Contents - UPRM

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Undergraduate Bulletin of Information 2001-2002Economics, and (7) Food Science andTechnology. For information regarding theseprograms, the Graduate Studies Catalog of theMayagüez Campus should be consulted.AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTSTATIONThe Agricultural Experiment Station wasoriginally established in 1910 as a private entityof the Sugar Producer's Association of PuertoRico. In 1914 it was transferred to theGovernment of Puerto Rico. With the Jones Actof 1917 the Agency became part of theDepartment of Agriculture and Labor, and it wasgiven the name of "Insular Experiment Station".In 1933, and in accordance with Joint ResolutionNo. 3 of the Legislature of Puerto Rico, theExperiment Station was transferred to theUniversity of Puerto Rico. This transfer wasmade in accordance with the spirit of the HatchAct approved in 1887, and by virtue of the lawssupplementing it, which were extended to PuertoRico in 1931.The role of the Agricultural Experiment Stationis to provide the scientific and technological basenecessary for the total development of theagricultural and rural sectors of Puerto Rico, inaccordance with public policies and agriculturalpriorities of the local Department of Agriculture.As part of its functions, the Experiment Stationalso conducts agro-industrial research dealingwith the processing of agricultural products, thepreservation of fresh and processed foodproducts, the development of high quality rums,and the solution of problems related to theconservation of environmental quality. In eachfield, activities are developed in both basic andapplied research.The Station has central offices and researchactivities at the two main research centers,Mayagüez and Río Piedras. In addition to themain Research Centers, the AgriculturalExperiment Station has six substations with atotal area of more than 2,000 acres of landdistributed in different geographical andecological zones of Puerto Rico. The centers atAdjuntas and Corozal are in the central, humidand mountainous region. These at Lajas andFortuna are in the dry, flat and coastal southernregion. The center at Isabela is in the semi aridregion of the northwest and at Gurabo is in thehumid northern region of the island of PuertoRico. This wide distribution allows theevaluation of different crops and animal systemsin the ecological zones where they are betteradapted.AGRICULTURAL EXTENSIONSERVICEThe Agricultural Extension Service wasestablished in Puerto Rico in 1934 through anunderstanding between the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture and the University ofPuerto Rico. Its basic aims are to aid inmaintaining a prosperous agriculture, improvethe quality of family life, and provide anadequate orientation and guidance for youth andfor community resources development.The informal education role of the ExtensionService is developed through four mainprograms:(1) Educational Programs in Agriculture,Marketing and Natural Resources,(2) Home Economics and Nutrition,(3) Youth and 4-H Clubs, and the(4) Community Resources Development.This administrative unit of the College ofAgricultural Sciences has two main officeslocated at Mayagüez and Río Piedras, and fiveregional offices located in municipalities withinthe five agricultural regions of Puerto Rico (SanJuan, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Ponce and Caguas).In addition, its 69 local offices fulfill itseducational functions by serving the 78municipalities of Puerto Rico. In each of theareas served by the Agricultural ExtensionService, a citizen's committee cooperates withthe professional personnel in the preparation anddevelopment of annual work plans for theagency, which correspond to the needs of thePuerto Rican people.INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS INAGRICULTUREThe Office of International Programs inAgriculture adds a fourth dimension to the roleof the College of Agricultural Sciences. Theoffice administers a number of training andresearch programs in tropical agriculture, mainlythrough the use of external funds provided to theUniversity by international agencies, particularly59