Sarvesh photography
1st Edition
UoM Agricultural Society Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius May 2013
Designed by Zainal Kareemun
The Agriculturist
Table of Contents
Editorial Team
Page 3 - Editorial message Page 4 – Message of the President of Agricultural Society
Mr. Lobin Keshwar
Page 5 – The UoM Agricultural Society Page 6 – Message of the President of Students’ Union Page 7 – Message of the Faculty Representative
Miss. Huda Nazeer Miss. Anusha Seechurn
Page 8 – Retired Senior Technical Assistant
Mr. Indradev Ramsurn
Page 9 – CAADP Page 11 – Full planet, Empty plates
Miss Veshali Barah
Page 12 – Event: Ile aux Benitiers
Miss Zama Mohamed
Page 13 – An insight of agriculture Page 14 – Event: Visit to JNH, Rose Belle Page 15 – Student experience in agriculture Page 16 – Event: Agricultural Fair Page 17 – Pesticides & bees
CONTRIBUTORS
Page 19 – Event: Anou Bouzer Page 20 – About GM foods
Mr. Drupnarainsing
Page 21 – Event: Contribution at PAWS
Dabeedial
Page 22 – Poem & Anecdote
Technical assistant
Page 23 – The University Farm
Mr. Shane Hardowar
Page 25 – Editorial Team message
Lecturer, Faculty of Agriculture
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Editorial Message The Agricultural Society is launching its first ever Newsletter and we promise to bring you a bunch of tasty information and bits of eye-catching snaps! This new achievement has come forward because we wanted to give you a clearer view and understanding of our aims and successes. Till date, we have numerous activities added up to our
accomplishment
board,
which
are
of
educational, recreational and charity-oriented nature. The AS invites you to thoroughly rummage our newsletter. We want you to be part of it! We all know that agriculture has been, long ago, in the hands of uneducated people and was thus considered mediocre. Today, this is changing and we shall contribute to giving this sector a whole new meaning. Innovation whilst enjoying as much! So, go ahead and have a pleasurable perusal! This one’s going to be fruitful, joyful, and if you have ever been a participant, it might bring about nostalgia!
More to come! The Editing Team
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 2012/ 13 ZAINAL KAREEMUN Dear friends, The UoM Agricultural Society 2012/13 has the pleasure to launch a first ever e-newsletter; The Agriculturist. It is indeed with great pleasure and honour for me to convey my message and associate myself with such a praiseworthy effort. The Agriculturist is to emphasize the importance of the agricultural sector and to arm you with the activities that the UoM Agricultural Society has previously organised. In light with the importance of Agriculture in our everyday lives and its contribution to our island, which many youngsters do not realise, the Agricultural Society has in the past years organised and participated in activities like the World Food Day, Clean-up Campaigns, World Environment Day, World Water Day, Agricultural Fair, Career-Oriented Job Fairs, to mention a few. I strongly believe that kNOw Agriculture kNOw Life. Therefore, as the President of this Society, I will definitely make sure that the importance of agriculture is promoted and youngsters’ perception towards this sector is changed on the University Campus. Big applause to the Editing Team behind this first ever newsletter of the Society. This masterpiece verily reflects their hard work and dedication. I hope that ‘The Agriculturist’ becomes a regular feature entrenched in the UoM Agricultural Society. I seize this opportunity to wish you all a prolific journey among the Family of the University of Mauritius and all the best in your endeavours. Best wishes, Zainal Kareemun President, UoM Agricultural Society 2012/13 Faculty of Agriculture
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INTRODUCTION & HISTORY OF UoM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY The UoM Agricultural Society is a dynamic group lead by the students from the Faculty of Agriculture. The team’s aim is to work together and promote agriculture on the Faculty and Campus level. The Society is a platform for our students to express themselves and get the opportunity to participate in many activities. The main theme of the Society is Agriculture and it’s reflected in the logo, that is;
The production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi,
The raising of domesticated animals.
Every year a career oriented job fair is organised with the aim of creating links between the companies affiliated to the agricultural sector and our students. Also other events like the Street Soccer, Outings, Domino competitions are organized for the leisure of our students.
