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Diseases Wreak Havoc in Cassava Fields in Africa

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NAIROBI, KENYA – In Africa, demand for the cassava plant has grown significantly over the years. The continent produces 60 percent of the crop in the world. But the crop is drastically declining in East and Central Africa due to diseases that reduce production.

More than 160 million people in east, central and southern Africa depend on cassava as a stable food and a source of income.

Production of the crop has significantly dropped due to the cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak diseases.

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], the brown streak disease is worse since it affects the root of the crop. These two diseases are creating havoc in Africas agricultural lands.

Improvements necessary

The acting head of the FAO in eastern and central Africa, Luca Alinovi, said the agency has invested to improve the situation in the African fields, but it is not getting better.

Doing right or wrong on cassava has a huge impact on the food security of the people in this region, has such a relevance in our daily lives that we tend to forget it because it appeared in a kind of technical discussion. And I want to bring to your attention that, although it is a technical issue it requires knowledge and requires research, said Alinovi.

The head of the European Union Rural Development and Agriculture program in Kenya, Dominique Davoux, said that over the years the cassava diseases have evolved, and there is need to invest in research to fight the diseases.

We supported the cassava initially, there has been [a] stop in the support, the research slugged [lagged] behind, and the disease reinvented itself [and] propagated again. We have to re-address the issue, said Davoux.

The FAO says a minimum of $100 million is needed to support clean farm production, disease surveillance and research, and market and micro-finance development across the cassava production chain.

Experts warn failure to do so means the cassava disease likely will reach Nigeria, the biggest producer of cassava in Africa.

Start Your Own Mole Catching Business

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Few creatures can cause more frustration than the humble mole. Rarely seen yet making it’s presence all too well known, people will go to great lengths to get rid of this pest. There are so many means of control available, just look around the garden centres. Many of these techniques are either ineffective or simply persuade the mole to move into the garden next door.
There is only one effective solution to troublesome moles; that is to simply remove them. In agriculture the use of strychnine is no longer permitted, the use of phoshphine gas tablets is allowed but is of questionable effectiveness as it is dependant on ground conditions and extensivity of the mole’s tunnel network.

Removing the moles by trapping is a sure way of reducing their numbers. You can see exactly how many you have caught, whether it be one or two in a small garden or hundreds on large areas of badly infested farmland. It may be labour intensive but it does produce results and removes this pest from places where they cannot be tolerated.

Trapping moles requires the knowledge of how it should be done, the right tools and equipment and the perseverance to beat this sometimes resilient pest.

Many gardeners have a go at catching a mole, but so often they are unsuccessful. This can be due to the poor design and quality of the traps they use, not knowing where to set the traps and not knowing how to set the traps properly. Mastering these skills is all it takes to become successful. Trying repeatedly using the same traps and unrefined techniques will only lead to a slow improvement in success.

The ebook Mole Catching Guide – The Guide to Successful Trapping, spells out everything you need to know about catching moles easily. It tells you about the different traps and what makes a particular trap better than others. How to set the traps, where to set them, what to look for when looking at molehills – they are more than just mounds.

Not only does it tell you how to catch moles but also how to set about making a small business out of it. Using your newly aquired skills to go out and trap moles for money. How and where to advertise, who to target, and even how much to charge. The set up costs for getting started are low. A few hand tools is all you will need and as many traps as you think you might need, they are only a few pounds each.

Career In Agriculture And Forestry

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India is a land, which is famous for its food and the agricultural services provided to the whole world. The farm lands of India not only serve the people of India, but people from different parts of the world, are dependent on the food from India. There are many food items, which are abundant in India, and the quality is also matchless, due to which it is exported outside the country also. The food production in India is in the blood of almost every man of India and to make the urban students aware of this; many colleges in India have started courses in agriculture and forestry. All the villagers and the rural people of the country, has agriculture and farming as the main sources of income, and taking education in these fields, further add to the ways and the sources by which they can add to their financial status.

The technological advances in todays scientific world have a major role to play in the agricultural developments in the country. The students these days are getting more attracted towards nature and the forces behind it. They have this certain aim to give an edge to the food production practises by adding to their growth. The quality and the quantity of the food production both can be affected by the use of advanced technologies in the fields of agriculture and forestry. People in the rural world are aware of the factors contributing towards the growth of the food and other agricultural products. All these practises and knowledge has been getting transferred from ages, but to know the latest developments, which can add on the growth of the agricultural products, one needs to educate himself, in the courses of agriculture and forestry provided in the colleges of India.

