Farmers in Pakistan need urgent help

A vivid example of how a natural calamity can devastate the agricultural sector of a country. Millions of Pakistanis are facing hunger and disease after the worst floods in the country's history have led to a rise in food prices and outbreaks of cholera and dysentery. According to the Pakistani government, the floods, which took the lives of 1,600 people, have also caused over US$5 billion in damage to the agriculture sector, threatening food security and livelihoods. About 80 per cent of crops in affected areas have been lost and hundreds of thousands of livestock have died. Stores of wheat seeds required for the September planting season have also been destroyed. Readmore at New Agriculturist: News brief

Apple DNA code

A team of 86 global scientists have sequenced the genetic code of the Golden Delicious apple for the first time.

The DNA breakthrough could result in new and improved apple varieties which are more resistant to disease.
Apple DNA code

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT- THEME THREE

Theme 3 Curriculum Development

Objective:To develop suitable curriculum at the FoA to address these identified needs.

Questions

• What are the subject areas (e.g. Hydroponics, Climate Change etc) that you wish the Faculty should lay more emphasis taking into consideration what is happening in your area of work or specialization
• What subject area do you consider the Faculty should build expertise to keep up with the new agriculture developing in Mauritius?

Thank you for your response.

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT- THEME TWO

Discussion Theme 2 Training Needs Requirements

Objective:To identify current and future training needs of organisations in the agricultural and food sectors.

Questions

• What are the kinds of programmes that you would wish the Faculty to develop?
• What types of training requirements would you wish? (e.g short courses, MSc, etc)

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT- THEME ONE

Discussion Theme I - An assessment of the quality of the FOA graduates

There will 3 discussion themes:

• Theme 1 An assessment of the quality of the FOA graduates.
• Theme 2 Training Needs Requirements
• Theme 3 Curriculum Development

Each theme will have an objective and a set of questions to guide you in your thinking and responses. At the end of each debate on each theme, the moderators will sum up the discussion and post it on the blog.Please could you kindly invite your friends and peers to participate on this discussion forum.


Theme 1 Quality of Graduates

Objective:To assess the level of satisfaction of graduates in the agricultural and food sectors How useful has the course been in the delivery of your job tasks?

Questions * REPLY by Clicking on the COMMENTS BOX

• What is your level of satisfaction with the programme of studies?
• What are the additional skills that you would expect them to have?
• What improvements would you suggest in the training provided at the Faculty of Agriculture?

With my anticipated thanks for your frank and genuine comments.

DEAN FOA

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT & CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECTORS

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT & CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECTORS

The Mauritian agricultural sector is currently faced with many challenges. Today, against a background of increasing trade liberalisation, climate change and stronger competition, Mauritius has reviewed its vision on agriculture and is moving from a traditional to a modern agriculture, based on the adoption of new emerging technologies. The aim of the Mauritian Government is to amplify sustainable agricultural production in order to meet the increasing food demand of the population as well as to raise exports in order to increase the country’s revenue, thus ensuring food security in the country.

In order to align ourselves with the objectives of the Government, The Faculty of Agriculture needs to assess regularly  the relevance of its programme of studies and its the teaching and learning environment.

As a past graduate your views are important to us. On this blog you will have the opportunity to engage into fruitful discussion that would help us to bring innovation in our courses and to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge that would respond to the needs of the stakeholders of the agricultural and food sectors.

You can participate by clicking on the following links

Theme One  -  Quality of Graduates

Theme Two - Training Requirements

Theme Three - Curriculum Development









Thank You very much for your collaboration.

Seafood Safety

The recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has raised concern about the seafood safety in the region.

Seafood can be contaminated after an oil spill in three ways: crude oil can coat seafood or be incorporated into fish or shellfish, making it smell or taste oily and be unsafe to eat. As the oil breaks down in the environment, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the oil enter the food chain. PAHs can cause DNA damage and cancer. Invertebrates (such as oysters, shrimp, and crabs) are less efficient at excreting these chemicals, so they are most likely to be contaminated. Toxic metals, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead are also found in crude oil. Although only trace amounts are present in the oil itself, these metals bioaccumulate in the food chain and the peak levels of metal contamination will likely occur months or years from now in swordfish, tuna, King mackerel, and marine mammals. These metals can cause damage to the kidneys and central nervous system, particularly during pregnancy. Read more: Opinion: Seafood needs better science

Research Grant Application in Agricultural Research for development

This presentation was published on the FARA network and was cross-posted to us by Mr. Krishan Bheenick on the SADC AIMS dgroups. It contains some useful tips on writing-up project proposals.  Download at

Details are as follows: 

• Authors: Stepman-Mugabe
• Source: PAEPARD
• Date Published: 23 August 2010
• Contributed by: Francois Stepman

Past Graduates and Partners of the Faculty Corner

Hello All

I am pleased to announce that a special link has been created on our blog for past graduates (Alumni) and partners. It aims at keeping close contact and interacting with you. If you wish to contribute, please click Alumni and Partners Corner above and post your comments.

With my warmest thanks

Dean

Improve Your Google Search

It is a common practice, among most of us,  that as soon as we need some information or notes, we go straight to the Google search engine but alas we are usually loaded with a huge amount of information. It is not easy at times to sift through all them. Although, Google Search is considered the best search engine on the web, we should nevertheless get into the habit of using it more effectively and efficiently. Here are four modifiers that make Google Search even more useful. Improve Your Search. Have you ever tried Google wonder wheel, timeline features etc. Explore them.

In case you have other ways of using Google please share it with us.

