LIVESTOCK RESEARCH

Public Lecture Programme

In March 2010, the AREU launched a public lecture programme to improve communication and share updated scientific as well as technical information with its stakeholders. The lectures are held at the Farmers’ Training School of the AREU, Wooton every 3^rd Thursday of the month. The target audience is relatively diverse and comes mainly from the non-sugar agricultural sector comprising of representatives of producers and producer associations, support service providers from public and private organisations, prospective entrepreneurs and selected members of both oral and written press.

Public lecture creates a platform which facilitates direct communication and information exchange between farmers, scientific / technical staff and other stakeholders and equally assures a rapid feedback on key constraints as well as suggestions on research and development activities in the non-sugar agricultural sector to policy makers.Besides shedding light on achievements of the AREU and FARC, this activity offers opportunity for organizational recognition and greater exposure of the work realized by research and technical staff of the AREU to peer review.

S.N	Title	Date	Target group
1.	Natural Calamity: Preparedness & Strategies for management in the Agricultural sector	10/02	Representative of farmers associations Representative of public and private organizations providing services in Non-Sugar Agricultural Sector Representatives of selected press
2.	A newly compounded feed for cattle	24/03	Representative of cattle farmers Representative private stakeholders Representatives of selected press
3.	Promotion of local seed production through Quality Declared Seed	21/04	Representative of farmers associations and seed growers Extension and Research Staff of the AREU Representatives of selected press
4.	Pineapple Export – Opportunities & Challenges	19./05	Representative of farmers, fruit exporters and public / private stakeholders Extension and Research Staff of the AREU Representatives of selected press
5.	New trellising techniques for hydroponics production of English cucumbers	23/06	Producers of vegetables in greenhouses Representative of public and private organizations providing services in the Non- Sugar Agricultural Sector Representative of farmers associations Representatives of selected press
6.	Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) to optimize fertilizer use	28/07	Progressive growers Representative of public and private organizations providing services in the Non- Sugar Agricultural Sector Representative of farmers associations Representatives of selected press
7.	Feeding systems & nutritive value of forages used on smallholder goat farms in Mauritius	18/08	Goat & sheep breeders Members of cooperative societies Research staff of AREU Representatives of selected press
8.	Anthurium Industry: Opportunities and Challenges	06/10	Producers of cut flowers and private stakeholders Representative of public and private organizations providing services in the Non- Sugar Agricultural Sector Extension and Research Staff of the AREU Representatives of selected press
9.	Use of gravity-fed drip irrigation to optimize fertilizer & water use	17/11	The farming community at large Producers and dealers in fertilizers The Extension and Research Staff of the AREU Representatives of selected press