[Youth] Blogging Competition for Youths/social media correspondent

This might be of interest to you!! 

Grab the exciting opportunity to be the official Social Media Correspondent for Asian Youth Forum co-hosted by Asian Development Bank (ADB) ADB and Plan India on 30 April to 01 May 2013 and for the Civil Society Program at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank on 02 May to 05 May 2013 in New Delhi, India.

Here’s how to join the contest:

1. Write a compelling blog post on the importance of the youth in driving development. The entry must be refreshing, inspiring, and reflective of your unique views on the topic.
2. Follow @ADBandNGOs and @Plan_India on Twitter.
3. Tweet @ADBandNGOs and @Plan_India the link to your blog entry. Use the hashtag #whyyouth
4. Fill up the registration form and send to whyyouth2013@gmail.com 
5. Rush your entries no later than 30 March 2013 (23:59hrs +8 GMT)

Click on this link for more information: http://whyyouthbloggingcompetition.wordpress.com/

Please note: That some Pacific States (see below) are member of the Asian Development Bank and this can be an opportunity for youths from these countries.

*ADB member countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, People's Republic of China, Cook Islands, Denmark, Fiji Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, India, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, the Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taipei,China, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam

Young farmer = young scientist = young entrepreneur = a bright future for Pacific organics

The title itself says it all.

Please take time out to read this very interesting article and feel free to share your thoughts.

Source: http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1135:a-bright-future-for-pacific-organics&catid=76:extension-&Itemid=30

A programme to build capacity of youth in organic agriculture commenced last week in Nukualofa Tonga. The programme is the outcome of a partnership between the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom), Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the United Nations Development Programme, OXFAM New Zealand and the Tonga National Youth Congress.

The over all objective of this project is to enhance livelihood opportunities for youth in organic agriculture through training trainers and extension providers from organic associations in sustainable organic production methods. These organisations provide ongoing mentoring and support to young farmers and link youth agricultural enterprises existing organic certification and market chains.

Dr Shane Tutua explains simple experiment to gauge relative soil organic matter content in soil from conventional and organic farms

The Pacific is facing an aging farming population, the SPC Pacific Youth in Agriculture Strategy also highlighted that Agriculture is not being seen as a viable career option for young people and is often viewed as the job for ‘drop outs’. UNDP Representative, Asif Chida pointed out in his opening remarks that this creates grave concerns for future food security in the region. He noted that farmers hold the health of our nations in their hands and we need to create interest and opportunities for youth to engage in farming as a business.

The POETCom Coordinating Officer Karen Mapusua noted: “the average age of organic farmers world wide is 5 to 8 years younger than conventional farmers – it is attractive to younger people because it addresses the concerns of young people such as climate change and environment and well as providing livelihood opportunities. Youth can feel they are more than labourers, that they are actively contributing to a better world.”

The train the trainers workshop held March 11 - 16 is a pilot programme in the Polynesia sub region. The 30 participants, 2/3rds of who are under 35, are from NGOs and organizations from across Polynesia including Niue Island Organic Farmers Association, Titikaveka Producers Association, Cook Islands; Women in Business Development, Samoa; The Department of Agriculture American Samoa; the Tonga National Youth Congress and Tonga Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Extension and Women’s Division.

These organizations provide extension support and advisory services to the growing number of organic farmers in the Pacific region and to youth or schools farming programmes. After this pilot there are plans to take the training to Melanesia and Micronesia and to make the training kit for organic agriculture the Pacific which is being developed widely available.

The trainers are Karen Mapusua, POETCom coordinating officer; Dr. Shane Tutua, a soil scientist and farmer from the Solomon Islands; and Kamilo Ali, Livelihoods Programme Officer from OXFAM New Zealand. The workshop covers the principles of organics, soil and plant health and animal husbandry.

As the workshop progressed participants engaged in active discussion calling on traditional practices from the various countries and sharing some of the scientific explanations behind them as well as undertaking a variety of experiments and practical activities that highlighted that to be an organic farmer is really to be a scientist.

Also discussed were certification requirements and the role of organic guarantee systems in building consumer confidence and developing markets for organic products- confirming the need for development of business and entrepreneurial skills amongst young farmers.

By the conclusion of the workshop it was agreed that to engage youth in organics and the opportunities it provides we need to change the way we look at and talk about farming as a career and that extension providers are well placed to lead this change.

POETCom is the peak organics body for the Pacific region, and its secretariat is based at SPC with funding support from the EU Increasing Agricultural Commodities Trade project (IACT). POETCom’s vision is that Organics and Ethical trade will be the key contributors to sustaining our cultures and communities; improving farmer livelihoods, communities, people’s health and the environment in the Pacific.

