A group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) agriculture students from Wagga Wagga will soon swap the wide open plains of the Riverina for the rice paddies and mixed farms of Vietnam.

 

The study tour will see 18 Bachelor of Agricultural Science students spend a fortnight in the Mekong Delta from Sunday 19 June 2011.

 

CSU lecturer, Dr Jason Condon from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences said this will be the third study tour to Can Tho University (CTU) in Vietnam.

 

“The exposure to different cultures is invaluable, as is the experience of travelling abroad,” Dr Condon said. “It gives the students an idea of the global agricultural scene, which is useful as many of the larger companies have a global presence.”

 

He said students will visit small but highly productive farms in this important food growing region.

 

“On farms that are less than one hectare in size farmers will be producing tropical fruits, vegetables along with crops like rice, soybean, and maize,” he said. “They may also have pigs, goats, rabbits, and ducks. We even go to one that has sheep.”

 

Dr Condon said for all the difference between agricultural systems, Australian and Vietnamese farmers face some common challenges.

 

“Things like rising input costs, the need for resources like water and problems associated with powerful buyers in the retail chain are the same problems faced by farmers around the world,” he said. “It is interesting to see how the Vietnamese farmers deal with these challenges."

 

Final year CSU Bachelor of Agricultural Science student, Ms Laura Donoghue has jumped at the opportunity to broaden her studies with international travel.

 

Ms Donoghue, from Tambar Springs in northern NSW, has already visited the Punjab region of India where she worked with farmers promoting water efficiency.

 

She’s looking forward to the trip to Vietnam and upon graduation hopes to use her knowledge to help farmers in other developing countries.

 

“If I didn’t come to Charles Sturt University I probably wouldn’t have realised the potential to work overseas and in developing countries,” she said. “It’s really helpful to be supported by university programs when you first travel overseas because now I have the confidence to do it on my own.”

 

As well has studying agricultural production systems, students will visit the area where many Australians served during the Vietnam War, with a special memorial service at Long Tan.

 

The study tour to Vietnam has been supported by CSU Global, a University initiative which aims to increase the number of students undertaking international experiences as part of their studies.