logo-removebg-preview.png

COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA

LAND GRANT PROGRAM
Contact us: (691) 3202462/2728
P.O Box 1179 Kolonia,Pohnpei FM 96941
  • COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA LAND GRANT PROGRAM

Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

Our scientists work on projects that directly impact the people of Yap. ....

World Soil Day 2017 – Educating youth about soils and stewardship beneath food “footprints”

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Cooperative Research and Extension.

The central theme “Caring for the Planet starts from the Ground,” echoed on December 5, as Yap CRE celebrated World Soil Day 2017 with activities to communicate the messages on the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being.

Soils not only produce 95% of the foods we consume, they also have a huge potential for taking carbon from the atmosphere and offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions. Keeping the soil healthy can bring a multitude of gains, from food security to sustainable livelihoods and climate benefits. For all these reasons, it’s high time we celebrate World Soil Day to impart knowledge about soil and the opportunities under our feet.

Lecture on Yap soil properties.

To mark the World Soil Day 2017, Yap CRE conducted soil awareness and training program for about 76 youth from Yap High School. The purpose of involving young people this year was twofold. Firstly, increasing the participation of youth in agriculture is an important means of improving food security, youth livelihoods and employment. Secondly, high rates of migration, high levels of youth unemployment and increasing dependence of imported food prompts to encourage youth participation in agriculture activities as emphasized in Pacific youth in agriculture strategy. Educating youth about soil and its role in supporting life on this planet Earth is crucial.

About 76 young people participated in 3-days training program that involved lectures on soil properties, soil profile, soil organic matter, soil classification and soil management strategies for sustainable agriculture. Field activities involved studies about soil profile and soil organic matter and types and properties of soils prevalent in the region. In addition, World Soil Day 2017 message was also spread to youth and others.

Youth pose for photo after studying soil profile.

Yap CRE’s climate smart food production systems feature in 2017 annual Yap Day celebrations

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Cooperative Research and Extension.

Yap celebrated its 49th Annual Yap Day from March 1-3, 2017. Yap Day is undoubtedly the most important celebration to acquaint everyone with the Yapese cultural milieu. It is a time of for endless enjoyments: learning about Yapese culture, history, society, and heritage on the ‘island of stone money,’ savoring local food, and acquiring traditional craft souvenirs. The most prevalent form of celebration during the Yap Day Festival is dance. This is also an occasion to highlight education activities and local development programs.

As part of its ongoing research, outreach and extension education, Yap CRE showcased various climate smart food production systems and low-cost urban garden models to impart knowledge about the importance of nutritious vegetables. This was a booth about food and nutrition security, explicitly addressing climate resilient development through adaptation efforts at the community level that reduce vulnerability by securing nutrition under a changing climate. A variety of nutritious fruit and leafy vegetables from CRE demonstration gardens and program clients, including USAID’s Pacific-American Climate Fund project on Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Resilience beneficiaries, were on display and sale. One of the vertical urban garden models – a salad wall – attracted special attention from visitors.

This collective effort of CRE staff, agriculture interns, work-study students, and CAAR project beneficiaries received wide acclaim from visiting dignitaries including the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, U.S. Ambassador, Japanese Ambassador, delegation from the Republic of Palau, and other officials, who were delighted to see a rich display of vegetables. Our booth on climate-smart food production systems was a novelty during this year’s Yap Day.

Views of Yap CRE booth displaying a spectrum of nutritious vegetables and various production methods.
Another view of booth.

 

Yap CRE staff and students taking a stock of vegetables and attending customers.

 

USAID-PACAM Climate Adaptive Agriculture Resilience Project’s beneficiaries displaying fresh home garden produce.

 

Salad wall: A vertical grower made out of re-purposed pallets to grow nutritious salad vegetables.

Yap CRE celebrated World Soil Day 2016

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Cooperative Research and Extension.

Soil and land degradation is not only a physical or biochemical issue but also linked to socio-economic aspects. Poor and displaced atoll communities in Yap are the most affected by soil and land degradation as they are the ones usually occupying degraded land. Thus, achieving food security and eradicating extreme poverty requires dealing with the complexity of land degradation. Through USAID funded ‘Climate Adaptive Agriculture Resilience Project’, we empower and provide outreach, technical assistance and extension education to displaced atoll communities in volcanic soil management practices to effectively grow a variety of crops in degraded landscapes in Yap.

To commemorate and in support of World Soil Day 2016 (http://www.comfsm.fm/myShark/news/item=1681/mod=09:23:02), Yap CRE conducted two workshops on soil conservation using agroforestry practices. The objectives of these workshops were to impart the knowledge and importance of soils to the humanity and their relationship to sustainable development and food security. Over 50 community members including participants of USAID Project from community settlements in Ruu and Makiy attended this event. Using posters, hands on displays and PowerPoint presentations we educated communities the importance of soils from multiple perspectives. Later, community members from all age groups participated in a tree planting drive across the Makiy settlement (http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/world-soil-day/wsd2016/events/en/).

