VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 TO ALL OUR STAKE HOLDERS

VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 TO ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS

From Mauritius Agriculture News (Blog) & AgricultureNews Channel (Facebook) Team

Scholarships for diploma/degree courses – 2011/2012 UNDER THE SUGAR INDUSTRY VRS/ERS scholarships scheme

COMMUNIQUE

Scholarships for diploma/degree courses – 2011/2012

UNDER THE SUGAR INDUSTRY VRS/ERS scholarships scheme

Applications for the award of scholarships are invited from children of retired workers of the Sugar Industry under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)/Early Retirement Scheme (ERS) and who have already been admitted to any diploma/degree course in a recognized Post Secondary Education Institution in Mauritius as from August 2011.

         

2.       Course of Study

Preference will be given to candidates whose Fields of Study are specific to the prevailing scarcity areas and market demands of the country and to courses appearing on the List of Indicative Priority Fields of Study available for consultation at the Scholarships Section, Ministry of Education and Human Resources and at Ground Floor, MITD House, Phoenix, or on the following website:

http://ministry-education.gov.mu

3.       General conditions

          (i)      Only two candidates will be eligible per Sugar Estate.

(ii)      Priority will be given to candidates who have enrolled for a full-time undergraduate course (Diploma/Degree).

(iii)     Selected candidates will be required to sign a contract with the sugar company to the effect that they will:

(a)          submit documents as required by the Mauritius Sugar Authority (MSA) and inform the sugar company/MSA of any change;

(b)         submit their progress reports to their respective Sugar Estate; and

(c)          inform the MSA and their respective Sugar Estate of the completion date of their courses.  In the event a candidate discontinues with his/her course, he/she shall inform the MSA and sugar company giving the reasons thereof.

(iv)     Scholars will receive a yearly allowance of Rs 18,000 for a maximum of four years.  The modalities of payment will be mutually agreed upon between the student and the respective Sugar Estate.

4.       Mode of application

(i)           Applications must be made on the prescribed form available at the Scholarships Section, Ministry of Education and Human Resources, 1^st Floor, MITD House, Phoenix and also downloaded from the Ministry’s website:

                

http://ministry-education.gov.mu

Applicants may equally submit applications online on the following website:

http://www.gov.mu

However, applicants should submit certified copies of all supporting documents

within three working days after application of the scholarship.

(ii)      Along with their applications the candidates should also submit certified copies of   the following documents:-

(a)          Their Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards;

(b)         Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards of Parent(s);

(c)      Copy of signed option form and “Quittance” of Parents having retired under VRS/ERS Scheme.

(iii)     The completed Application Forms along with all supporting documents                        should be returned to the Scholarships Section, 1^st Floor, MITD House, Phoenix  by Wednesday 28 December 2011 at 14.00 hours at latest.

5.       Candidates who have not been informed of their nomination within two months as from the closing date for application should consider that they have not been selected.

6.       A Communiqué will be placed on the Website in due course to inform applicants that the selection exercise has been completed.

Source: http://www.gov.mu/

Spore Magazine Issue No 156: December 2011 - January 2012

The latest issue of Spore is online!


Download HERE.


Download courtesy: CTA

How rainwater harvesting is helping Nicaraguan farmers

By Alejandra Martins, BBC Mundo

 

Prized resource: The aim is to ensure a year-round supply of water

"I've been a farmer for more than 40 years, but I never had an opportunity like this," says Victor Beltran.

Mr Beltran lives in northern Nicaragua, one of the poorest and driest areas of the country, where a pilot project to harvest rainwater is beginning to transform local agriculture and local people's lives.
"Farmers have come from other parts of the country to see what is happening here. I no longer depend on seasonal rainfall. I produce three times more maize and have a surplus to trade," says Mr Beltran.
The project involves building earthen dams to form reservoirs or ponds that can collect surface water run-off from the hills during the rainy season.

 

Farmer Victor Beltran says the project has changed the way he works

 

The water is then used for irrigation during periods of drought.
"The problem in Nicaragua and the majority of tropical areas in Latin America is that you have a huge contrast between the rainy and the dry season," says Gonzalo Zorrilla, who is directing the project.
"In Nicaragua's case, you have a lot of rain for six months and then six months when there is practically none."
Catching the rain The idea for the initiative stemmed from work in southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay by the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR) and supported by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
In these countries, more than 1m hectares (2.5m acres) of rice have been irrigated with water collected by the farmers themselves.

 

The key to the project is finding the right location to build a dam

 

"With our partners in Nicaragua, the local rice farmers' association, we thought it could be possible to use the same technology to help small farmers in the tropics," said Mr Zorrilla.
"We convinced a UN agency, the Common Fund for Commodities, CFC, to fund the project."
The idea is to construct the reservoirs as cheaply and simply as possible.
A dam is built between two hillsides to catch the rainwater run-off and create a pool of water.
An outlet tube reinforced with steel bars lies underneath the dam, so all the farmer has to do to irrigate his crops is open the valve.
"If you go anywhere in northern Costa Rica, Panama or Nicaragua, there is massive unemployment during six months of the year. People have no income, no crops, and in severe cases their cattle are dying," says Edward Pulver, agricultural scientist at FLAR.
When the project started, he says, many farmers were not optimistic about their future.
"But as soon as we started mentioning irrigation, their eyes lit up like Christmas tree lights because they had hope.
"They saw they didn't have to be poor, there was a way out. It is incredibly impressive to see that."