The Society participated in events like the World Food Day and World Environment Day on the national level where various activities as quiz, sketch and charitable lunch were organized. With the launching of the first edition of this Newsletter we are aiming at targeting and creating awareness among youngsters about the importance of agriculture in the development of our country towards self-sufficiency. Being the adults of tomorrow we are willing to bring our small but valuable contribution for the next generations.
Some Executive members of Agricultural Society
MESSSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT STUDENTS’ UNION 2012/13 Dear readers, It is with great pleasure to address to you today through the Agricultural Society Newsletter May 2013, which is a very promising way for the students' organising body to address its community and through which UoM Students would have awareness of the current activities of the Society.
On behalf of the university, the Students’ Union is proud of the Agricultural Society, for which it has been able to conduct extracurricular activities holding up to its title and image - such were the Agricultural Fair, a day at PAWS and other benevolent activities, creating the perfect platform for members and students to acquire enriching skills and developing a sense of the responsibility. The publication of this newsletter is the very indication of the stepping activeness of the Society over the past few semesters, on campus and off campus as well. It is very encouraging to mention that the participation and involvement of students of FOA into the Society's event have being on a positive gradient. On a honored note, the Students’ Union encourages the students of the Faculty of Agriculture to contribute to the Society and wishes the best for prosperity of the pride of the FOA – UOM Students’ Agricultural Society. Yours Sincerely, S. M. Hafeez TOOFAIL President, UOM Students’ Union 2012/ 13
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MESSAGE FROM FACULTY FOA REPRESENTATIVE Dear friends, It is a great honour for me to convey my message to you, in this first ever newsletter of the Agricultural Society. Indeed after the success of the online magazine, AS is now innovating with the launching of a newsletter. Firstly I would like to congratulate the editing team who has been working very hard to make this newsletter a reality. This newsletter is of immense importance since it emphasizes the importance and need of agriculture in the world. As far as Mauritius is concerned, agriculture is a major economic pillar of our country and many of our local people are earning their living with this sector which is indeed of great importance to Mauritius. This rhyme with the effort of the Government to make the country self sufficient in some of the local foods which we can produce. Today the country is more than 33% self sufficient in its food requirement. Though we have attained self-sufficiency in a certain number of crops, the Government is looking forward for this percentage to be increased. It has been possible due to the agricultural diversification programs which has helped us to reduce our dependency on the sugar cane industry. This will reduce to great extent our import costs and increase employment creation. We have the resources (land, labour and capital), we just need someone to move forward to make the first step. We have company like Medine ltd which is producing vegetables at large scales, it would have been much better if we have more like them in the country. I hope the message has been passed guys. We can do it. The future is in our hands. I definitely feel honored to associate myself with such a praiseworthy effort of you guys. Seeing this Faculty as our little Family and keeping this tie all the way along the journey gives me courage. Again I wish to congratulate the AS team for the great job they have been doing till now. I assure you that you will get my full support wherever needed guys. Best wishes, CHOCALINGUM Murugen Faculty Students’ Representative
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Retired Senior Technical Assistant
full responsibility and satisfaction by academics and his colleagues. He has always considered himself to be an instrument to the University. He acquired lots of experience and learnt a lot while working at the University. Apart from practical classes, he also worked on research projects and in the training of technicians at the Faculty.
Mr. Drupnarainsing Dabeedial,
Moreover, Mr. Ashok was always good at heart. He was always welcoming queries from students, academics and other colleagues and was available to them for any help. He guided and helped students in their research projects, be it; BSc. or MSc. degrees. He considered students to be the “most needed persons” than staff because without students, there would not be the need for the existence of the University and himself. This is why, students used to consult Mr. Ashok first whenever they had any problem.
Also known as Ashok, he is one of the oldest technical assistant at the Faculty of Agriculture. He retired in November 2012 as Senior Technical Assistant, at the age of 62 leaving behind him 40 years of enriching experience. Mr. Ashok joined the University of Mauritius on the 8th January 1973 as technical assistant. He was permanently appointed in June 1974 and then the Faculty of Agriculture was known as the School of Agriculture, and things were different.
Over his 40 years at the Faculty, Mr. Ashok invented a mouse / rat catching system using biological products available locally; he also invented the Stomoxys (stable fly) trap and hard worker as he is, even retired, he is still working on projects related to the entomology on his own.
