Yap

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

December 11, 2017

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.

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 conducted two workshops on chicken farming and food processing

September 4, 2016

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

Yap CRE conducted a three-day workshop on chicken farming between August 3 and 5. Twenty-seven participants including extension agents, agriculture professionals, farmers, men and women attended the workshop. On the first day, participants learned about best practices on caring for a day-old chicks, feeding and caring of pullets, and laying hens. Additionally, Yap Small Business Development Center made a presentation and held discussions on the cost/benefit analysis of raising chickens for eggs in Yap. On the second day, hands-on training on local feed processing for laying hens was provided. The 3^rd day of the workshop was devoted to field trip in which participants were introduced to several family chicken farms, giving them firsthand information about the layout, housing designs, types of waterers and feeders, litter materials, and different ways for nesting and roosting.

The second workshop on food processing was conducted from August 16 to 18. Altogether 44 participants including extension staffs, agriculture professionals, school teachers, business owners, food processors and farmers attended this workshop. This three-day event exposed participants to method of processing breadfruit into flour, local method of preserving breadfruit through fermentation called mar, and uses of flour in several recipes. Several products made from breadfruit flour, taro flour and banana flour were on display. Information on breadfruit including propagation methods, uses and value-addition, marketing, and nutritional and health benefits were also presented.

The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) through the College of Micronesia-Land Grant Program supported these workshops.

A typical backyard chicken farm for the family; a fenced area to provide protection and space for birds to range and makeshift shelters for roosting, nesting, waterer and feeders.

Presentation on caring and feeding of pullets and layers during the workshop on chicken farming.

Locally processed food items on display during food processing workshop.

Participants tried out locally made breadfruit flour in many cooking recipes.

Yap CRE researcher bags international award

August 7, 2016

YAP FSM.

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 5^th Assessment Report on Small Islands.

Yap CRE Researcher conferred with prestigious fellowship

April 3, 2016

Pohnpei, FSM. Jim Currie, Vice President, Cooperative Research and Extension, College of Micronesia-FSM.

Dr. Muru receives a momento from Dr. Kirti Singh, Chairman, World Noni Research Foundation.

Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Cooperative Research and Extension at Yap Campus has been bestowed with the Fellowship of the International Society for Noni Science for his outstanding contributions to Noni research and science during its Annual General Body Meeting held in conjunction with the 2^nd World Noni Congress at S.R.M. University in Chennai, India on 19^th March 2016. Established in 2010, the International Society for Noni Science promotes research, education and development of Noni all over the world. It may be recalled that Dr. Muru pioneered the research and extension work on Noni in Yap since 2006. Between 2006 and 2011, using Smith-Lever Funds Dr. Muru carried out an extension project on noni wherein he successfully trained a group of Yapese farmers in noni production, processing and marketing. Under a Hatch Project, he also scientifically validated the potency of noni varieties in Yap.

certificate-260 — The certificate given to Dr Muru for his work with none.

During the 2^nd World Noni Congress Dr. Muru presented a paper on ‘Noni-based agroforestry systems as an adaptive strategy in a changing climate’ that has also been adjudged for award of best oral presentation in the technical session on Crop Management. This paper will be published in the upcoming edition of the International Journal of Noni Research.

Cover image caption: Dr. Muru receives award from Dr. Kirti Singh Chairman, World Noni Research Foundation (from L to R – Prof. P.I. Peter, Chairman, Noni Biotech, Dr. Muru, Dr. Kirti Singh, Chairman World Noni Research Foundation, Dr. P. Rethinam, Editor, International Journal of Noni Research).

Cooperative Research and Extension, COM-FSM Yap Campus participated in the 2016 Yap Day celebrations

March 13, 2016

YAP, FSM. Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist

COM-FSM Yap Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) staff and Agriculture students participated in the 48^th Annual Yap celebrations held at Makiy, between February 29 and March 1, 2016.

Yap Day is the biggest cultural celebration in Yap. This annual two-day event is accompanied with various cultural performances including traditional dances, traditional attire displays, stories, tattoo displays, stone money carrying, log pulling, cultural education activities, besides various stalls displaying a variety of traditional handicrafts and food items.

Yap CRE participated in the event and displayed family farming and urban gardening models, and low-cost food production systems. As it is customary, students and staff at the booth were dressed in traditional attire and promoted the importance of various local farm produce. A variety of vegetables from the CRE demonstration gardens and USDA-OAO OASDVFR Program clients were on display and sale. This includes kale, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, spinach, head cabbage, celery, bell pepper, spring onion and seedlings of eggplant, papaya, tomatoes and cucumbers. Backyard poultry farming is one of the priority areas of Yap CRE program and locally produced eggs from USDA-OAO OASDVFR Program clients’ farms were also on sale through this booth. Staff and students at the booth did their very best to give needed information to plant healthy vegetables at home and in the community.

The variety of leafy vegetables and the many growing systems on display received acclaim from many off-island visitors. 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. Please enjoy some images from the event!