 

Nicaragua is susceptible to floods - and drought

 

Fourteen dams have been completed or are being built in Nicaragua, and similar projects are under way in Costa Rica and southern Mexico.
"We are getting the same yields of maize in Nicaragua that you get in the Midwest in the US," says Mr Pulver.
"Fresh corn was not available in the dry season. Now, because of irrigation, some farmers sell their whole production as fresh corn for human consumption," says Mr Zorrilla.
This means a potential income of several thousand dollars per hectare, an amount that was "completely unimaginable in the past", according to Mr Zorrilla.
The project has also helped farmers to vary their diet, as some of them have introduced a small fish, tilapia, to the reservoirs.
Farming's future? Many countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Costa Rica have the right topography and conditions to harvest water, says Mr Pulver.
"In Latin America we have excess water. Our problem is we have flooding, so if we can just capture this water, store it and plant crops during the dry season, we can feed ourselves very easily.
"This technology can work in the poorest of countries, and the CFC wants us to take the idea to Africa."

 

Irrigation also means more varied crops can be grown

 

A key aim of the pilot project, which ends in 2012, is to train local people and officials so they can build their own dams and reservoirs.
"If we finish with just 14 dams in Nicaragua, nothing would have change there because too few farmers would have benefited," says Mr Zorrilla.
"Globally, despite the challenges of growing populations, water is really under used.
"The intelligent, sustainable use of water could give rise to a water revolution, a blue revolution," he says.
One key factor seems already guaranteed: the conviction of the farmers themselves.
"If you expand access to this technology, you can help to lessen the impact drought has in Nicaragua," says Mr Beltran.
"Farmers can have a balanced diet, money for their farm and for their children's education. On my farm, there's now work for four of us.
"This project has really changed the way we think."

 

Harvesting rainwater is changing some people's views about life on the land

Source: bbc.co.uk
24 November 2011 Last updated at 10:53 GMT

Two Guernsey politicians oppose third golf course plan

An interesting read on agriculture land conservation vs development!

 

The land at La Ramee would be turned into an 18 hole golf course

Plans for a third 18-hole golf course in Guernsey have been formally opposed by two politicians.

Deputies Tony Spruce and Robert Sillars filed an amendment against the creation of a course on former greenhouse and farm land at La Ramee in St Peter Port.

Deputy Spruce said the plans represented a conflict between the search for a new golf course and the need to retain land for agriculture.
He said: "We feel it's essential agricultural land... is protected."
Deputy Spruce said: "To move another 150-odd acres of land from agriculture or dairy farming over to a golf course is just a step too far."

Environmentally friendly

However, the plans have been supported by Deputy Ivan Rihoy.
He said: "Environmentally it would make the area fantastic. Golf courses are really environmentally friendly."
Deputy Spruce's amendment, seconded by Deputy Sillars, suggests preserving La Ramee exclusively for agriculture.
It will be put to the States in the November meeting as part of a debate on the government's strategic land use plan.
Guernsey currently has two 18-hole golf courses, situated at L'Ancresse and La Grande Mare, as well as a smaller course at the St Pierre Park hotel.



Source: bbc.co.uk
21 November 2011 Last updated at 11:44 GMT

Pénurie et hausse de 10 % des prix des légumes

Qui dit sécheresse, dit également hausse de prix des légumes. En effet, les prix des légumes vont enregistrer une hausse de 10 % dans une quinzaine de jours. On avait bien eu de la pluie il y a deux semaines, mais en ce moment, il y a encore la chaleur. Nous sommes en période de sécheresse.




Dans certains endroits, les planteurs ont l'eau pour l'irrigation mais à d'autres endroits, certains planteurs sont en train de souffrir.

"D'ici peu on sera dans une période rouge au cours de laquelle les prix de plusieurs légumes vont connaître une hausse de 10 % et cette hausse durera jusqu'à ce que les planteurs reçoivent de l'eau." C'est ce qu'a déclaré au Matinal Krepalloo Sunghoon, président de la Small Planters Association.

Peu de temps auparavant, il fallait compter entre Rs 400 et Rs 450 pour l'approvisionnement hebdomadaire en légumes d’une famille nucléaire avec deux enfants, maintenant, il faut compter avec Rs 650 à Rs 700 pour de telles dépenses.

Les marchands ont une explication pour justifier cette hausse : il n'y a pas eu de précipitations ces dernières semaines et cela a beaucoup affecté les plantations. Les graines que les planteurs avaient semées n'ont pas germé.

On risque fort, s'il ne pleut pas, de connaître une pénurie de légumes dans les semaines à venir. Mais, en définitive, il y aura une hausse et à cela on n'y échappera pas.

Les prix des engrais ont triplé
Au marché central, c'est le prix de la pomme d'amour qui a commencé à grimper. Vendue à Rs 25, voire même à Rs 15 le demi-kilo, il y a deux mois, son prix a augmenté et la pomme d'amour se vend maintenant autour de Rs 25 à Rs 30 le demi-kilo, des fois même à Rs 35.
Sur les étals, on peut remarquer que le voëhm se vend à Rs 25 contre Rs 15 auparavant, les aubergines à Rs 20 contre Rs 10, le pâtisson à Rs 30 l'unité contre Rs 20, les lalos à Rs 50 le demi-kilo contre Rs 35 et la calebasse à Rs 20 l'unité contre Rs 15.

Le giraumon se vend à Rs 10 le demi-kilo contre Rs 5 ou Rs 7 plus tôt, le chouchou aussi est à Rs 10 contre Rs 5. Le haricot à Rs 30 le demi-kilo contre Rs 20. Les petits piments se vendent à Rs 100 le demi-kilo, soit le double de son prix d'il y a deux mois.