During his years spent at the Faculty, Mr. Ashok was always keen to work under the responsibility of academicians like Dr. Mohan Madunsing Galowalia, Dr. David Charles West and Prof. Sunita Facknath. He was well appreciated for doing his job with
Message of Mr. Ashok to the Agricultural Society “I was very happy when I learnt that students of the Agricultural Society have launched a newsletter. I had always been wishing for the existence of such a society. I wish all the members good luck in their endeavors and hope they will always keep it moving ahead even after they leave the University.”
Message of Mr. Ashok to readers “Research is not something extraordinary. There exists different ways to conduct researches, but the best research is through OBSERVATION!”
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Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) in Mauritius
Mr. Shane Hardowar Node Coordinator of the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), (The Node Hosting Institution in Mauritius is the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius.)
1. Introduction process
to
the
CAADP will bring agriculture back to the centre
CAADP
stage of economic Development and allow the agricultural sector to contribute to food, nutrition
Since 2000, agriculture has been recognized as
and income security.
the mainstay and key driver of economic growth, food and nutritional security and
The framework works on 4 main pillars:
poverty alleviation in Africa. In ratifying the Maputo Declaration of 2003, African Heads of
Pillar1: Land and Water Management
State and Government committed to effecting
Pillar2: Rural infrastructure and trade
policy changes that will improve agricultural
(market access)
and rural development in Africa in the bid to
Pillar3: Food Security
meet Millennium Development
Pillar4: Agricultural Research and Extension
Goal 1 which seeks to halve poverty by 2015,
Although the New Partnership for Africa’s
increase food security and eradicate hunger.
Development
These
Governments’
implementation has accelerated over the past
commitment in the allocation of at least 10
few years, to date only 30 out of 54 countries on
percent of national budgetary resources for
the continent have signed their National CAADP
agriculture and rural development.
Compacts. The countries with signed CAADP
included
African
(NEPAD)
CAADP
compacts are at different stages of implementing
The main objective of the Comprehensive
the CAADP process, ranging from agreeing on
Africa Agricultural Development
priority
investment
areas,
designing
Programme (CAADP) is to assist African
comprehensive
countries reach a higher path of economic
discussing with development partners and
growth through agriculture-led development and
investors, as well as designing implementation
attainment of at least 6% annual sectoral growth.
plans for rolling out the investment plans.
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bankable
investment
plans,
during the months of February to April on the CAADP issue with the involvement of the
2. CAADP in Mauritius
Youths, NGOs, Researchers, Non–State actors
Mauritius is among the few African countries
and the Government. Women association also
which have not yet signed the CAADP compact
will be included among the stakeholders.
but is in the process of preparing for the launch
Executive Members of the Agricultural Society
of CAADP and signing of the compact. The
Club of the University were recently invited to a
CAADP buy-in process started in 2010 and a
Sensitization Campaign on the CAADP which
focal
was held on Monday, 18th February 2013 at the
person
Dhaneshwar
was Dumur,
appointed
namely
Technical
Dr
Adviser,
Faculty of Agriculture.
Ministry of Agro-industry and Food Security.
A key principle of the CAADP agenda is to
In order for Mauritius to move fast with this
ensure
process it has to benchmark with countries
includes Non-State Actors (NSA) such as Civil
which are at advanced stages in the CAADP
Society Organizations (CSOs), farmer and
process for instance Tanzania, Malawi and
producer
Rwanda.
parliamentarians, the private sector and the
multi-stakeholder
participation;
organizations,
this
researchers,
media. The FANRPAN local Node will be Two CAADP experts from COMESA, namely
expected to assist with organizing Multi
Dr Sam Kanyarukiga and Dr Nalishebo Meebelo
Stakeholder Roundtables and give its full
were in Mauritius recently and delivered a
support to the CAADP team once CAADP is
presentation on CAADP to key stakeholders in
implemented.