USA FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR AT THE FACULTY - Prof E.Guertal

The Faculty has the pleasure of welcoming Prof Elizabeth Guertal, a Fulbright scholar from Auburn University, a state college located in Alabama, USA. In Auburn she is a Professor of Soil Fertility, where she teaches Turf grass Management and Soil Science, and also conducts research in the area of turf grass management.  She is presently living in Quatre-Bornes with her two children Will (age 10) and Sam (age 7), who will soon attend the Clavis School. Her husband will be joining them in late November.

Training workshop on WEB 2.0 Tools, July 2010

The Faculty of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC) and the SADC Implementation & Coordination of Agricultural Research & Training (ICART) project organised a workshop on the use of WEB 2.0 Collaborative Tools for Agricultural Information Management on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July 2010.

The objectives of the workshop were to introduce participants to such web based tools, consolidate capacity on Web 2.0 tools, develop practical skills in using web tools and finally to facilitate information exchange and management in the agricultural field at the national level.

Genes from sweet pepper to fortify African banana against devastating wilt disease

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has published a paper announcing the successful transfer of green pepper genes to bananas. Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) causes millions of dollars worth of damage to banana crops particularly in the Great Lakes region. Two proteins from the green pepper, have shown strong resistance to Xanthomonas wilt, a bacterial disease that is spread by insects picking up BXW when visiting the male flower parts of an infected plant. Read more.

Lecture on Climate Change by Nobel Prize Winner Dr W Clarke II

 Hello All

You are all invited. It is a golden opportunity to listen to such an erudite scientist.

The Embassy of the United States of America has invited Dr. Woodrow Clark II to Mauritius to speak on climate change and sustainable communities! Dr. Clark is co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize, along with former Vice President Al Gore, for his work as a co-author and co-editor of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Report.

(1) Venue: Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, Thursday 19th August at 13.30-15.30
(2) Venue: POWA Auditorium, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Friday 20th  August at 10.30-12.00

Who are you to deserve grant funding?

 Competitive Grant Schemes

The article below is worth reading  as some of us will apply for the University research grant funds which may soon be advertised, according to latest VC's email. It was written by Morgan Giddings, who helps scientists get more grants and avoid rejection (visit http://grantdynamo.com) and is also an associate professor focused on systems biology at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

An extract is reproduced below

So the basic question you must be able to address in any grant proposal is “who are you to be trusted with the money? Will you really further the mission of the agency?” If there is no trust that you can do what you say you will do, then there is no reason for the agency to give you the money. Read more at Naturally Selected

Critical plant bank in danger

Plant scientists around the world are warning that hundreds of years of accumulated agricultural heritage are in danger of being plowed under after a Russian court ruled today (August 11) that the land occupied by a world-renowned plant bank on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg may be used for building houses on the site.A big blow to biodiversity!!!!!

Read more: The Scientist  2010 

Photos- Orientation Day

The new cohorts of first year students listening to the VC, Prof K.Morgan and Pro-Chancellor, Prof S.Jugessur speech through video presentations.

Ms. Medha Devi Moti, Guest speaker, delivering the keynote speech.

The audience enjoyed Ms Medhas' jokes

Some academic staff of the FOA

Students and staff enjoying their MILO drinks.

 The Dean, PRO and academic staff welcoming the guest speaker in the FoA conference room.

The Dean of Faculty, Assoc. Prof. D. Puchooa delivering his welcoming speech.

Attirer plus de jeunes vers l’agriculture

To the young graduates and freshers, this is an interesting article. Attirer plus de jeunes vers l’agriculture
Any views.

FOA Orientation Day

The Students Orientation Week was held on the 6 August 2010 at the RBLT. The Orientation Week offered first year students an apercu of University life to facilitate their integration on campus. The Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof S. Jugessur, GOSK, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof K. Morgan, addressed the students through video presentations. One of the key messages of the Pro chancellor is that professional excellence should be matched with excellence in other areas such as social, spiritual etc.The Dean of Faculty introduced the Faculty and provided key information to students about the education system at the University. Mrs Nivault, the Public Relations Officer gave an overall view of the roles and functions of the Public Relations office and asked the students to reflect on the meaning of the coat of arms ( Knowledge is Salvation to the homeland) ( La connaissance est le salut del la patrie) of the University. the President of Student Union and student representative on the Faculty Board also addressed the students. They both encouraged the students to integrate into University life and to make the most on their studies.

Guest of Honour- Ms Medha Moti - Introduction by Dean

Medha Devi Moti is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews where she read for a degree in English Language and Literature. She also holds a post-graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Oxford. It was thanks to a State of Mauritius scholarship, or what was then known as the English scholarship, that she pursued her studies abroad

Ms Medha Moti's, former Chief Technical Officer speech

I feel honoured to be among you today for this orientation session. I must thank the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture for giving me the opportunity to participate in this important ceremony. First of all, let me congratulate all of you who have gained admission to the University of Mauritius and have chosen to join the Faculty of Agriculture.

Orientation Day- Dean's Opening Speech

In his opening address, The Dean of the Faculty gave a warm welcome to all the new students. He reminded them that even the Faculty is the smallest one on campus it has an important role to play in agricultural education. He stressed that we live like a family here and we will try to provide them with all the resources to succeed. He gave also an overview of the structure of the FOA.He encouraged students to comb through the campus website as the main source of information and advised them to become familiar with course rules and campus processes.
One of the highlights of his speech is that he mentioned that you are here to search for knowledge and not to be spoon fed. He euphorically said you will have to search for your own the 'food'. And last but not least, knowledge is created to be shared and urged the students to learn how to share knowledge with peers. He also thanked the FAIL group and Nestle  for sponsoring the event by providing snacks and healthy drinks.

Finally, he informed the students that  he has opened this blog for the Faculty to encourage the students to post suggestions or recommendations they may have to improve the teaching and learning environment at the Faculty.

In summing up his speech, he wished all the students the very best for the studies at the University.