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COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA

LAND GRANT PROGRAM
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  • COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA LAND GRANT PROGRAM

climate change

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.

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.

Climate-Smart agriculture

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

There is no one size fits all solution for climate change adaptation in agriculture. Climate change impacts agriculture and food security differently all over the world. Effects vary on different crops and farming systems, therefore a wide range of adaptation options are necessary. Preserving and enhancing food security requires agricultural production systems to change in the direction of higher productivity. Lower output variability in the face of climate risk and risks of an agroecological and socioeconomic nature is also essential. In order to tackle climate change and produce more food to feed the island population, an integrated “climate-smart” approach is needed. Food security and climate change are closely linked and key opportunities exist to transform the sector towards climate-smart systems that address both. Most estimates indicate that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability and incomes in small islands. Developing climate-smart agriculture is thus crucial to achieving food security. One of our current Hatch Projects attempts to test science-based climate-smart agriculture practices that promote successful adaptation of small island agricultural systems to climate change and ensure food security.

Nutrient depleted soils need climate-smart practices.
Nutrient depleted soils need climate-smart practices.