th
Mauritius on the 13 March 2013. According to the experts, Mauritius will be ready to launch the CAADP in April 2013 and the compact could be signed this year itself by the Government, Representatives of Farmers, Regional Economic Communities, Private Sector, Development Partners and Civil Society Organisations and Non-State Actors. 3. CAADP sensitization and activities Agricultural Society at CAADP campaign Sensitization Campaigns which started in 2012 will be ongoing at the Faculty of Agriculture
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Full planet, empty plates - The new geopolitics of food security "World agriculture is now facing challenges unlike anything before," writes Lester Brown. World food prices have more than doubled. Lester.R. Brown brings the threat of famine and social unrest starkly up-to-date. Brown exposes the business as usual approach to global food production, under which flat-line production is failing to keep up with steeply rising demand. Soil, water and amenable temperature are key to plant growth but erosion, emptying aquifers, drying rivers, erratic or failed rains and rising temperatures clearly prejudice the sustaining of yields, let alone increases. As established in global granaries, yields have suffered from drought and there appear to be no corrective strategies beyond restriction of exports and acquisition of land overseas to meet domestic needs. The land bought or leased is almost invariably in countries already struggling to achieve food security, themselves dependent on food aid. Demand for grain has doubled in the past decade, both to feed the 219,000 extra mouths that join the global family every day and to feed the livestock and poultry that are needed to satisfy the demand of some 3 billion consumers who are 'moving up the food chain'. In addition to the uncertainty of meeting future needs should there be a poor season in a major grain producing country or region, current availability of grain falls short of needs. Where populations already spend 50 per cent or more of income on food, further price increases can only lead to more hunger. As the end of the century began to change, we seen prices all time high, but it is not the situation that is going away, the growth and the world demand for grain has now double, the principle behind is that many people is moving up the food chain at the same time, they are consuming more of grains as livestock products. Most of the price depends on the transport, processing, and marketing. With food scarcity driven by falling water table, eroding soils, and rising temperatures, control of arable land and water resources is moving to center stage in the global struggle for food security.
Mr. Lobin Keshwar Bsc Agriculture (spp in land and water management) Year 2 Faculty of Agriculture, University Of Mauritius
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Event 1: Ile Aux Benitiers
Page 9
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AN INSIGHT OF AGRICULTURE Agriculture: a mixture of soil and living organisms. Whether be a housewife, an engineer or a farmer we all have a different perspective on agriculture. For a housewife the soil is dirt, for the engineer the soil is the basis of construction and for the farmer it is sacred for his source of living. Agriculture is divided into two main groups; the plants and the animals. The plants are those that are cultivated and this includes for example, plants for food, medicinal plants, endemic plants, decorative plants among others. Animals mainly include livestock such as cattle, pig and goat among many of them. The history of agriculture begins from the times of our ancestors. In order to survive harsh conditions and to have continued supply of food for survival, people used to stored food but it did not last long. Therefore the need arise to have persistent supply of fresh food. Hence domestication and cultivation start to see the sun. After years of evolution, this concept has not changed. In fact, new ways have been implemented to maintain the supply of food. In the contemporize world, new techniques have been devised to enable us to have abundant supply of fresh food. Examples of such techniques include biotechnology, biochemistry, aquaculture, pest and disease control and animal science and production. Each of these techniques aims to increase productivity and quality of various crop and livestock. Biotechnology for instance help in-vitro production of plant, from a single mother plant we can have millions of clones in a very short lapse of time. Pest and disease control enable to eliminate the potential treats that contribute in the reduction of quality food. Man cannot survive without the intervention of agriculture. Without the concept of green revolution, the world would have been plunge in famine. The meat, vegetable or fruit we eat do not come from the wild state but rather from someone who cultivates or rears it. If shelter and clothes were not available, mankind would have probably survived but without food (‌) Mr Vagish Ramborun BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Spp: Land and Water Management) Year 2 Faculty of Agriculture
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Event 2: Visit to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital (JNH), Rose Belle
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A Student’s Experience in Agriculture Personally, Agriculture is a world, where I learnt how to find a key to a broad future. This is the only field, where I learnt how life began, through a single green plant. Planting, hard working, perseverance and putting all my love in growing a new plant - it’s like giving birth to a new life as it began several millenniums ago by the Mother Earth. Each activities being performed in the Faculty of Agriculture, allowed me to know more about how the real world functions and a plus knowledge in the business field of Agriculture. One may not know the importance of Agriculture, but soon after acquiring and experiencing practical together with theory, one may see a bright future in this field. Landscaping is another fascinating topic related to Agriculture. I have been inculcated much information (designing, landscaping plants, native plants, exotic plants, etc) about the landscaping world and how it opens up to several business opportunities. In my course, other than Landscaping, I got the occasion to learn about several agricultural systems and applied technologies that were already present in Agriculture. Besides all these, several job prospects can be found in Agriculture. Technology works with evolution and so does Agriculture. As we say, after each dark period, there’s a ray of light; similarly, without a plant, nowadays food processing could have been a difficult task.
