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COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA

LAND GRANT PROGRAM
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Yap CRE participated in the 2015 World Food Day Celebrations

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

The Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) wing of the College of Micronesia-FSM at Yap Campus participated in the 2015 World Food Day celebrations in Colonia, Yap.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Main goal of this special day is to raise public awareness about hunger challenges and encourages people worldwide to take action in the fight against hunger. The theme of 2015 World Food Day was “Social protection and agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty,” which aimed to underline the role of social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food. Social protection is a viable alternative for stimulating agricultural production and local economic activity. It provides direct income support, with an immediate impact on food security and poverty reduction. Social protection also promotes sustainable food systems, natural resource management and resilient livelihoods.

This year, Yap Interagency Nutrition Education Council organized World Food Day celebrations in Colonia, Yap. As part of the celebrations, Yap CRE participated in the event. Under its NIFA Planned Program ‘Global Food Security and Hunger,’ Yap CRE’s projects and programs are focused on social protection and contribute directly towards the post-2015, new Sustainable Development Goal 1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere, sub goal 1.3 – Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable. During this event, Yap CRE exhibited various urban vegetable garden models and low-cost food production systems, distributed brochures, fliers and booklets on vegetable gardening and sold a range of vegetables such as Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage, Mesclun, Swiss chard, kale, Kang Kong, spinach, lettuce, tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant and okra raised in our demonstration gardens. Eggs produced locally by our Outreach Project clients were also on display and sale. CRE staff also conducted cooking demonstrations as part of outreach activities under the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Healthy dishes from local vegetables such as Kang Kong, bird nest fern, Chili pepper leaves, pumpkin tips with local seasoning like coconut oil, Ambarella leaves, basil leaves and taro starch were on display and tasting.  The event attracted many people including visitors and we are enthused by the overwhelming response shown by the local community.

More pictures of this event can be viewed at:

https://app.box.com/s/hn07xjpsrr39pd5d9ygzk2iu3p71js6z

gov-yap
Hon. Tony Ganngiyan (right), Governor of the State of Yap visits the booth.

 

A view of the CRE booth.
A view of the CRE booth.

 

Training on Climate-smart agriculture methods: Chuuk, RMI, Palau

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

Two Researchers from the College of Micronesia-FSM Cooperative Research and Extension conducted a series of training workshops on ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’ between May 3 and May 13 under the Professional Development Program of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Workshops were conducted at the College of Marshall Islands, Majuro, College of Micronesia-FSM at Chuuk Campus and at the Palau Community College. Purpose of these workshops was to educate and train extension agents, agriculture professionals and farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices. Altogether 51 participants (10 in Majuro, 14 in Chuuk and 25 in Palau) participants including extension agents, agriculture professionals, farmers and staff of various government agencies attended this workshop. The workshops were facilitated by Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai (Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Campus) and Dr. Virendra Verma (Researcher/Extension Specialist, Kosrae Campus). The training workshops covered the following six topics: i) What is smallholder farming, ii) Climate change impacts that you can expect, iii) Climate change impacts on smallholder farming, iv) Improving soil fertility and farm productivity, v) Climate-smart adaptation strategies and, vi) Climate-smart agricultural adaptation strategies. Training sessions were supported by a training manual and several online brochures/training guides. Pre-and post-evaluation results show that participants gained knowledge and awareness on the topics discussed to serve the communities in a better way.

Dr Verma presents information for the Chuuk farmers and Land Grant staff.
Dr Verma presents information for the Chuuk farmers and Land Grant staff.
Palau participants get updated on what might be necessary as the climate changes.
Palau participants get updated on what might be necessary as the climate changes.

Yap CRE participates in the World Food Day Celebrations

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

Yap Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) and College of Micronesia-FSM Yap Campus Agriculture students participated in the 2014 World Food Day celebrations in Yap.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The 2014 World Food Day theme – Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” – has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas. The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security.

This year, Yap State observed the World Food Day along with 2014 International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 17, at Colonia Community Center. The event was organized by the International Organization for Migration, Yap Office in association with Yap Interagency Nutrition Education Council.

Yap CRE is an active promoter of integrated family farming for food and nutrition security. Family farming is a way of life with a future and is the best way to ensure islands’ food security. It guarantees food in a sustainable manner while taking care of islands’ environment and respecting traditions and cultures.

As part of the celebrations, Yap CRE participated in the event and exhibited various urban farm models and low-cost food production systems, displayed posters on chicken farming and distributed brochures and pamphlets on family farming and safe food handling procedures, raising awareness of the issues behind successful family farming and their role in ensuring food security. Some of our vertical urban garden models attracted special attention of the public. Ag students exhibited and sold a range of fresh garden produce and plants grown as part of their course work.

