Methodology

           The main goal or purpose in going to Bylakuppe India is to study agriculture and farming of the Tibetan exiles. My questions that I would like to explore are: How have the Tibetans in Bylakuppe learned to farm on India's soil? What kind of problems they have confronted (ex: pesticides and fungus)? My methodology for researching these qestions are as follows:

Plan for entry and building rapport

            Previous to arrival I am planning on contacting the Organic Research and Training Center within the Himalayan Institute and make contacts. I am hoping that they can help me with a non-profit job or refer me to other people within the community. I would like to be able to work on the farms so that I can learn how it functions and it will also help become acquainted with people I can interview.

Description of Informants

            I am planning on contacting individuals within the Organic Research and Training Center and interviewing those who are involved with its functions and teaching. I would like to interview Tibetan refugees who work on the Tibetan Farm Project, those who run the farm, and those who purchase products from organic farms.

Plan for sampling and recruitment

            I will include Tibetan refugee farmers, trainers, and merchants who work and sell organic farm products. I plan on recruiting people by building rapport in the community and being interested in what they teach me. By working on farms I hope to become acquainted with individuals who can recommend me to other individuals.

Description of Method

            As I am out in the field I plan to work on the farms and in the market. I want to observe and learn how farmers maintain the organic environment while resisting pesticides, how they prune and care for plants to prepare for a greater harvest, and how irrigation works on the farms. By learning this information I hope to build contacts and interview various individuals about how they have learned to do what they do. I also want to interview individuals that have lived in Tibet and come to India to learn how the farming industry compares and contrasts. I would like to know the struggles, how they progressed, and how they continue to advance. Through informal interviewing I hope to become acquainted with the farms and through semi-formal interviewing I would like to learn how the Tibetan refugees have come to learn to farm on India’s soil.

            A few possible interview questions include:

·         When did you begin farming?

·         What is a typical day like on the farm?

·         What parts of farming are difficult?

·         Has the farming industry changed since you began?

·         How were you taught to farm?

·         Was learning a difficult process?

·         How does the monsoon affect the harvest?

·         What seasons do you plant certain crops?

·         How do you maintain the health of the soil?

·         What do you believe your connection to the earth?

·         How important is it for you to involve your children in farming?

Schematic

In class on Friday we drew schematic thought maps to help us organize our thoughts about our field studies. It was helpful to split up my idea into categories: Who, Where, How, and other questions. In answering my main question, "How have Tibetans learned to farm on India's soil?" or, "How have Tibetans adapted to the their agriculture to the new climate and terrain," these categories helped me realize what information I have, and some of the information I need. For example, I know all that the internet can teach me about the Tibetan Farm Project, but how can I get in touch with the people in charge and can I work on the farm to get some hands on experience? I also know I want to spend time in the markets looking at the behind the scenes stuff - how is the market set up? Is it open air, in a warehouse? Is refrigeration available or does everything have to be sold right away? I probably won't be able to find a lot of this out until I'm there, but maybe a few answers can be found before I'm there.

Organic Research and Training Center

While I was researching the Tibetan Farm Project I found a brief description on tibet.net suggesting that the name has been changed to Organic Research and Training Center (ORTC). Part of the reason for this change is that the farm has been expanded from testing organic farming to being committed to organic and, as a result, using it to train others on organic farming. The project is now used for various organic crops, fruits, vegetable training and demonstration, and herbs for medicinal and kitchen purposes. Bylakuppe plays a critical role in sharing their knowledge about organic farming and teaching other Tibetan farmers and community leaders how organic farming works.

I am particularly interested in the medicinal herbs that they are growing on the farm and how they are used in the home. My hope is that I will be able to attend meetings at the ORTC and work on the farm so that I can understand how it works and how they learned to work it. I would like to talk to the leaders of the program to interview how they have created such a program and how it is benefiting the Tibetan Settlements.

Statement of Intent

I was finally forced to come to some kind of conclusion with what to do for my field study, so here it is!


"The main goal or purpose in going to Bylakuppe India is to study agriculture and farming of the Tibetan exiles. My questions that I would like to explore are: How have the Tibetans in Bylakuppe learned to farm on India's soil? What kind of problems have they confronted (ex. pesticides and fungus) How have/are they transition to organic farming? For my own personal benefit I would like to also look at natural medicines and remedies in the home.

In order to answer these questions I plan to volunteer on local farms particularly on the Tibetan Farm Project, 80 acre experimental farm which has practiced organic farming for the past 10 years, in Bylakuppe to understand how the farm functions. I plan on meeting with leaders that run the Tibetan Farm Project and those that help run it. I would also like to interview various individuals in the community to understand the importance of having organic farming readily available. As a result I would like to be able how agriculture and farming is of key importance to Tibetan society, and I would like to begin to understand the Tibetan beliefs, customs, and values."

Currently I am more excited about getting to know the people and the culture. A friend of mine went to Jordan last semester and always talked about the fun of immersing yourself in the culture. He was able to make many, many friends. He was able to work in a perfume shop and learn how to make his own perfumes. He was invited to friends houses which allowed him to truly learn and love the people. This is certainly the kind of experience I want to have.