Sustainable Small-Scale Poultry Production: Are Local Feeds a Viable Option for the Pacific Region?

Sustainable Small-Scale Poultry Production: Are Local Feeds a Viable Option for the Pacific Region?

Author: P.C. Glatz, Science Leader, Pigs and Poultry, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Roseworthy Campus, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5371, Australia

Date: 09/07/2012

Introduction:

The lack of regional small-scale feed manufacturing plants, high cost of imported feed and cheap imports are holding back the development of the smallholder poultry sector in Pacific countries. As there are adequate supplies in some regions of locally produced feed ingredients (cassava, sweet potato, coconut, maize), the prospect for alternative feedstuffs is in the semi-commercial or family poultry units. For these sectors, profitability rather than maximum production is the objective, and alternative feedstuffs can make a useful contribution in poultry feeding.

In his article, Glatz examines four feeding strategies to produce effective poultry rations that are in line with the regional availability of feed resources. With a complete ration formulation using local ingredients, egg production was significantly lower in birds fed the local mix ration compared to the commercial ration. Testing free-choice feeding, the birds showed the capacity to regulate their intake according to their physiological requirements, provided that the three food groups were readily available. Using a mix of concentrate with local ingredients, birds fed a 50/50 sweet potato / low-energy concentrate or a 50/50 cassava / high-energy concentrate diets were able to reach market weight in due time. A 70/30 sweet potato / low-energy concentrate diet was effective only in the more suitable environment of the Western Province of PNG. Diluting commercial broiler finisher with 20-40% copra meal resulted in similar growth as the 100% broiler finisher control diet (inclusion of 60% copra meal resulted in somewhat less acceptable growth). 

Poultry farming in the Pacific using local feeds can be competitive and achieve 30% feed cost savings when mini-mill equipment is readily available and small-scale regional feed manufacturing centres (producing 5-10 tonnes/week) are built where local feed supply is plentiful.

Source: Knowledge for development: http://knowledge.cta.int/Dossiers/S-T-Issues/Reducing-Postharvest-Losses-A-Challenge-for-the-Scientific-Community/Feature-articles/Sustainable-Small-Scale-Poultry-Production-Are-Local-Feeds-a-Viable-Option-for-the-Pacific-Region

Check this out! "ACCESS AGRICULTURE"

This might be of interest and very useful to yous .. distribute this out to your networks please.

Access Agriculture is an international NGO which showcases agricultural training videos in local languages. Here you can see examples of videos, download them or order a DVD copy. The audio tracks can also be downloaded by radio stations. This is a platform for agricultural R&D staff, service providers, extension agents, communication professionals and representatives of farmer organisations to see what training videos are available and request new language versions. The videos are all designed to support sustainable agriculture in developing countries. For maximum impact in improving opportunities for farmers explore Access Agriculture.

Be part of a platform for change.

Check out this link for more information 

http://www.accessagriculture.org/

Fiji Budget announcement on Agriculture, Fisheries, Forests and ICT

Happy New Year Everyone!

So we started of the new year with GREAT NEWS for our youths as Fiji PM and Minister for Finance Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama presented the 2013 Budget.


Source: http://www.fiji.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7155%3Apm-bainimarama-2013-fiji-budget-speech&catid=67%3Afiji-header-stories&Itemid=155

Fiji budget announcement on Agriculture

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTS

Major initiatives to encourage our young people to become farmers. We will set up a scholarship program in conjunction with Fiji National University in which 50 Form Six or Seven graduates each year will attend a 12 month certificate course that trains them in various agricultural disciplines. When they graduate, each student will receive a loan package to the value of $70,000, to cover the costs of:

100 acres of farm land

• A tractor and basic farm implements
• Fertilizer and other materials
• A house and shed
• And start-up cash of $2,000

Each student will be supervised by an agricultural extension officer, and given specific performance targets. The Government hopes to attract many more young people to become farmers, give them sustainable livelihoods, boost the nation’s food security, and reduce Fiji’s dependence on imported food.

Collectively, $94 million is allocated to the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forests and Lands & Mineral Resources in 2013.

Agriculture is a vital sector of our economy, and we especially need to do what we can to help our nation’s farmers maintain a productive and efficient agricultural sector.

Existing programs under the Department of Agriculture will continue next year with total funding of $5.6 million.  This money will cover the development of coconut, cocoa, potato, ginger, vanilla and rice crops.  We will further boost the rice revitalization program with technical and financial assistance from the Chinese Government.

To do their jobs, farmers need cheaper tools. In 2013, we are expanding the zero-duty rate for agricultural implements to make them more affordable. All other current agricultural incentives will continue.

An additional $2.7 million will also be allocated for livestock development.

$1 million will be allocated for the development of the dairy industry.