La pomme de terre coûte Rs 12 ou Rs 15 le demi-kilo et les oignons se vendent à Rs 15 ou Rs 25. Le goût de la margoze est plus amer à Rs 40 comparé à Rs 30. Les carottes sont à Rs 15 contre Rs 10 et le choux-fleur, qui se vendait à Rs 25 est passé à Rs 40 l'unité dépendant de la taille.

Une vendeuse au marché soutient que les planteurs, de nos jours, cultivent très peu de margoze, ce qui occasionne un manque et, en conséquence, sa rareté est la raison de son prix exorbitant. “Quant aux choux-fleurs, c'est parce que ce légume n'est disponible que pendant l'hiver, et d'ici peu on n'en aura plus", soutient-elle.

D'autres facteurs justifient la cherté des légumes. Les prix des engrais et autres fertilisants ont triplé. Les engrais sont le plus souvent des mélanges d'éléments minéraux destinés à apporter aux plantes des compléments nutritifs pour améliorer leur croissance et augmenter le rendement et la qualité des cultures. Un sac de 50 kilos de 13-13-20 utilisé pour des légumes est passé de Rs 800 à Rs 1 600, celui de 17-8-25 est passé à Rs 1 700 contre Rs 900, et le 23-0-24 est passé de Rs 900 à Rs 1 700.

Cette hausse s'explique par l'insuffisance de l'offre face à l'accroissement de la demande, affirme-t-on chez les revendeurs. Les pays producteurs ont du mal à fournir les principaux engrais agricoles.

L'utilisation d'engrais, qui permet d'obtenir de grandes quantités de produits à l'hectare, est inséparable de l'agriculture intensive moderne. Certains planteurs ont même opté pour le système hydroponique, où l'engrais s'écoule par le système d'irrigation. D'autres planteurs songent à diminuer la superficie de leurs cultures. Dans un passé pas trop lointain, on se rappelle que le manque de fertilisants sur le marché avait résulté en une hausse artificielle des prix, divers commerçants vendant les mêmes produits à différents prix, un peu selon leur humeur. Le prix des herbicides est par contre monté par 400 %. 


Source: Le Matinal 19.11.11

UN warns of staple crop virus 'epidemic'

By Matt McGrath Science reporter, BBC World Service

 

Farmers may think crops are healthy until harvest; the signs only show on roots

UN scientists are warning that a virus attacking the cassava plant is nearing an epidemic in parts of Africa.

Cassava is one of the world's most important crops providing up to a third of the calorie intake for many people.
The food and agriculture organisation of the UN says the situation is urgent and are calling for an increase in funding for surveillance.
None of the varieties of cassava being distributed to farmers in Africa appears to be resistant to the virus.
Cassava is a global food source of particular importance in Africa as it does well on poor soils with low rainfall.
But like many crops it is threatened by a number of pests and diseases that hinder its production. Viral infections have periodically wiped out the crop in some regions leading to famine.
Now the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that another virus is threatening the crop in large parts of East Africa.
The scientists say the Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) is on the verge of becoming an epidemic. It first appeared in Uganda in 2006 but in the past few months has been found in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time.
According to Mike Robson, a plant production and protection officer with the FAO it's hard to know exactly where the virus is as surveillance systems are poor.
"It is hard to say precisely but we're finding it where we go looking for it "
Robson says that a particular problem with this virus is that farmers may think they have a healthy crop until the harvest, as the symptoms only show on the roots.
"That's a particularly distressing situation where a farmer thinks he has a healthy field of cassava but when they come to uproot it, their expectations of food are not going to be met."
But there are some strategies that can help reduce the impact of the infection, according to Mike Robson.
"The main ways of controlling are to try and control the movement of planting material. Cassava is propagated from cuttings and if you move a cutting that has the infection you're effectively moving it to a new area"
"The other thing that farmers can do if they suspect they have the disease is to harvest early. They will get smaller roots of cassava but they will be less affected by the disease - it shows up late in the production cycle."
The FAO scientists say they are in a race against time with this particular strain of virus. They are calling for a rapid increase in funding to improve surveillance. They also want to improve training for farmers and they want to ban the distribution of infected plants between districts.
Some eight varieties of the crop are under development by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture which show some level of resistance to CBSD - It is hoped that these varieties could be made widely available within two years.
 

Les élèves de l’Ecole Espérance 2000 initiés à l’agriculture bio

Des enfants, âgés de 12 à 17 ans de l’école Espérance 2000 dans le réseau Adolescent Non-Formal Education Network (ANFEN), sont des mordus d’agriculture. Pour fêter la fin de leur année scolaire et de leur projet environnemental initié et financé par la GML Fondation Joseph-Lagesse, les enfants ont récemment organisé une récolte dans leur jardin potager et leur serre hydroponique.
Marie-Laurence Dupont, coordinatrice à la GML Fondation Joseph-Lagesse, a coordonné ce projet à l’école de Curepipe et dans plusieurs d’autres écoles du réseau ANFEN.

Elle a suivi les enfants de près pendant toute l’année. Et, leur enseignante, Mary Joyce Philippe, a encadré ces jeunes quotidiennement pour leur apprendre les bases de l’agriculture et du recyclage.

Leur potager est d’ailleurs une de leurs plus grandes fiertés. Ces enfants connaissent les noms de toutes les plantes et les différentes méthodes utilisées pour l’agriculture à petite échelle.

