Dec 21, 2010

Donation of Laboratory Equipment by Mr Anand DABY - A postgraduate student at the FoA

I am very pleased to inform you that today Mr Anand Daby, a student of the current MSc Food Science and Technology donated some lab equipment to the Faculty.  In a brief speech, he said that he has at heart the future of the current generation of students at the FoA and he hopes this will help the Faculty staff in their practical sessions. he also added that his donation should be regarded as a reflection of his generosity and humility. On behalf of all FoA staff and students, I thanked him warmly for his generosity and care he has showed to all of us. He intends to donate more in the near future.
 Dean 

Dec 20, 2010

Françoise Driver, première doyenne de la Faculté d'agriculture

The article below is reproduced from le Mauricien of 18 Dec 2010, in which the incoming Dean gave an apercu of her ideas and vision to move the FoA to higher heights. She will take over from Assoc Prof D. Puchooa as from January 2011.

Françoise Driver, première doyenne de la Faculté d'agriculture

Pour la première fois dans l'histoire de la Faculté d'agriculture de l'Université de Maurice (UoM), une femme occupera le poste de doyen. Il s'agit de Françoise Driver, qui compte 20 ans de carrière en tant qu'Associate Professor en Animal Science and Production au sein de cette institution. Elle prendra officiellement ses fonctions le 1er janvier 2011. Au Mauricien, Mme Driver parle de sa vision et ses projets pour la Faculté d'agriculture, qui fêtera ses 100 ans en 2014.
S'assurer que ses étudiants trouvent leur place sur le marché du travail et encourager l'ouverture vers d'autres institutions africaines sont les projets que Mme Driver tient à cœur. Après 20 années passées à former des jeunes dans divers domaines de l'agriculture, elle devient la première femme à diriger le décanat de la Faculté d'agriculture depuis l'existence de cette institution. Elle succède à Daneshwar Puchooa. 

Dec 17, 2010

End of Year Message and Farewell Note by Dean, Assoc. Prof. Puchooa

Dear Students and Staff of the FoA
I have much pleasure in sending you all an end of year message and a farewell note that follows below,before I end my term as Dean. I really appreciated your support and guidance.Thank You.

Dear Colleagues,
I have nearly come to the close of my tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. As I head into the last week of my Deanship, I came to realise how fast the last 3 1/2 years have passed by. Indeed, these years will remain one of best moments in my career highlights. I must say that serving as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture has been the most satisfying and enlightened months (42) I have spent. I have enjoyed it so well than I can’t easily convey my deepest feelings through words.

Dec 14, 2010

Research Assistant ( Animal Unit) at the FoA

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the post of Research Assistant on the project entitled “ Pig Feeds based on Sea Weeds ” funded by the MRC Solicited Research Grant Scheme. See Advert here.


Dec 13, 2010

Management Team at the Faculty

As per University regulations, Deans and HoDs are rotated on a 3 and 2 year basis respectively. In this context, the next Dean of the Faculty will be Assoc Prof M.F.Driver as from January 2011, Mr K. Boodhoo will be responsible for the Agricultural Production and Systems department as from December 2010 and Dr. M. Sanmukiya will head the Agricultural and Food Science Department until her term ends next year.

We congratulate the outgoing team for their dedicated effort to manage the Faculty efficiently and we wish the new team success in their roles.


At one of the latest events organised by the Faculty, under the guidance of Mrs Esha Aumjaud, academic staff, a group of final year students in Food Science and Technology gave a moving tribute to the outgoing Dean, Assoc Prof Puchooa.  The speech is, in fact, an echo of what the staff at the FoA and people outside felt during his Deanship. It is therefore fitting that we reproduced hereunder an abridged version of the speech. The full speech was written and delivered by Ms. Arthi Deenoo BSc (Hons) Food Science and Technology Year 3.  

Dec 7, 2010

AFRICA: Science to sustain the green revolution

Scientists have found that crop diversification using pigeonpea - shrubby legumes grown in tropical regions - mixed with soybean and peanuts could be key to sustaining an agricultural green revolution in Africa.
Dean

Agriculture and Rural Development Day 2010 side event, held on 4 December 2010 in Cancún, Mexico.

AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT DAY 2010

This statement was prepared by the ARDD organising committee as a summary of the day, and delivered during the final session by Lindiwe Majele Sibanda (CEO FANRPAN) on behalf of the committee.

There is no climate security without food security and no food security without climate security

This statement is a summary of Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) held in parallel to COP16 on Saturday 4th December in Cancun. It describes the key issues and outcomes of the Day as well as messages to the UNFCCC on how to take forward agriculture in the negotiations.

A Call for Action on Agriculture and Climate Change

ARDD was convened by over 19 leading organisations from the UN, governments and development agencies, civil society, farmers groups, research community, private sector and the media to show how agriculture can contribute to a low emission future while adapting to climate change and enhancing food and nutrition security.

More than 400 policymakers (including Ministers and UNFCCC negotiators) farmers, members of civil society, private sector and scientists attended ARDD. The day was hosted by the Mexican Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Rural Development and Food (SAGARPA), and the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security Programme (CCAFS), and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD).

Dec 2, 2010

World Food Day Theme 2010 – “UNITED AGAINST HUNGER” Activities at the Faculty of Agriculture

Contributor: Mrs Esha Aumjaud, academic staff at the Faculty of Agriculture. 

Students of the Faculty organised and participated in several activities to sensitise the University’s staff and students on the need to be “United against hunger”.  The chairperson of the students’ organising committee was Sanjeenee Cannoosamy, BSc (Hons) Food Science and Technology (Year 3).  The planning and implementation of the various activities was facilitated by the Faculty’s staff.  During his deanship (from December 2007 to December 2010), Associate Professor D. Puchooa, has given full support and encouragement to students’ initiatives inspired by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Day themes. The following activities were undertaken to mark the WFD 2010 at the Faculty.