Mr. Santiago, ECE Program Coordinator (front) with Dr. Martin Bell, Yap Memorial Hospital (back) discusses the importance of urban garden systems.
Mr. Santiago, ECE Program Coordinator (front) with Dr. Martin Bell, Yap Memorial Hospital (back) discusses the importance of urban garden systems.
Ag Students, as volunteers in the CRE booth.
Ag Students, as volunteers in the CRE booth.
A view of the CRE booth.
A view of the CRE booth.
Another view of the CRE booth.
Another view of the CRE booth.
Rainbow Chard in wooden grower.
Rainbow Chard in wooden grower.
A third view of CRE booth – Vertical pallet grower at the foreground.
A third view of CRE booth – Vertical pallet grower at the foreground.
Ms. Stacey Gurlee, Ag student/Works study intern and a successful beginning farmer, displaying some of her farm produce.
Ms. Stacey Gurlee, Ag student/Works study intern and a successful beginning farmer, displaying some of her farm produce.
Micronesia Red Cross Yap Chapter Volunteers (in red tees) asking the specifics of vertical pallet grower from George Chuwmai.
Micronesia Red Cross Yap Chapter Volunteers (in red tees) asking the specifics of vertical pallet grower from George Chuwmai.
Dr. David Mustra (left) and Ms. Denitha Palemar (center), Yap Memorial Hospital and Ms. Lourdes Roboman, COM-FSM Yap Campus Dean (right), visiting the CRE booth.
Dr. David Mustra (left) and Ms. Denitha Palemar (center), Yap Memorial Hospital and Ms. Lourdes Roboman, COM-FSM Yap Campus Dean (right), visiting the CRE booth.

Training on urban vegetable gardening methods

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station

Densely populated urban settlements in places like Pohnpei, Majuro and Kwajalein resulting from constant flow of people from rural outer islands result in extensive youth unemployment and associated social problems. Population density of this magnitude, when associated with overcrowding, lack of enough space or quality soil for field-based cultivation often entails health and social challenges of varying severity. The influx and consumption of less nutritious imported food have induced prevalent health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, gout and a high incidence of malnutrition among children.

Urban agriculture is a method of transforming underutilized or neglected space into a resource providing opportunities for social interaction, greater community cohesion and self-sufficiency, and engagement of people in underserved neighborhoods. It connects people to opportunity so that they move from stagnant, difficult conditions to vibrant and productive lifestyles. It offers a pathway out of poverty. It has low start-up costs, short production cycles, and high yields per unit of time and unit of area and water. Value of leafy green vegetables to combat nutrient deficiency is irreplaceable and irrefutable. The urban agriculture has also potential for primary or supplemental income.

With this in mind, a multi-site extension program has begun to establish urban vegetable demonstration gardens in Pohnpei and Majuro for education and training. As part of this, a three-day training workshop on urban vegetable gardening was recently completed at Yap CRE. Extension staff from the College of Marshall Islands Land Grant Program, Pohnpei CES, Yap CRE and Yap SDA School attended this training workshop. The objectives of this training program were to:  i) illustrate soil profile and their significance in urban gardening, ii) describe the important steps in urban vegetable gardening, and iii) provide hands-on training on urban garden designs and construction of various growers suitable for urban gardening. Following a specially designed extension program based on lecture cum hands-on activities and supported by various extension publications, participants were engaged in topics such as soil characteristics, quick composting methods, growing media preparation, urban garden designs, construction of various types of plant growers, nutrient management, etc. As part of the training, participants built some unique vertical growers and filled with locally prepared media and transplanted some seedlings. Observations, discussions and pre- and post-tests were conducted to evaluate this training activity.

Compost preparation.
Compost preparation.
Participants displaying the ‘green and brown alternative’ compost pile.
Participants displaying the ‘green and brown alternative’ compost pile.
Seedlings in polybags.
Seedlings in polybags.
Vertical planter from repurposed pallets.
Vertical planter from repurposed pallets.
Pots made out of reused plastic bottles.
Pots made out of reused plastic bottles.

Backyard chicken farming in Yap

COLONIA, YAP, FSM.  Steven Young-Uhk, CRE Coordinator, Yap Cooperative Research and Extension.

There is a growing trend in Yap for backyard chicken farming. More and more households in Yap are doing backyard poultry farming using imported breeds and combination of local feed materials and commercial feed to produce eggs for consumption and selling the surplus for extra income. Through one-on-one intervention and farm visits, Yap CES has been providing technical assistance and advice on a wide range of poultry topics including type of breeds, importation and quarantine requirements, brooding and caring for chicks, feeding, watering, and general health care.

A recent extension survey on backyard chicken farmers in Yap revealed that these households are raising from 4 to 21 chickens per family (average of 11 chickens) and producing 3-19 eggs per day. Some families sell their eggs at a price range of $3.75 to $4.25 per dozen and/or $0.40 to 0.50 per fresh or boiled egg. The chicken coop designs are simple using a variety of low-cost materials such as bamboo, wire, or plastic fencing, thatch or old roofing tin for the roof, and dry litter materials for the flooring.

Raising chickens in the backyard offer many advantages to the households. This include: i) Hens will provide the family a steady supply of fresh healthy eggs, considerably healthier than their store bought counterparts, ii) Surplus eggs may be sold for extra family income, iii) Children can learn a lot from raising chickens and many people keep chickens as pets. Additionally chicken manure and bedding materials are good for the family garden.

A type of simple housing for the chickens.
A type of simple housing for the chickens.
Imported breed of chickens that families in Yap are raising for eggs.
Imported breed of chickens that families in Yap are raising for eggs.
Collecting fresh eggs for the family.
Collecting fresh eggs for the family.