“Je n’ai même pas eu besoin de les convaincre. Dès le départ, ils étaient tous très emballés par le projet du potager. Ils sont très réceptifs et plusieurs d’entre eux ont, aujourd’hui, un potager à la maison”, explique Mary Joyce Philippe. Cette dernière confie qu’il était important que les enfants prennent en considération l’importance de l’environnement dans la vie de tous les jours. Il est essentiel qu’il y ait des fresques pour orner les murs de l’école.

Annaelle, 13 ans, qui n’a jamais été à l’école avant de rejoindre Espérance 2000 il y a deux ans, est aujourd’hui première de sa classe. Elle fait preuve de son savoir-faire lorsqu’elle prend la parole pour expliquer l’histoire de Maurice, en particulier celle de la flore et de la faune locale. Sa présentation improvisée se termine en chœur avec les autres élèves qui connaissent tous les noms des plantes endémiques à l’école.

Dans le cadre de la Journée mondiale de l’environnement le 5 juin dernier, une dizaine de plantes endémiques, dont le Trochetia, notre fleur nationale, ont été mises en terre dans la cour de l’école.

Marie-Laurence Dupont a fait ressortir que les enfants ont montré leur intérêt pour l’environnement, tout au long de l’année scolaire. Ils ont chacun un potager chez eux, ils préparent du compost et collectent des piles et des bouteilles dans leur quartier pour les recycler. Les objectifs du projet sont ainsi atteints.

Jordan, âgé de 13 ans, a fait le compostage chez lui. Les élèves mettent déjà en pratique cette méthode de recyclage qu’ils ont apprise à l’école. “Plusieurs d’entre eux adorent faire du compost car cela peut être une source de revenus pour leur famille. Certains ont encouragé leurs parents à s’y mettre”, explique Mary Joyce Philippe.

Le seul bémol est un cas de vol qui s’est produit à l’école en juillet. “Des légumes ont été volés lors d’un week-end alors qu’il n’y avait personne à l’école”, confie Mary Joyce Philippe. L’école Espérance 2000 n’est pas la seule à avoir été victime de voleurs. Marie-Laurence Dupont explique que d’autres écoles - ANFEN, notamment l’école Paille-en-Queue de Grand-Gaube, ont aussi reçu la visite de malfaiteurs.

“Le potager de Paille-en-Queue, d’Etoile de Mer à Roches-Noires, et de la Maison Familiale Rurale de l’Ouest à Bambous ont fait l’objet de dégradations et de vols au cours de l’année. Ce comportement est déplorable. Les jeunes, qui ont investi dans un projet, ont été très déçus et en colère face à cette situation”, dit Marie-Laurence Dupont. 


Source: Le Matinal 15.11.11

ICT in Agriculture e-sourcebook

Realizing the profound potential of information and communication technologies in developing country agriculture, the Agriculture and Rural Development Department (ARD) of the World Bank in collaboration with infoDev (part of the World Bank Group) embarked in an effort to explore and capture the expanding knowledge and use of ICT tools in agrarian livelihoods. In November 2011, the World Bank released an electronic Sourcebook (e-Sourcebook) to initiate further (and better) investment in this sector. Called “ICT in Agriculture”, the e-Sourcebook provides practitioners within and outside of the World Bank Group with lessons learned, guiding principles, and hundreds of examples and case studies on applying information and communication technologies in poor agriculture.

The e-Sourcebook is provided fully and freely on its website. Fifteen modules touch on a wide spectrum of sub-fields in agriculture, including risk management, gender, forest governance, and farmers organizations. The Introduction (Module 1) introduces users to the ‘ICT in agriculture’ topic, offering key themes throughout the sourcebook as well as more details on how to use it.

Each module is stand-alone in format, providing users with the advantage of selecting the module or modules closest to their interest or work. The modules are delivered both in html and pdf format. The pdf format can be downloaded and printed. The full book can also be downloaded. In this version, hyperlinks between modules are included to promote cross-referencing throughout the Sourcebook.

Please also note that the sourcebook is not available in print.

Download the full version or individual modules HERE

Source: e-agriculture

Download courtesy: ICT in Agriculture

Coopératives : La Small Planters Association veut se lancer dans la production de l’éthanol

La Small Planters Association a décidé de réunir plus d’une centaine de planteurs au sein d’une nouvelle coopérative ayant pour nom Island Green Farmers Cooperative Society. Ils s’engagent à relancer les activités des petits planteurs de cannes à travers la transformation de la mélasse en éthanol.

« Les planteurs ne s’intéressent plus à la production sucrière. La production d’une tonne de sucre est chiffrée à Rs 7 500, et comme profit cela ne rapporte que Rs 15 300, ce qui fait que ce n’est plus un secteur rentable », explique Sunghoon Kripaloo, secrétaire de la Small Planters Association.

S’intéressant davantage à l’industrie cannière que sucrière, la Small Planters Association a ainsi décidé de former une nouvelle coopérative, l’Island Green Farmers Cooperative. « Cette association a pris naissance la semaine dernière, et nous avons déjà fait parvenir une lettre au Premier ministre et au ministre de l’Agro-industrie, pour que nous puissions bénéficier du Cane Democratization Fund, qui dispose d’un fonds de Rs 200 millions », explique Murveen Ragobur, consultant de l’Island Green Farmers Cooperative.

Les membres de cette coopérative estiment que la démocratisation de l’industrie sucrière s’est avérée un échec et espèrent pouvoir être partie prenante de ce projet de démocratisation. Selon Murveen Ragobur, d’autres planteurs ne tarderont pas à se joindre à eux.