There are many colleges in India, which provide agricultural and forestry colleges in India. Few of the Colleges for agriculture and forestry in India, are :

College of Agriculture, Hissar

Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal

Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar

North-Eastern Hill University School of Agricultural Science and Rural Development, Nagaland

Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi

College of Agriculture, Ludhiana

Forestry Research Institute, Dehradun

JawaharlaNehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur

College of Agricultural and Regional Research Station, Karnatak

Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad

Tamilnadu Agricultural University , Coimbatore

HN Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar

National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata

Not only the people living in the rural India, but people from the urban areas are also seen taking interest in the courses in agriculture and forestry. Increasing awareness about the environment protection and the benefits of scientific developments in the agricultural field has made the students take more interest in such courses. For taking admission in these courses, a student needs to have science background in his senior secondary examinations. Agricultural and forestry colleges in India are present in almost every part of the world, to provide easy access to the students for the course of their choice. The admission criteria of the colleges in India differ according to the standards and the availability of seats for the particular course.

The different variety of seeds and the agricultural practices taught in the colleges of India, certainly adds to the growth of the agricultural sector in the country. India is a country, which is largely dependent in the agricultural and the farming industry for its finances. A large number of people of India are employed in this sector and development in this sector, will surely lead to a recognisable growth in the overall economic growth. So, courses in the agricultural and the forestry subjects will help in the countrys growth and development.

e-Services – Governance -Part 6

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Elets – A platform for disseminating creative ideas on ICT

Elets Technomedia is a technology media and research company that focuses on ICT in government, education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development sectors. Our mandate is to provide effective information on latest development in different ICT tools, techniques and their applications across our verticals through premier print publications, online portals and premier events, seminars, conferences and summits. Elets has created a name for itself as a technology media and research vendor of choice.

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To strengthen and facilitate knowledge sharing platforms engaging with partners across the globe through International conferences to provide cross-cultural grounding to stakeholders and participants To provide stakeholders with a platform to share models of best practice, knowledge and experience on a range of issues in the domain of ICT in Governance, Education, Health, security, Urban and Rural Development To mobilise the communities towards creating a digitally informed knowledge society based on shared understanding

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Elets provides an unmatched versatility for working with multiple partners and consultants to mutually share knowledge. With a vision to provide effective information on latest development in different ICT tools, techniques and their applications across various verticals with focused reference to governance, education and health, we

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Agriculture High School More Than Plows And Sows

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An agriculture high school involves far-reaching and high-technology studies. In fact, much of what we eat, wear and use as medicine are products of agriculture. Plant and animal biotechnology have become critical industries throughout the U.S. and abroad. Agricultural programs help students develop the necessary skills to excel in these careers.

Agricultural programs have evolved into more scientific curriculum. As the demand for crops and livestock grows, farmers and agricultural science workers will need to fill these complex positions. But, where will these workers come from and how will they be trained?

The answer lies in agriculture high school that are addressing this need and preparing students for careers in farming related fields. Their goal is to develop students with an understanding and appreciation for the many opportunities available in agriculture.

Whats the Purpose of Agricultural Education?

An agricultural education should be designed to support careers and build awareness for food, fiber and natural resource systems. This goal is especially important given the decline of people involved in agricultural production. In addition, this goal should provide a direction for educators, especially at agriculture high schools, to develop productive programs.

Developing Educational Programs for Agriculture High Schools

Updating instructional programs presents challenges for agricultural educators. With the field continually evolving and becoming more scientific, technical and business-oriented, curriculum needs to keep pace.

Therefore, educators must work with the agricultural industry they serve to properly prepare students for careers. This connection allows the instructional program to access leading edge information currently used in the industry. In addition, strong industry knowledge and understanding enhances the job prospects of students after graduation.

Today, educational content involves a vast range of topics, including agricultural science and technology, managed ecosystems for providing food and fiber, animal welfare, agribusiness marketing, global communications, public policy handling, environmental and natural resource management, food processing, safety and nutrition, forestry, horticulture, floriculture and landscape design, construction and more.

Instructors within agriculture high schools must meet these diverse educational needs to properly prepare students for careers. And, successful teaching must extend beyond sharing information. A key ingredient to successful agriculture high schools is combining formal instruction with real life applications to make learning relevant.

While educators in agriculture high schools cannot always anticipate all the changes that will take place in the future, they can focus on what the programs should accomplish for students. The focus should remain on preparing students for successful careers.

In addition, the future of agriculture lies in developing an appreciation for improving, preserving and managing the earths natural resources. Agricultural programs must be committed to advancing students understanding, knowledge and skill set.

The Future Looks Bright for Agriculture High School Programs

The study of agriculture and its related sciences continues to gain popularity on public high school campuses. As technology drives innovation, schools are seeing a renewed interest in agriculture sciences. The growing interest challenges old industry stereotypes.

The field today has broadened to include a wide range of careers from animal science to biomedical research. And, agricultural science continues to evolve as a result of ongoing technological developments.

The opportunities in the years ahead are many as agriculture high schools attract bright young people into the profession and provide an effective curriculum for them to succeed in their chosen field.