Cash crops are an integral part of the agricultural world. They can be defined as any crop grown specifically to be sold for profit. Most of them are food crops (e.g. banana, or rice), but they also include important industrial crops (e.g. cotton or rubber). This course provides an overview of the principal cash crops cultivated in tropics. It deals with definitions, history, distribution, and agroecological practices for food/nutrition/financial security and for sustainable agriculture both in general and for specific cash crops. It is focused on cash crops production (usually grown in the conventional agricultural systems) and the possibility of the transition to sustainability, within the framework of basic principles of agroecology such as the use of species diversity, efficient use of natural resources or recycling. General information about taxonomy, botany, uses, propagation/cultivation, harvest and postharvest handling of the most important cash crops are included.
The master's course will consist of 8 theoretical online lectures and 4 practical/seminar work (online group discussion, individual and/or group assignment). Self-study will be supported by obligatory literature sources and interactive feedback tools.
Lectures:
- Cash crops for food/nutrition/financial security;
- Cash crops: conventionalized versus agroecological practices;
- Staple food cash crops: cereals and pulses;
- Staple food cash crops: root and tuber crops;
- Fruit and vegetable cash crops;
- Stimulant cash crops;
- Industrial cash crops;
- Oil yielding cash crops.
Seminars:
- Introduction and student project assignment
- Online group discussion about actual agroecological topics
- Student project presentations
- Student project presentations
