How Michigan State University Became a Leader in African Agricultural Economics: A Personal Memoir

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January 7, 2025 - Derek Byerlee<dbyerlee@gmail.com>

This personal memoir by Derek Byerlee provides an in-depth account of Michigan State University’s rise to prominence in African agricultural economics from 1963 to 1978. Byerlee reflects on key initiatives, including early institutional building projects in Nigeria, pioneering research on rural employment and household decision-making, and the recruitment of African graduate students who became pivotal to the university's programs. The narrative underscores MSU’s long-term contributions to research, policy development, and capacity building in African agricultural development, tracing the department’s leadership role back to its innovative approaches and influential faculty members.

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