No Agriculture = No Food! Go Green, Long Live Agriculture.
Mohnish Seewoonarain (Yash) Bsc (Hons) Crop Technology (Spp: Landscape Management) Year 3 Faculty of Agriculture University Of Mauritius
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Event 3: Agricultural Fair
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Pesticide makes bees forget the scent for food, new study finds
Widely used pesticides have been found in new research to block a part of the brain that bees use for learning, rendering some of them unable to perform the essential task of associating scents with food. Bees exposed to two kinds of pesticide were slower to learn or completely forgot links between floral scents and nectar. These effects could make it harder for bees to forage among flowers for food, thereby threatening their survival and reducing the pollination of crops and wild plants. The findings add to existing research that neonicotinoid pesticides are contributing to the decline in bee populations. It has also been revealed that a separate government field study on the impact of the pesticides on bees was seriously compromised
by contamination because the chemicals are so widespread in the environment. The government put the field study at the heart of the UK's resistance to a Europe-wide ban on the controversial pesticides earlier this month. The UK was one of nine out of 27 member states that opposed suspending some uses of the insecticides across the EU, after environment secretary Owen Paterson said, "I have asked the EC to wait for the results of our field trials, rather than rushing to a decision". On Wednesday, his department said more field research was needed. The new findings on the effect of pesticides on bee brains showed that within 20 minutes of exposure to neonicotinoids the neurons in the major learning centre of the brain stopped firing. Christopher Connolly at the University of Dundee, who led the peer-reviewed work published in the online journal Nature
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Communications, said it was the first to show the pesticides had a direct impact on pollinator brain physiology. A parallel peer-reviewed study on the behaviour of bees subjected to the same insecticides found the bees were slower to learn or completely forgot important associations between floral scent and food rewards. "Disruption in this important function has profound implications for honeybee colony survival, because bees that cannot learn will not be able to find food," said Dr Geraldine Wright, at Newcastle University, who led the work. The scientists who carried out the separate field study for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs admitted it was "not a statistically robust study" because of the contamination issues. The trial results, which have not been peer-reviewed, showed that 20 hives of bumblebees meant to act as pesticidefree controls in the experiments were significantly contaminated owing to the widespread presence of the chemicals in the environment. Neonicotinoids are near ubiquitous in modern agriculture and earn billions a year for their manufacturers. But a series of high-profile scientific studies in the last year has increasingly linked them to harmful effects in bees. Declines in bees and other pollinators, which fertilise three-quarters of the world's food crops, have been linked to habitat loss and disease as well as pesticides. Julian Little of Bayer, which makes one of the neonicotinoids tested in the government study, said: "We welcome field studies and once again, when such studies are carried out, there does not appear to be a link between neonicotinoid seed treatment use and poor bee health."
But Professor David Goulson, at the University of Stirling, and whose study in the peerreviewed journal Science showed an 85% loss in queens produced, said: "This study had no controls and all we can really learn from it is that bumblebee nests placed on farmland, even on farms currently using no neonicotinoids, are likely to be exposed to a cocktail of these chemicals. Ministers should certainly not be basing any decisions on this." He added that while UK ministers and industry criticised studies in which the pesticide doses were controlled, the failure of the field study showed the benefits of that approach. Alongside the study, the government published its own assessment of a review in January by the European Food Safety Authority, which labelled three neonicotinoids an unacceptable danger to bees that feed on flowering crops, and was the basis of the proposed EC ban. Defra's chief scientist Ian Boyd said: "Decisions on the use of neonicotinoids must be based on sound scientific evidence. Our assessment demonstrates that while we cannot rule out the possibility of neonicotinoids affecting pollinators we cannot be clear as to the extent of their impact. I therefore support the conclusions that further data based on more realistic field trials is required." Sandra Bell of Friends of the Earth said: "Bee health is far too urgent to wait until more research has been completed – restrictions should be placed on these pesticides until bee safety can be assured." There have been previous suspensions in France, Italy, Germany and Slovenia. Source: The Guardian
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Event 4: Anou Bouzer
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The More GM Food You Eat, The Less Human You Become!