First 3 winners, last photo, who planted highest number of saplings in one day received gifts of food baskets containing local produce.

And the competition winners are: (from left to right) – Begonia Lemairam, Williana Ilemangshiy and Rose Latachibemang. Bravo!

 

Yap CRE participated in the World Food Day 2016 celebrations

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Cooperative Research and Extension.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization. This year, World Food Day was exceptionally celebrated on 14 October. The theme of this year’s World Food Day was “Climate is changing. Food and Agriculture must too.”  Photos of this great event are below!

One of the biggest issues related to climate change is food security. Population in the small island developing states are being hit hardest by higher temperatures and in weather-related disasters. These disasters are intensified by climate change and are increasing in frequency and intensity. Without concerted action to build resilience, many of the poorest and most vulnerable island inhabitants will struggle to generate enough food and income to feed themselves and their families.

The Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) wing of the College of Micronesia-FSM, Yap Campus participated in the World Food Day 2016 activities with usual fervor. This year, Yap observed World Food Day along with the International Day for Disaster Reduction at Yap’s Living History Museum premises. Besides Yap CRE, Yap Interagency Nutrition Education Council (YINEC), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Waab Community Health Program attended this event. Yap State organizing committee for Food Security and Catering for the upcoming 2018 Micronesian Games also participated in the event by displaying and testing out samples of healthy menus for public comments and feedback.

As part of the celebrations, Yap CRE exhibited various vegetable cultivation models and climate-smart, low-cost food production systems. The highlight of this year’s event was the involvement of participants from USAID funded Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Resilience Project. Participants displayed and sold various farm produce grown in their home gardens as part of this project.

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) of Yap CRE displayed various value added products made from local produce such as mango jelly, pumpkin jam, native orange jelly, hibiscus jelly, breadfruit flour, breadfruit chips and banana chips. Loaves of bread, pastries and cookies made from breadfruit flour attracted special attention of the public.

Photos of World Food Day on Yap! 
View of CRE Booth. Fresh veggies attracted the attention of public.
 photo-2-350 photo-3-350
 More, fresh veggies attracted the attention of public. Some of the participants of USAID Project – Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Resilience.
 photo-4-350  photo-5-350
Participants of USAID Project displayed and sold various small farm produce besides vegetables. Loaves of bread made out of breadfruit flour.
 photo-6-350 photo-7-350
 More, loaves of bread made out of breadfruit flour.  Pastries and cookies made out of breadfruit flour.
 photo-8-350  photo-9-350
Healthy lunch plates prepared by Food Security and Catering Committee for the 2018 Micronesian Games.  More healthy lunch plates.
 photo-10-350  photo-11-350
More healthy lunch plates.  More healthy lunch plates.
 photo-12-350 photo-13-350
More healthy lunch plates. Healthy lunch plates from YINEC.
 photo-14-350 photo-15-360

 

 

Yap CRE researcher bags international award

YAP FSM.

Dr Muru with his award.
Dr Muru with his award.

Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist from the Cooperative Research and Extension, College of Micronesia-FSM Yap Campus won one of the two top prizes for Best Papers Awards during the two-day Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region held on July 27-28 at Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka, Fiji. This symposium was organized by the University of Fiji in collaboration with the Research and Transfer Centre “Applications of Life Sciences” of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and the International Climate Change Information Program (ICCIP). It focused on “fostering resilience and the regional capacity to adapt” showcasing experiences from research, field projects and best practices in climate change adaptation among countries in the region and that could be replicated elsewhere. The event was held in conjunction with USAID Pacific American Climate Fund Midterm Regional Workshop on Grant Implementation Challenges, Achievements and Best Practices. The College of Micronesia-FSM Yap CRE is one of the grantees, and through their USAID funded Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Resilience project is working to make displaced atoll communities more resilient and able to respond to crises magnified by the changing climate.

Dr. Muru’s paper on “Climate-friendly adaptation strategies for the displaced atoll population in Yap” won the second prize in the Best Papers Award category. The paper will be published in the upcoming book on “Climate Change Adaptation in Pacific Countries: Fostering Resilience and Maintaining Life Quality” as part of the award-winning book series ‘Climate Change Management’ published by Springer http://www.springer.com/series/8740.

Caption for front picture:
Dr. Muru receives award from Dr. Arthur Webb, Coastal Zone Scientist at University of Wollongong’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, and one of the Lead Authors of IPCC’s 5th Assessment Report on Small Islands.