« Nous avons également pu convaincre une firme indienne spécialisée dans la production d’éthanol. Cette firme nous fournira les outils technologiques nécessaires », précise-t-il.

Il existe déjà deux distilleries d’éthanol à Maurice, l’une à Fuel et l’autre à Savannah. En octobre 2011, le groupe sucrier Omnicane a déjà fait part de son intention de se lancer sur le marché. Le groupe a indiqué être capable de produire 15 millions de litres d’éthanol sans eau (anhydrique), à partir de 65 000 tonnes de mélasse. Parmi les autres promoteurs du projet figurent Alcodis, le pionnier dans le secteur de l’éthanol, de Roland Maurel et une distillerie Belge.

« Nous pensons que ce secteur peut aussi compter sur notre expertise nous avons soumis nos propositions aux autorités concernées, la balle est dans leur camp », avance Sunghoon Kripaloo.

Source: L'Express 2.11.11

Spore Magazine Issue No 155: October - November 2011

The latest issue of Spore is online!


Download HERE.


Download courtesy: CTA

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES

The Mauritius Horticultural Society 

has the pleasure to invite those interested to a 

SEMINAR 

on

ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES

Guest speakers: Assoc. Prof. Dr Sunita Facknath & Ms Malini Alleck.

Venue: Harry Flowers Centre, Bois Cheri Rd., Moka.

Date: Saturday 05 November 2011.

Time: 10.00 to 12.00.

Discussion / debate included in programme.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To confirm your participation, kindly call on 7553547 or 7747434.

Sugar production expected to be around 390 000 tonnes

According to the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, the production of sugar would be around 390 000 tonnes for the crop year 2011.  This estimate is based on statistics for the sugar sector for the first semester of 2011.

In fact, economic indicators of Statistics Mauritius show that at the end of June 2011, around 3950 hectares under sugar cane were harvested, yielding 262 151 tonnes of cane and 24 132 tonnes of sugar.  The corresponding figures at the same period in 2010 were 4 800 hectares, 361 875 tonnes of cane and 33 815 tonnes of sugar respectively.  The average extraction rate as at June 2011 was 9.21% compared to 9.34% in the first semester of 2010.

Statistics Mauritius has also released figures on tea plantation, tobacco production, livestock and poultry for the first semester of 2011.  Regarding tea plantation, the area under cultivation in 2011 was the same as in 2010, that is 698 hectares.  The production of green tea leaves for the first semester of 2011 was 5 307 tonnes compared to 4 282 tonnes for the corresponding period of the preceding year.  Production of manufactured tea went up by 26.1%, from 835 tonnes in the first semester of 2010 to 1 053 tonnes in the same period of 2011.

The production of tobacco leaves went up from 98 tonnes in the first semester of 2010 to 124 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2011.  An area of 70 hectares was harvested during the first months of 2011 against 66 hectares for the same period in 2010.

During the first half of 2011, the production of beef from live cattle was 961 tonnes, which is 3.5% lower than the figure of 996 tonnes registered in the corresponding period of 2010.  Beef production from the slaughter of imported cattle, accounting for 91.2% of the total production, decreased by 7.2% from 944 tonnes to 876 tonnes.  Local beef production went up by 63.5% from 52 tonnes to 85 tonnes.  This increase is seen mainly as the result of different schemes put under the “Food Security Fund” of the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security.

The production of goat meat and mutton went down by 10.8% from 37 tonnes during the first semester of 2010 to 33 tonnes for the same period of 2011.  The share of local production, inclusive of Rodrigues, stood at 81.8%.  This is mostly explained by a decrease in the production of meat obtained from slaughter of imported animals from 10 tonnes in the first semester of 2010 to 6 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2011.

The production of pork rose by 7.5% from 281 tonnes in the first semester of 2010 to 302 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2011.

The production of poultry expanded by 2.2%, from 22 500 tonnes in the first semester of 2010 to 23 000 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2011.

Source: Government Information Service

Journée internationale de l’alimentation : Grosse affluence au Jardin de Pamplemousses