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n the past Monsanto has said that genetically modified seeds and foods are presumed to be safe. Monsanto said: “There’s no need to test the safety of DNA introduced into GM crops.” He also claimed that “there is no need for or value in testing the safety of GM foods in humans”. But this doesn’t mean they are proven safe. As a shocking new study has graphically shown, GMOs are the new thalidomide. When rats eat GM corn, they develop horrifying tumors. Seventy percent of females die prematurely, and virtually all of them suffer severe organ damage from consuming GMO. These are the scientific conclusions of the first truly "long-term" study ever conducted on GMO consumption in animals, and the findings are absolutely horrifying. Researchers have shown that Micro RNA, which is genetic information has now been found to pass from the foods, through digestion, into your blood and then to attach onto your organs. And there it modifies the functions and the expressions of these organs. This is ground breaking science. And this nullifies the safety claims of Monsanto. You’re more than only eating the proteins, carbohydrates, fibres, vitamins and minerals. You are also eating information! DNAs and RNAs are information. Maybe that’s why GMOs are causing such widespread infertility. Because the micro RNA is attaching to receptor sites of the fertility organs and altering the expression or the function of those fertility organs. So what happens when you consume plants that have been altered, artificially concocted in a
laboratory by profit driven scientists working for the most suspicious cooperation in the world? In other words, you get information that is bad information. It’s not natural information. And when you consume that, that information goes into your body and then begins to program your organs and your cells and your tissues to behave in a way that is artificial. That’s why the more GM food you eat, the less human you become. Moreover, Micro RNAs have been widely shown to modulate various critical biological processes, including differentiation, apoptosis (part of the cancer prevention process in the normal human cell metabolism), proliferation, the immune response and the maintenance of cell and tissue identity. What do you get when your cell does not remember what identity it’s supposed to express? You get a DNA mutation which results in the formation of a cancer cell that goes on to be a tumor! So GMOs are clearly an anti-human technology. They threaten the continuation of life on our planet. They are a far worse threat than terrorism, or even the threat of nuclear war. The GMO debate should be over. There is no longer any legitimate, scientific defense of growing GM crops for human consumption. The only people still clinging to the outmoded myth that "GMOs are safe" are scientific mercenaries with financial ties to Monsanto and the biotech industry.
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Event 5: Paws
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Poem Corner.. An Agricultural Anecdote Sweet Poem on Agriculture Outstanding in their field, the old joke goes Farmers are their own breed to be sure Growing boys, and girls, strong and true Raising food, caring for the land – in their blood Outstanding in their fields, doing what they love
Once upon a time in a faraway village, there lived a little boy named Liu. He was very naughty; did not
Farmers are true to one thing and one thing only
obey to anyone and kept doing mischief all day long.
Growing it better, one eye to the sky and one to ground
So, one day his father sent him to visit a monastery;
Raising hopes, raising dreamers – in their hearts
garden, the monk asked Liu to uproot some grass. He
Outstanding in their fields, eyes to those they love
where a monk took him around. On passing by a said: “that’s way too easy”, and uprooted them with only one hand. After some time, they came across a
Farm wives washed in blood, sweat and tears
shrub. Once again, the monk asked the boy to uproot
Growing it at home, in the field and in their souls
it. Liu tried with both his hands and succeeded. The
Raising it generation after generation – in their DNA.
monk kept on asking him to uproot bigger and bigger trees. He did the work with more and more effort.
Outstanding and insane, outstanding and obscure Farmers are a special breed, and so it should be. Growing it started in God’s own first garden after all!
