program. 
• Contact the financial aid and/or study abroad office(s) at your college or university to learn if your school’s scholarships and grants and federal and state aid programs can be applied to an SIT Study Abroad program.

Contact SIT Study Abroad

• Visit our website: studyabroad.sit.edu
• Request more information or email us: studyabroad@sit.edu
• Call an admissions counselor: 888-272-7881
• Contact a former student.
• Apply to SIT.