L’initiative du ministère de l’Agro-industrie de célébrer la Journée mondiale de l’alimentation a été un succès. Le jardin botanique Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam de Pamplemousses a accueilli une grande foule ce dimanche 16 octobre. Une grosse affluence en cette journée dominicale. C’est ce qu’a connu le Jardin de Pamplemousses dans le cadre de la journée porte-ouverte organisée par le ministère de l’Agro-industrie dans le cadre de la Journée internationale de l’alimentation. Cet événement a réuni un bon nombre d’exposants évoluant dans le domaine agricole et artisanal. Des produits pour le jardin, des denrées alimentaires ou de l’artisanat. Tout y était et le public a su répondre à l’appel. Petits et grands se sont rués ce matin au jardin botanique de Pamplemousses. Le but du ministère de tutelle était d’exposer aux Mauriciens tous les avantages de cultiver la terre. L’Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) entretenait également une échoppe. Des produits du terroir y étaient exposés. Selon les cadres de l’institution, il est important que les Mauriciens prennent connaissance de l’importance de cultiver la terre mais aussi d’éviter le gaspillage. «L’AREU a développé des technologies pour permettre à la population de réduire sa dépendance aux produits importés. Par exemple, nous offrons des conseils aux entrepreneurs, aux industriels et même aux citoyens », explique un employé de l’AREU. Les cadres de l’institution ont exposé des plants de riz, de manioc et de blé. La journée porte-ouverte a également été l’occasion pour les petits entrepreneurs d’exposer leurs articles. D’ailleurs, en ce jour spécial, des rabais étaient offerts aux clients. Ce dimanche, Mayadevi qui prépare elle-même son massala, a proposé ses produits à petits prix. Cela fait 17 ans depuis qu’elle a trouvé en elle un vrai talent. «C’est alors que j’étais femme au foyer et qu’il me fallait m’occuper de mes enfants que j’ai trouvé nécessaire d’aider mon époux financièrement. J’ai fait ce que je savais faire le mieux », explique-t-elle. Auprès d’elle s’est réunie une petite foule qui se précipite pour humer le bon parfum du massala. Un peu plus loin, nous remarquons une autre affluence. Cette fois, c’est l’échoppe de UDC Green qui intéresse les gens. Des plantes, des outils de jardinage, de l’engrais. Les amoureux de la nature y ont trouvé leur bonheur. Johana Piette, responsable de UDC Green, nous expose le produit qui a été adopté par de nombreux visiteurs : le sac vert. Ce sac, vendu à plusieurs unités depuis vendredi, permet aux Mauriciens de cultiver des plantes à l’intérieur ou sur un petit balcon. Noel Rawateea, un septuagénaire de Beaux-Songes a, pour sa part, opté pour un «coco chip». Il avoue qu’il tente une expérience avec ce produit qui est connu pour ses atouts d’humidificateur de sol. «Il me suffira de mettre les morceaux de fibre de coco dans de l’eau et de les placer sur la terre avant de planter », affirme-t-il avant de nous confier qu’il s’est adonné au jardinage depuis qu’il est retraité. A côté de l’échoppe d’UDC Green, une tente blanche interpelle. De ce côté-là, d’autres personnes s’y sont amassées. Mais cette fois, c’est le ministère de la Santé qui s’est présenté. Des services tels que la prise de poids, les examens de contrôle du diabète et de la tension sont offerts gratuitement aux visiteurs. Un responsable du stand avoue qu’il a eu beaucoup à faire depuis vendredi. Plus de 200 personnes se sont fait examiner par les médecins. «Nous ne nous arrêtons pas uniquement à ces examens, nous proposons aussi un  suivi des patients. Si le cas est grave, nous prenons les choses en main, immédiatement », affirme un cadre de la Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion Unit du ministère de la Santé. Cette initiative du ministère de l’Agro-industrie a débuté le vendredi 14 octobre et prend fin ce dimanche 16 octobre. Plus d’une trentaine d’échoppes étaient à la disposition des visiteurs. Pour l’heure, de nombreux Mauriciens ont pu découvrir des astuces et se procurer des plantes à petit prix. Le mieux c’est que des conseils étaient également à l’affiche de cette journée porte-ouverte au Jardin de Pamplemousses. Reste encore à espérer que le public saura les mettre en pratique.  Source: L'Express 16.10.11

La Réunion : les fruits et légumes pays n’ont pas dit leur dernier mot

Ail, oignon, pommes de terre, carottes, agrumes... Les productions locales de ces fruits et légumes sont de plus en plus menacées par les importations. Ce n’est pourtant pas une fatalité pour la profession qui tente de s’organiser afin de récupérer des parts de marché dans les prochaines années.
Oignon d’Inde, ail de Chine, carotte d’Australie... C’est un véritable tour du monde auquel ont droit les consommateurs réunionnais au moment de faire leurs courses de fruits et légumes. D’année en année, les importations grignotent des parts de marché sur les productions locales. Au risque de finir par les éclipser.
Les importations de carottes et d’agrumes ont ainsi augmenté de 40% en 10 ans, passant de 1800 tonnes annuelles en 2000 à 2950 tonnes en 2010 pour les premières, et de 3999 à 6885 tonnes pour les seconds. Dans le même temps, la production locale de carottes a chuté de plus du tiers, de 2600 à 1890 tonnes. Les agriculteurs locaux ont aussi produit de moins en moins d’agrumes, de 11200 tonnes en 2000 à 9900 tonnes en 2010 (- 13%).
Ail, oignon, piments, poivrons... Le constat est à peu près le même pour la plupart des productions locales. Seules les salades, tomates et courgettes tirent à peu près leur épingle du jeu - peu ou pas d’importations et une production locale de plusieurs centaines ou milliers de tonnes. Quant aux fruits et légumes qui ne poussent pas ou peu sur les terres réunionnaises, ils font aussi l’objet d’importations en hausse, aux alentours de 20% sur dix ans pour les pommes, les poires et les pêches. Bref, dénicher des fruits et légumes locaux sur les étals relève de plus en plus du défi.
Pourtant, il pourrait en être autrement. « Il y a 40 ans, la Réunion était le grenier de l’ail dans l’océan Indien, rappelle Jean-Yves Minatchy, président de la chambre d’agriculture. Mais les importations nous ont assommés. La Réunion est devenue un marché déversoir. Certes, nous produisons les trois quarts de notre consommation de fruits et légumes frais. Mais nous faisons toujours venir trop de produits de l’extérieur. Car tout ce que nous importons aujourd’hui, nous pourrions très bien le produire localement. Comme peut-on importer 17 tonnes de salades, alors que nous avons les capacités d’en produire toute l’année ? Il faut stopper l’importation, dont le nid se creuse d’année en année. Les Réunionnais participent ainsi au développement économique de pays étrangers au lieu de soutenir celui de la Réunion. »
Au-delà des pertes engendrées pour l’économie locale, Jean-Yves Minatchy pointe un autre inconvénient majeur à l’ampleur grandissante des importations. « Localement, nous sommes tenus de respecter toutes les normes environnementales européennes, explique-t-il. Ce n’est pas le cas de l’Australie, par exemple, dont les carottes reçoivent 25 produits de traitement chimique contre cinq pour celles produites localement. Or, ces carottes utilisées pour nourrir le bétail en Australie, nous les donnons à manger à nos enfants dans les cantines des écoles ! Jusqu’à quand la Réunion va-t-elle servir de dépotoir ? » Jusqu’à ce que les filières locales réussissent à devenir plus compétitives, serait-on tenté de répondre. Car les coûts de production relativement élevés localement expliquent en grande partie la part prise par les importations.
Source: L'Express 12.10.11

Event Announcement: Les Lignes d'Or - concours national de poésie (Pouquoi pas l'agriculture?)