In the fisheries sector, we have provided $1.8 million for the development of various fisheries resources such as aqua-culture, mari-culture and the raising of brackish water species, as well as seaweed and pearl cultivation.

We are providing $600,000 to establish a multi-species hatchery in Ra.

In forestry, we will promote sustainable forest management practices by allocating $500,000 for the Biodiversity Enhancement and REDD Plus programs.

$5 million is also allocated for the Land Reform Program, to make more land available for productive use.

We will also continue the highly successful CBUL program that encourages landowners to re-lease land for productive use. Under this program, Government subsidises lease payments by 4 per cent. This increases lease payments from 6 to 10 per cent.

LIVESTOCK EMERGENCY GUIDELINES & STANDARD (LEGS) TRAINING 29th October - 1st November, 2012

LEGS Training Participants

After the web 2.0 training we packed up and made our way down to Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi on Sunday for a one week LEGS training. All Animal Health and Production (AH&P) staff of SPC attended this training. 

First of all, it was an honor to be part of the AH&P team and having to be given an opportunity to partake in the training. I had learnt a lot from the LEGS training and also made new friends (networking) who work in the agriculture sector in the pacific region. We had participants from Samoa, Tonga, PNG,Vanuatu, 2 Agriculture students from Fiji National University (FNU), Fiji MPI and  Disaster Management Office etc. Our facilitators for the training are from World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). 

SPC - AH&P staff 

LEGS training from my experience is about what necessary actions we as "livestock farmers/officers" need to take in order to protect our livestock's from harm and maintaining them during and after emergencies e.g. hurricanes and floods etc. It is more like a guideline on what to do when emergencies or disasters strikes. It is also important to hear what other participants face in their respective countries. How they do things when a disaster strikes. Mainly their experience and what they can now do in order to save their livestock's. 

Late comers singing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" as punishment 

One of the activities which i enjoyed the most during the training were the group discussions and stretch exercise/activities and punishments given to participants who came in late such as singing and dancing in front of everyone, brainstorming/group discussions,  presentations, well i'd say the whole training was so much "FUN, very educative and interesting" which kept everyone awake and on their toes. This also broke the ice on the first day! So no one felt new and shy during the training. One of my greatest achievement was having to present on behalf of my group which consisted of vets and agricultural officers who are more experienced then i'am. But then again, "GOD is GOOD"! They were very supportive of my presentation and also to our SPC - AH&P staff who worked together as a team on certain activities assigned to us. Team work is the number one priority for the AH&P team.

Fun activities

Group Discussions

We were awarded with our certificates on the last day of training. It had been a great experience. And i'am proud to be the in the group of the 1st participants to be educated on LEGS training in the Pacific!

Fiji Participants

It was nice to also see 2 FNU students at the LEGS training. Encouraging youths in the pacific to be more actively involved in agriculture!!  Cheers.

With the FNU students

For more information please click on this link: http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1034:legs-training-for-the-pacific-region&catid=7:training-and-workshops&Itemid=22

Web 2.0 & Social Learning training at the University of the South Pacific (USP), ICT Centre, Fiji. 22-26/10/2012

Bula Vinaka again to everyone! Apologies for the long delay in updating my blog on what we have been getting up too (nothing cheeky, really) lol!!

Group Photo of Web 2.0 participants

I was given an opportunity to attend the "web 2.0 and social leaning training" at USP. It was a one week workshop of FUN activities like debates, hands on training in online searching, getting information's served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social media. We also had a chance to see what others have done, get hands experience on how to use innovative applications and assess on how we could adapt there innovations withing the context of our work and organisation.

Most people are not aware of the major role on how ICT is related to Agriculture in terms of networking, accessing and dissemination information more effectively.e.g. the use of mobile phones to interact with farmers, internet to either advertise our markets or helps us in searching for sponsors to help fund us in certain projects etc etc.

Participants in full concentration

Till today we can see that our fellow participants are putting what we have learnt to use. The training  has helped us a lot and i'am glad to have been part of it. I was very interested in the GIS training bit and learnt lots of new and interesting stuff on how to use GIS mapping. The workshop was a bit short though. But all in all... Excellent workshop and like i had mentioned before "great debates" on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of ICT in Agriculture. Great presentations by our facilitators and also loved the active group discussions.

ICT Center

Special thanks goes to our facilitator Ms. Anju Mangal and to our training sponsors Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and University of the South Pacific (USP), vinaka vakalevu from the web 2.0 training participants. 

For more information about the web 2.0 training please visit this link: http://www.spc.int/en/component/content/article/216-about-spc-news/1026-web-20-workshop-promotes-information-sharing-in-the-agriculture-and-forestry-sectors-.html