Dr Nafisa Sobratee - Semi Finalist at the FARA 6th African Science Week

FARA and its partners (CTA, IFS, ANAFE, RUFORUM, NPCA, AGRA) are pleased to announce the top 20 finalists of the 3rd Africa-wide women and young professionals science competitions ‘Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world’ which was launched in 2012.

The twenty finalists will vie for the top five places and awards (including trophies, cash and other prizes, book donations) in each category; women and young professionals, at a side event which is planned for 15 – 16 July 2013, during the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Accra, Ghana.
Each finalist will make a 15 minute scientific presentation on their research and outreach work to a high-level panel of judges drawn from multi-disciplinary fields of science in Africa. The chief judge will be Professor Ameenah Gurib-Fakim who is a past winner and role model and now a member of the expert panel for the science competitions.

FARA and its partners are pleased with the high quality of the final papers which were submitted by the 45 semi-finalists who had benefitted from a scientific writing, communication and policy advocacy training course which was organized by the consortium partners in September 2012 in Uganda. The scientific contributions of all semi-finalists will be published by CTA, FARA and partners.
All semi-finalists will also be fully supported to attend the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week from 15-20 July 2013 in Accra, Ghana. The Award ceremony is aimed at recognizing the winners and semi-finalists for their contribution to science and development on the continent.

See details of semi-finalists of women and young professionals 

FARA and its partners (CTA, IFS, ANAFE, RUFORUM, NPCA, AGRA) are pleased to announce the top 20 finalists of the 3rd Africa-wide women and young professionals science competitions ‘Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world’ which was launched in 2012.

The twenty finalists will vie for the top five places and awards (including trophies, cash and other prizes, book donations) in each category; women and young professionals, at a side event which is planned for 15 – 16 July 2013, during the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Accra, Ghana.

Each finalist will make a 15 minute scientific presentation on their research and outreach work to a high-level panel of judges drawn from multi-disciplinary fields of science in Africa. The chief judge will be Professor Ameenah Gurib-Fakim who is a past winner and role model and now a member of the expert panel for the science competitions.

FARA and its partners are pleased with the high quality of the final papers which were submitted by the 45 semi-finalists who had benefitted from a scientific writing, communication and policy advocacy training course which was organized by the consortium partners in September 2012 in Uganda. The scientific contributions of all semi-finalists will be published by CTA, FARA and partners.

All semi-finalists will also be fully supported to attend the 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week from 15-20 July 2013 in Accra, Ghana. The Award ceremony is aimed at recognizing the winners and semi-finalists for their contribution to science and development on the continent.

See details of semi-finalists of women and young professionals 

AND ONE OF THEM IS

Dr Nafiisa Sobratee (PhD graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, 2nd from the right), an alumni  (2011) of the Faculty of Agriculture has been selected in the top 10 semi-finalists for the 3rd Africa-wide Women and Young Professionals in Science Competitions. The competition is supported by the CTA and partners. She will present her paper (Valorisation of poultry litter to compost: an assessment of the pathogen reduction potential), at the final to be held in Accra (Ghana):15-16 July 2013, at the 6th African Science Week.

Newsletter- Ministry of Tertiary Education.

The second issue of the E-Newsletter of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research & Technology, can be viewed on: http://www.studymauritius.info/newsmar2013.aspx. In this issue (amongst others):

1. (a)    Consultative Workshop on Strategy Paper for Tertiary Education Sector
2. (b)   Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting: 2 Mauritian Researchers Selected
3. (c)    Scholarships to 50 Deserving African Students
4. (d)   MOU between University of Mauritius and Canberra Institute of Technology
5. (e)   Sky Observation at Poudre D’Or

Happy Reading 

Mauritius National Agriculture Youth Policy Dialogue

The Faculty of Agriculture and the Food, Agricultural and Natural Research Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) will be convening a National Agricultural Youth Policy Dialogue at the Faculty on the 12 April, 2013. The objective of the dialogue is to deliberate on the issues of youth involvement in agricultural policy processes and especially those policies aimed at mainstreaming youth. A number of studies point to the fact that youth do not necessarily play a major role in the development of policies.

The findings of Mauritius case study "Current and Emerging Youth Policies and Initiatives with a Special Focus on links to Agriculture," will be presented. The dialogue will culminate into a policy brief that the FANRPAN focal point will consolidate and communicate to the Minister of Agriculture, including other relevant departments and stakeholders. The dialogue is expected to bring together representatives of youth bodies, businesses, policy makers, and law makers alike from various industries.

Mr Shane Hurdowar, FARPAN, Local Node Coordinator

Prof Yasmina Fakim Jaufeerally, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture

Ms Sitembile, Ndema, FANRPAN Representative adressing the audience, first in the row (from the Right), Ms Nawsheen Hosenally, Former Consultant for the case study, and second Ms Oree from the Agricultural Youth Section of AREU.

New Agriculturalist (2013-2)

The latest edition of New Agriculturist (2013-2) is now online at www.new-ag.info. How to feed 9 billion by 2050 is a complex question. Yet the staggering fact that women farmers, who produce the majority of the world's food, own less than two per cent of the world's land and receive only ten per cent of agricultural credit does at least suggest a good place to look for answers. In this edition, we present experiences and insights from a range of initiatives that are working to achieve sustainable improvements in the lives of smallholder women, their families and communities.

Appeal for Solidarity - Flood Victims

Devastating Rains - LET US ALL HELP - An Appeal by the VC

On Saturday 30 March 2013, devastating rains, of an intensity never reported before, swept  across the island, especially in the Capital City, Port -Louis causing deaths and widespread destruction, overturning cars, flooding many homes and shops. One of the regions near Port Louis is completely under mud and lots of debris. Our VC Prof HCSRughooputh of the University of Mauritius (see message below) has made an appeal for the University to join hands to help the people who have been severely affected by this catastrophe.

Dear ALL
I am sure that we cannot remain silent and passive to those of our compatriots who are experiencing hard times since yesterday. Many families have lost their smiles and others are in urgent need of help. We can and we must assist our own people who are in such miserable situations. (I understand that some staff and students are already helping out on site). Our Prime Minister has declared tomorrow a public holiday (a "Jour de deuil") and as such the University will be closed. We shall have a collecting booth placed near the UoM canteen on Tuesday for the collection of canned food, bottled water, clothing materiaIs, books and other items of primary importance that we shall subsequently distribute to those in distress and to the needy.

I am requesting volunteers to help UoM in this endeavour. I rely on your cooperation.   Let us all mourn for all those who have lost their lives and simultaneosly express our grief and sorrow to their close ones.

Thanks
Vice Chancellor