Background:

Hetta Institute for International Development (HIID) is a USA-based professional educational corporation specializing in human capacity building. The Institute specializes in helping the mid and senior-level executives, particularly those from the developing countries, to upgrade their skills. HIID was founded in 2001 and registered with Arizona Corporation Commission, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.  Hetta Institute for International Development is also registered with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. HIID also partners with the Center for Executive Training and International Development (CETID), a professional training provider in sustainable development, registered and based in Manhattan, New York City, USA.  Since 2001, HIID has provided short term training courses to hundreds of high-ranking government and corporate officials.

Course Description:

The main purpose of this course is to enhance the participants’ understanding of the correlation between agricultural policy and rural development in both developing and developed economies. The course will help participants to explain and analyze why some developing countries have been successful in catching up with the developed countries in the alleviation of rural poverty while others still lag behind in economic growth and in sustainable human development. The course specifically explores some of the policy instruments being used by policymakers in the agricultural sector to develop rural areas in the emerging economies. Finally, using case studies and comparative analysis, the course will help participants to understand what appropriate agricultural policies have been employed to promote economic growth, rural development, and socio-economic development for the alleviation of rural poverty. Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to make appropriate policy analysis and recommendations for developing the agricultural sector in their communities.

Course Learning Objectives:

This short course aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of policy analysis, program/project managers, economic officers and senior officials whose primary responsibilities are to formulate, implement, and analyze agricultural policies for human development in rural communities.

Course Content:

  • The course is delivered in a workshop setting facilitated by seasoned professional instructors from international and local institutions with practical experiences.
  • Key areas of study include the following:
  • Overview of the course: agricultural policy issues in rural development
  • Fundamental concepts of agricultural development and rural poverty
  • Theories of rural development
  • Rural and urban development, agriculture, and agribusiness
  • The conceptual framework of the policy formulation process

Assessing agricultural policy and the impacts:

  • Policies affecting agricultural and food businesses
  • Pros and cons of food and agricultural policies in developed and developing countries
  • Role of government intervention in rural development

Food security issues in emerging economies:

  • Agricultural policy, monitoring, evaluation, and impact
  • Consumer food safety concerns
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Agricultural investment and productivity

Assessing agricultural policy strategies for rural development in the developing and developed economies:

  • Major policy issues affecting the agricultural sector
  • Analyzing government policies for rural development
  • Agricultural production, consumption, and trade
  • Rationales for government interventions in rural development
  • Agricultural Production constraints
  • Research and technology

Managing the development and environmental impact:

  • Climate-smart agriculture
  • Post-harvest management and technology
  • Public goods and externalities
  • Land use constraint issue
  • Soil conservation issue
  • Water and its use issue

Agricultural policy, human development, and social protection programs:

  • Agricultural and food policy environment
  • Business development and job creation policies in the agricultural sector
  • Agriculture for development
  • Gender in Agriculture
  • Livestock and aquaculture enterprise
  • The significance of micro-finance institutions
  • Bank of agriculture
  • Policy debate on foreign aids

Global agricultural, food and Trade Policy:

  • Agricultural marketing
  • Developing-developed countries trade issues
  • Issues of globalization in Agriculture
  • Agro-industries: developed and developing country experiences
  • Export-Import institutions

Global agricultural, food and Trade Policy:

  • Agricultural subsidies: analysis of input and output subsidies
  • Rural development versus urban agriculture
  • Linking agriculture to national development policy

Best practices in agricultural policies for rural development:

  • Case studies
  • National and regional policy integration
  • Case studies of successful rural development projects
  • Problem-solving exercises
  • Computer training with a brand new laptop to take home
  • Field trips

Learning Outcomes/Benefits:

At the end of the course, participants will derive the following benefits from the course:
  • 1. The course will be able to help participants to understand and discuss different assumptions and definitions of rural development
  • 2. Participants’ analytical skills of policy issues affecting sustainable development in the rural economy will be enhanced
  • 3. The course will enhance participants in designing a step-by-step approach to policy formulation in the rural and agricultural sector.
  • 4. The participants will be able to evaluate the application of rural policies to economic development
  • 5. The course will empower participants to become better able to assess needs, articulate plans, and evaluate policy issues.
  • 6. Participants will understand how to improve productivity, understand the basic project management skills, effectively organize rural development projects, evaluate project cost analysis, and create dependable monitoring techniques.

Learning Methodology:

The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, group discussions, case studies, problem-solving exercises, and group presentations. Active participation is required and key to the success of the workshops. Assessment is through effective class participation, group presentation, group project, and class attendance.

Who should attend?

The course is intended for senior and mid-level governmental staff that has the responsibility for developing, formulating, and implementing rural development policies. Senior public officials, project managers, economic officers, senior project consultants, heads of departments, supervisors, personnel officers, senior government staff, and other personnel as deemed appropriate by management

Course Duration:

2 weeks

Training Locations and Scheduled Dates:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Jersey City, New Jersey, USA: Mar 16-27; Jun 15-26; Aug 17-28, 2023 Washington DC, USA:

Course Materials:

Include PowerPoint presentation slides, carefully selected reading materials, exercises, case studies, reading references, and a laptop computer.

Registration Fees:

The course fee is $4750 for 2 weeks. The course fee covers the following: instruction, сourse materials, administration expenses, field trips, cultural programs, and miscellaneous program-related expenses.

How to Register:

To participate in this course, the applicant must:
  • 1. Send a completed application form
  • 2. Have at least a bachelor’s degree/or have relevant work experience at senior management level
  • 3. Be nominated by the head of his/her department
  • 4. Be a senior member of the organization
  • 5. Demonstrate a devoted interest in the course
  • 6. Have proof of English proficiency
  • 7. Demonstrate proof of financial sponsorship for the course