Arriving at a gigantic tree, the monk asked him to repeat his task. The boy replied in a loud voice and said that it would be impossible. The monk told him
Rising hands deep in soil, blooded on the land Forever
that he should be able to do it. Liu tried and tried, but could not uproot the gigantic tree till he was
Six generations on this Mauritian soil, with the
discouraged. It was then that the monk told him:
seventh standing in the field with his Daddy. More
“This is how bad manners are; if you do not remove
generations past across the seas. It is in our blood, our
them at a tender age, it will be impossible to do it
DNA says “Farmer! Rancher!” and of that we are
once they have grown up and are well rooted”. From
proud. Looking at this harvest picture I think that
that day on, Liu changed for the better and never
maybe that is the way it is meant to be…for our
again did he cause trouble to anyone.
family anyway. Every generation needs at least one, and this is ours.
Mr M. Nadeem Durbarry BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Spp: Aquaculture) Year 3
Miss Urvashi D.D Sumputh BSc (Hons) Agriscience and Technology – Minor Extension Year 1 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius
Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius
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The University of Mauritius (UoM) Farm The farm of the University of Mauritius is situated near the “Centre National de Formation de Football” (CNFF) in Reduit. It spread over an area of about 21 acres. Since its establishment, the UoM farm has been providing inter alia facilities for farm practicals and research. It comprises of:
Animal Production Units (Broiler and layer chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, ducks, rabbits, quails)
Crop Museum
Plant Nursery
Greenhouses
Fruit Orchard
Laboratory and Lecture Room
Hydroponic Crop Production Systems
Endemic and Medicinal Plants Garden
Ornamental Plant Unit
Plots (hands-on practical training for students and staff project and for research purposes)
Meteorological
Station (for demonstration and research work of the students and
academicians) Moreover, the UoM Farm has the necessary equipments and assets for its operation. Farming tools, irrigation systems are available to students and academicians for practical. Also, it is equipped with a tractor, which helps in transporting fodder to the farm and for other purposes on the campus. Adding on to that, the farm is also responsible for the landscaping of the UoM campus. Services such as planting of ornamental plants throughout the campus, providing potted plants for functions at the University and regular mowing of green spaces are also entertained by the farm.
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University of Mauritius farm Album
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As Public Relations Officer of the Agricultural Society, it gives me immense pleasure to be part of this First Ever Online Edition of The Agriculturist. I sincerely hope that this first edition will be appreciated by all readers. It is intended to increase awareness and to share related articles about the agricultural sector throughout the world. Hoping to get positive feedback from readers. Long live FOA
True contentment is a thing as active as agriculture. It is the power of getting out of any situation all that there is in it. It is arduous and rare.’ We did it! Our first E-newsletter; The Agriculturist, is here. As a member of the AS, I wish to express the honor it has been to be part of it and my gratification now that we have succeeded. We have aimed to bring you righteous and virtuous information. Have a delightful moment reading it! Do give us some response. We shall be glad to hear from you.
Long live AS Long live UoM!! Cheers :) Indradev Ramsurn (PRO)
Veshali Barah (Executive member)
Thank you all for your interest in our first time ever newsletter the aim of this newsletter is to expand the knowledge and importance of agriculture among everyone. Let’s help the world to be better by being environmentally friendly and by keeping growing plants
It is indeed a great honor to be among the Newsletter Editor for the Agriculturist and it is an immense pleasure to launch this first edition for 2013. A huge thanks to all the persons who contributed writing the wonderful and inspiring articles, without which there wouldn’t have been this newsletter. Last but not least, I would like to thank all the members for their everlasting support throughout the creation of this edition. Cheers FOA….Sincerely,
God bless everyone in this world, God bless us all
Anusha Seechurn (Executive Member)
Lobin Keshwar (Executive Member)
The realization of the first ever newsletter was indeed no easy task and yet we lived each and every moment of its making by a code of faith. This, together with the hard work and dedication of a dynamic team led to a graceful result, our long awaited achievement, The Agriculturist. We sincerely thank all those who’ve contributed in any way or the other. Enjoy the read
Being part of the Agricultural society has given me a chance to build up my personality and help others. It is a wonderful experiment working in a dedicated group like the Agricultural society with many ideas fuse together to give the best one.
Zama (Event Officer)
Huda Nazeer (Executive member)
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UoM Students' Agricultural Society 2012/13 Faculty of Agriculture University of Mauritius Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UomStudentsAgriculturalSocietyAs
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