AALP's Blog (45)

The flight from Delhi to Brussels was uneventful. One thing we did notice was the high security leaving India. Just to get on the plane we had our passports and/or our boarding passes checked up to six times. Others had their bags checked through up to two times.

The layover in Brussels was just long enough to…

Another bright,sunny day today in Delhi. AALP Class 14 has really enjoyed their trip to India but many are looking forward to heading back home to family & friends. A trip to the food market is first order of the day. First impression was primitive & more garbage laying around. Hira Singh Wholesale Vegetable…

Good morning from Delhi where the sun is shining bright with the expected high of twenty nine degrees. We have started our journey towards Agra where the famous Taj Mahal resides. Although our travels have been mainly on a coach bus, did you know that India has the third largest railway system in the world.  The…

AALP class 14 started off Day Eleven of our study tour later than usual with an 8:15 a.m. wake-up call. While many back home battle a winter wonderland the class enjoyed a sunny 28 degree Delhi winter.

We headed off to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) which is situated inside the city…

Expect the unexpected, organized chaos, frightening, bumpy, contrast and adventure. These are some of the ways that the AALP Class 14 members described their varied experiences today. We started the day by visiting the head office of Digital Green…

Today the AALP Class 14 members stepped outside their comfort zone and visited the Bawana colony (slum) in north west Delhi. We started the day by meeting with the Delhi division of Habitat for Humanity and learned that 40% of Delhi residents live at, or below, the poverty level. Habitat for Humanity has been…

AALP Class 14 was awake not quite as early this morning and was off to the Mumbai airport for a short flight to the nation’s capital Delhi. From the airport we boarded our bus and were off to see the major sights of New & Old Delhi. First up the oldest monument in India, Qutab Minar dating back to 1100 A.D., the largest tower (~73m) was erected by the many suggestive Islam rulers over the centuries from the stones of the Hindu temples they demolished. 

Many were then thankful for…

AALP Class 14 had an early start to our day as we made our way to the city of Pune. Pune is a growing city of over 5 million people. (…

After an early breakfast we left Mumbai for a 3.5 hour drive to tour Syngenta Foundation Villages located at Jawahar in the Thane District. The drive took us up into the arid hills through many small villages. Although the fields were bare now, this district is a traditional rice growing area in the monsoon season…

Rested!  AALP Class 14 finally got to wake up from a full night’s sleep in beds that didn't flutter over land and sea, or wobble down a track.  Feeling refreshed we met with our first guide of the day, a wonderful woman who had worked with Mother Theresa, has a Masters in Social Work and who passionately loves…

Sunday, February 17 & Monday, February 18, 2013

AALP Class 14 arrived at Pearson International Airport on time for departure on our International Study Tour to India.  After a short delay everyone was eager to get started on our trip.  The first…

Each class of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) includes two study tours as part of the curriculum – one in North America, and one involving international travel. These study tours give participants the opportunity to gain an even broader perspective and understanding of regional/national/ international issues and their…

It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of our …

Friday the 13^th, Day 8

Will and Marian led us to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC for a briefing from the Counsellor (Agriculture), Economic and Trade Policy. Arriving at the Embassy was much like crossing the border – a security screening and random…

Not far from the Liberty Bell in the heart of Philadelphia is the Reading Terminal Market.

Rich in history, this “urban farmers' market” is home to 77 owner-operated businesses that provide a wide variety of food products ranging from…

We were off to a comfortable start this morning, with Dave the bus driver ready to roll at 8:30 headed for the Wye research station. Once there we met Dr. Russell Brinsfield and Ken Staver who briefed us on the watershed issues surrounding the Chesapeake…

We welcome a lost sheep back to the fold

Michel Dignard, who could not be with us for the first three days of the tour met us in Newark and we are all very happy he did make it for the balance of the program.  Our bus left Newark this morning with a full schedule of visits to a number of organic and…

After an exciting evening in Soho for some and the musical Chicago on Broadway for others, the group set out to experience the Bronx. Our first stop was to meet with Myra Gordon, the Executive Director of the Hunts Point Produce Market.…

From Ithaca to New York City (via Scranton, PA)

AALP…