World Food Day & Save the Children

Alison Doherty of Save the Children has communicated to us below. Just like we breathe and we don't realise that we are actually 'alive', at times we forget that Agriculture sustains the life on earth. Please take the quiz as part of your World Food Day contribution.







Today is World Food Day and we have good news to report — there are fewer underweight children in developing countries: a major improvement in the last decade. But millions still need help. Rising food prices and natural disasters have hit the most vulnerable around the world. Drought in Africa, monsoon floods in Pakistan, and other catastrophes have devastated crops and livestock — putting lives at risk. Progress isn’t coming fast enough for those who need it the most.

Take the Save the Children World Food Day Quiz above and test your knowledge!

Ways You Can Help

There is no silver bullet against child hunger and malnutrition. But comprehensive strategies that address the complex nature of the problem do work. Save the Children fights child hunger around the world — along with striving to help children over come despair, violence and illness. With your generous gift to the Global Action Fund, you help us carry out our worldwide mission to create lasting change in the lives of children in need. Some need food, medicine or books — other in need of hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Charitable contributions from people like you make it possible for us to support child hunger programs, and so much more. Please support our mission and work around the world with a gift to our Global Action Fund. You can count on us to be good stewards of your generous donation, helping vulnerable children where the need is greatest with whatever they need the most.

The Latest Edition of "The State of Food Insecurity in the World" is now Available

About the Series
The State of Food Insecurity in the World raises awareness about global hunger issues, discusses underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition and monitors progress towards hunger reduction targets established at the 1996 World Food Summit and the Millennium Summit. The publication is targeted at a wide audience, including policy-makers, international organizations, academic institutions and the general public with a general interest in linkages between food security, and human and economic development.


How does international price volatility affect domestic economies and food security?
The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011 highlights the differential impacts that the world food crisis of 2006-08 had on different countries, with the poorest being most affected. While some large countries were able to deal with the worst of the crisis, people in many small import-dependent countries experienced large price increases that, even when only temporary, can have permanent effects on their future earnings capacity and ability to escape poverty.

This year’s report focuses on the costs of food price volatility, as well as the dangers and opportunities presented by high food prices. Climate change and an increased frequency of weather shocks, increased linkages between energy and agricultural markets due to growing demand for biofuels, and increased financialization of food and agricultural commodities all suggest that price volatility is here to stay. The report describes the effects of price volatility on food security and presents policy options to reduce volatility in a cost-effective manner and to manage it when it cannot be avoided.


The full publication can be downloaded HERE.


Source: FAO

Spore Special Issue: Modernising Farms - Paths to Success

Download this special issue here.

Download Spore issue  No 154 Aug / Sept 2011 here.


Download courtesy: CTA

Agricultural Research and Development: Hardier sweet potatoes

Crop scientists at Uganda’s National Crop Resources Research Institute (NACRRI) in Namulonge have released sweet potato varieties that are resistant to diseases and weevils, both of which take a heavy toll on yields. Kawogo, Naspot 1, Naspot 90 and Kakamega were developed using conventional methods, tissue culture, biotechnology and computerised marker-assisted selection.

“We are crossing indigenous species as well as species from the Agricultural Potato Centre in Peru to get resistance”, said agronomist Charles Niringiye. The annual output of sweet potato in Uganda is 2.6 million MT, making it the country’s third most popular food crop after bananas and cassavas.

Source: Spore No 154. See also: spore.cta.int

New Online Forum: "Challenges and Opportunities for Capturing Impact in ICT initiatives in Agriculture"

From 25 September to 6 October 2011 Katalyst and e-Agriculture will organize a new online forum to discuss the challenges of linking impact with the use of ICTs in agriculture.

This forum will discuss the present practices and critical issues (regarding both implementation and monitoring) of ICT initiatives in agriculture.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is an emerging area focusing on the enhancement of the agricultural and rural development. Many farmers and rural entrepreneurs generally lack access to accurate and timely information on markets, production processes, crops and livestock disease; as well as access to services such as land registrations, permits, government regulation forms, and internet.

In the past few years, ICT initiatives in agriculture have proliferated and the resources devoted to ICT in development portfolios have expanded in the hope that ICT can help developing countries reach the Millennium Development Goals. Yet, rigorous field-tested knowledge about "what works and why" have been relatively scarce, as well as a deeper understanding of the enabling conditions and success factors in ICT for development initiatives.

As a result, there is a growing consensus in the development community that ICT will only become an effective and mainstream tool of poverty reduction and sustainable development if the proponents of ICT for development can provide more rigorous evidence, strategies, benchmarks, indicators, and good practices that are directly relevant to the core poverty-reduction and development priorities of developing countries and their international partners.

