Jul 10, 2011

Activities by the Agricultural Society of the University _ World Environment Day



About 250 young people participated in the Carnaval walk for the World Environment Day and it included about 80 students from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius and youth, associated with the ENL foundation, from regions such as Ste Catherine, Alma, Pailles, L'Escalier and St Pierre. The event took place at les Alles Helvetia Parking, Moka.

They used banners to sensitize the public on the importance of preserving the environment and also some of them were dressed in plants parts and leaves and even fruits as decoration to make a better impact in their sensitisation campaign. 300 free endemic plants were also distributed by the ENL foundation to the public to encourage people to grow a tree. 

The Agricultural Society and the other students from the Faculty of Agriculture mounted a stand whereby several videos on how to protect the Environment and how Agriculture can contribute to a better Environment was shown. The composting demonstration attracted a very good response and the public was very much interested in such advancement in Agriculture.

Ajay Taurauchand, President Ag. Society

Jul 6, 2011

Latest notification of the online magazine, New Agriculturist

New Agriculturist

The latest edition of New Agriculturist (2011-4) is now online at www.new-ag.info. The complex challenges of achieving food security and protecting the environment in the context of global warming, increasing population and constrained resources, are recurring themes in this edition of New Agriculturist. Views on the controversial issue of land grabbing, and a focus on coastal livelihoods are also featured.
Publish Post

Jul 5, 2011

4-day short course on: “Microbiology: Fundamentals & Applications” by the Faculty of Agriculture

Faculty of Agriculture: 4-day short course on: “Microbiology: Fundamentals & Applications” by the Faculty of Agriculture

Dr Sunita Santchurn's  Feedback and Mrs Esha Aumjaud's Views on the Lectures

21 participants registered for the short course. The majority of them were from the food and hotel industry. Others were from the sugar milling industry, cosmetics industry, public and private laboratories, research centre. Based on the feedback obtained from the participants, the course was rated very good to excellent overall. Participants were very satisfied with the organisation of the course. They also very much appreciated the knowledge-sharing experience and interaction with both course trainers, Professor James E. Gannon, Fulbright scholar, University of Montana, (USA) and Professor Arvind M. Deshmukh from Marathwada University (India). 

Jul 4, 2011

Full Bright Scholar 2011- Prof Gannon-- Farewell

Prof James Gannon from the the University of Montana’s received Fulbright Scholar grants for the 2010-11 academic year. Prof Gannon spent 6 months at the Faculty where he conducted lectures and practicals, helped in the development of an undergraduate programme in Microbiology, interacted with stakeholders in the food industries and carried out research in food microbiology. In fact, he provided valuable help to the the investigators researching the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in the local food supply. Campylobacter is a bacterium and is the No. 1 food pathogen in the world at this time. Prof Gannon has also run an excellent short course in Microbiology in June 2011 prior to his departure to the US. This course was well received by all participants.

At the farewell meeting, the Dean said in her speech that Prof Gannon will be remembered for 'we cannot be left untouched by the passion and simplicity of Prof Gannon in sharing his knowledge of the subject'. This is what I also retain of Prof Gannon's attachment at the Faculty. Indeed, he is a walking encyclopedia on the subject matter. Staff who had interacted with him, recognised in him; great modesty and an unassuming person.




In his speech, Prof Gannon thanked all the staff who have worked with him closely over the past 6 months and he disclosed if it was not so he would have already gone back home. He was touched by the legendary Mauritian kindness and helpfulness. His special thanks went to Assoc Prof Puchooa, the Dean, Assoc Prof Driver, Dr Santchurn, Mrs Assebai, Ms Zeenut Ms Boodhoo (Research Assistant), the admin staff, Mr Toree and Mr Ali. In his final word, he emphasised that his stay has helped him to deepen his knowledge in his field of predilection and be more aware of the local context under which research is carried out. He donated books to the Microbiology Unit and is very happey to continue to collaborate with the Faculty.

FareWell Prof. We will keep in touch

Agricultural Job Fair 2011 by Agricultural Society

The Students Union in collaboration with the Agricultural Society organised an Agricultural Job Fair on Friday 25th March 2011 at the UOM Raised Plaza. The opening ceremony was done by Mrs Roshini Brizmohun-Gopaul who represented the Dean and also delivered the Dean's speech. The main aims are to provide a platform through which students and companies can interact and foster contacts. Students will be able to get a wider knowledge about the Mauritian Agricultural Sector and the new emerging technologies such as biosecurity, food safety, aquaculture, biotechnology, agricultural engineering and plant protection.



The companies present will be:

  • Adicon Biotechnologies
  • Meaders Feeds LTD
  • Food and Industries Allied LTD
  • Innodis Group
  • Mauritius Wildlife Foundation
  • Agricultural Research and Extension Unitjavascript:void(0)
  • Irrigation Authority
  • Small Planters Welfare Fund

It was well attended by the agricultural students. Through their interactions with the stakeholders they came to understand the real work conditions and skills that are required from them. According to many of them, it was a fruitful exercise and this gave them good clues on how to prepare their application dossier. Nevertheless, they also learned that the transition form the academia to the world of work is not always a smooth one and that their skills they have gained at the University must come in the forefront to be able to attract the prospective employers.They want our graduates to be innovative, risk takers, engage themselves fully in work, propose ideas and solutions in their place of work.

Good Luck to all of you especially to those graduating this year.