Bihari Farmer Computer Simulation

The Bihari Farmer program is loaded on computers in the MacKay computer room (108 MacKay).

Read the directions for the simulation, and run at least 10 years of the program, keeping track of what you did and what happened to you so that you can write a 2-3 page paper type-written about your experience.  You and your family may die before you get to 10 years, so just start again and run the program until you have completed at least 10 seasons total.  Your experience may involve two or three different families who only made it a few years each.

Write about not only what happened to your family but also what you feel were the ethical, environmental, and social implications involved in the simulation, assuming it accurately portrays the life of some Bihari farmers during the Green Revolution.  Suggest policy changes that might improve the life of Bihari farmers. 

Use at least two scholarly references in your analysis (hint: find scholarly references on Google Scholar). You are also welcome to include your personal reactions to the experience.

  FSHN students will include this assignment in their portfolio.

Grading Rubric:

A:  Engaged, thoughtful presentation of the course of the simulation and excellent analysis of the social, ethical, economic, and environmental implications of the Bihari farmer experience.  Report integrates and interrelates the Bihari farmer experience with other concepts and ideas covered in class relating to poverty, ethics, agriculture, women’s status, etc.  Scholarly references are used to back up the analysis.  Suggestions are made for changes in policy that could improve the life of Bihari farmers.

B:  Good presentation of the course of the simulation and analysis of the social, ethical, economic, and environmental implications of the Bihari farmer experience.   Does more than a minimal job of integrating and interrelating the Bihari farmer experience with other concepts and ideas covered inclass relating to poverty, ethics, agriculture, women’s status, possible policy changes, etc.  Scholarly references are used to back up the analysis.

C.  Fair presentation of the course of the simulation and analysis of the social, ethical, economic, and environmental implications of the Bihari farmer experience.  Integrates the Bihari farmer experience with other concepts and ideas covered in class relating to poverty, ethics, agriculture, women’s status and policy changes.  Scholarly references are used to back up the analysis.