Subject Matter Experts leading the discussions include:

 Shahid Uddin Akbar, Chief Executive Officer - BIID (Bangladesh Institute for ICT for Development)

 Jenny C. Aker, Assistant Professor of Economics - (Economics Department and Fletcher School, Tufts University)

 Jim Tanburn, Coordinator - DCED (Donor Committee for Enterprise Development)

 John Zoltner, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean - Datadyne

All e-Agriculture members are invited to participate during the two weeks online discussion! If you have not registered to e-Agriculture yet, you may do so here and stay up to date about this event and upcoming activities.
 

Source: e-Agriculture

Youth in agricultural Extension – Challenges and opportunities

Agricultural extension and I

For the past 3 years, I have been studying agriculture with specialization in agricultural extension at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius. During my work-based placement, I have worked at the Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU), where I have got the opportunity to get some work experience in agricultural extension and I have also done my dissertation on the subject. Being involved in agricultural extension, I have seen that youth, as well as experienced professionals are facing several challenges in agricultural extension.

Agricultural Extension in Mauritius

Youth involvement in agricultural extension 

Presently, finding youth involved in agriculture is rare in Mauritius, since their main focus are on subjects related to management and engineering. This is so, because the image of agriculture does not appear “attractive” to youth and for many of them, agriculture is not even an option (Read more on attractiveness of agriculture to youth HERE). However, according to the annual report 2009/1010 of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius,. However, according to the annual report 2009/1010 of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius, each year, there about 120 students who enrol for courses related to agricultural sciences for their undergraduate degree. This also implies that every year, there are about 120 graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture. But how many of these graduates are involved in extension? Probably not many because of 2 main reasons; (a) there are not many job opportunities in agricultural extension in Mauritius and (b) extension involves working in the field with farmers, requires several skills and it is a challenging job.

Challenges

When considering the challenges faced by youth in agricultural extension, there are 2 ways in which it can be seen; (a) Challenges faced by young graduates and (b) challenges faced by young professionals.


Read more and looking forward to have your contribution HERE.

E-discussions on Extension/advisory services and Young Professionals

Call for contribution!

The young generation plays an important role in extension and rural advisory services. It has to solve many of the current global issues and will face new ones. To rise to the challenge, young professionals working in extension and rural advisory services should be paid greater attention, provided an opportunity to share their experiences, voice their concerns and communicate the challenges and opportunities for youth in extension. 

We believe that there are many interesting and rewarding opportunities in this professional field that must be better communicated. The image of agriculture, and in particular advisory services, must be made more attractive to young people.

Therefore GFRAS: Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services and YPARD : Young Professional’s Platform for Agricultural Research for Development have joined forces to advance a joint mission of promoting the field of agriculture and extension among young people.

Youth and extension/advisory services e-discussions

We welcome your active participation to online discussions on issues surrounding youth and extension/advisory services, from 5th September to 30 October 2011 on the YPARD forum in preparation of the international conference on extension in Nairobi.

These discussions will specifically be on the challenges and opportunities in extension, related to youth:

• Share your experiences, challenges, and successes as a Young Professional in extension.  Share some of your questions and ideas on this topic.

• Share your testimony as an Experienced Professional (perhaps not a ‘youth’ yourself) and present key challenges and opportunities of working with young professionals in extension and rural advisory services.

We will launch two spaces for discussions on the YPARD forum. Please, contribute and feel free to propose your own discussion topics related to extension/advisory services and young professionals. The outputs will include a poster and document making recommendations based on the discussion to the international conference in Nairobi in November. Expected outcomes include increased and more rewarding participation of young people in agriculture and advisory services.

Bringing these discussions to decisions and actions

What’s your benefit in contributing to these discussions? The ideas, experiences and challenges you express will be brought to the table by YPARD, GFRAS and Young representatives at the international conference in Nairobi in November. Therefore your voice will be heard at a strategic level to inform for decision-makers on those topics that impact you!

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Do not forget: E-DISCUSSION on Extension/advisory services and Young Professionals

From 5th September to 30th October 2011 on YPARD Forum  

Take your chance, contribute, get a voice, make a change!

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Need some help to get started?

You would like to contribute but don’t know exactly how to get started? Please, contact us for advice and suggestions! We are glad to help and we are looking forward hearing from you! info@ypard.net

Note that you must be registered and logged in YPARD website to contribute (register here). It just requires some minutes; just follow the instructions! If you meet any issue, please, contact us!

More about the Organizers

GFRAS is the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. Its purpose is to provide a space for advocacy and leadership on pluralistic, demand-driven rural advisory services within the global development agenda that promote sustainable rural growth and help the poor. This will contribute to the ultimate goal of reducing hunger and poverty worldwide.  GFRAS has three functions:

• Providing a voice within global policy dialogues and promoting improved investment in RAS
• Supporting the development and synthesis of evidence based approaches and policies for improving the effectiveness of RAS
• Strengthening actors and for a in RAS through facilitating interaction and networking

YPARD, the Young Professional’s Platform for Agricultural Research for Development, has a mission to serve as a global platform through which young professionals (under 40) can express their ideas and realize their full potential towards dynamic agricultural research for development. YPARD is a movement of young professionals. It creates spaces for deliberation and interaction.  At the heart of YPARD as a movement are its members, who are encouraged to become active in their area, spread the news about YPARD to other young professionals, encourage a stronger voice of youth in their own organizations and share their views and ideas with other young professionals in the network. 

In order to realize its vision, YPARD has the following strategic objectives,

• To facilitate exchange of information and knowledge among young professionals across disciplines, professions, age and regions.
• To broaden opportunities for young professionals to contribute to strategic ARD policy debates.
• To promote agriculture among young people.
• To facilitate access to resource and capacity building opportunities.

 Source: YPARD