Addressing Current and Emerging Threats to Mango Production by Small Farmers in Kitui County, Kenya
University of Maryland Eastern Shore signs a MOU with the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
CEGFSD Side Event at the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff: Successfully Implements Pilot Study Abroad Programs in FANRHS Degree Areas
THE 1890 UNIVERSITIES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND DEFENSE
The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) funds teaching, research, extension and integrated projects designed to supply the country with a globally educated workforce and addresses critical needs in global food security and defense. CEGFSD fosters international partnerships that:
• Strengthen agricultural development in developing countries.
• Engage international researchers in addressing new and emerging pests and diseases in animals and plants.
• Engage in agricultural disaster recovery.
• Continue activities carried out by the 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development. The CEIED activities include six projects funded under global education and six others on global food and nutrition security.
CEGFSD relies heavily on its international and domestic partners to achieve these broad goals. The CEGFSD’s partners include the nineteen 1890 landgrant universities, the 1890 Universities Foundation and many international public and private sector partners. The Center is one of six centers of excellence at 1890 universities identified in the U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Center is supported with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. It is hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and brings together all nineteen 1890 universities.
Dear CEGFSD Stakeholders, Greetings from the Center!
The past year has been very eventful. In the fall of 2023 the Center organized the third annual CEGFSD Advisory Council meeting and a Side Event at the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue held in Des Moines, Iowa. During the event Dr. Mortimer Neufville was formally recognized for his contributions to the creation and sustainability of the 1890 Universities Foundation.
This edition features a few activities in the international space with our partners, including the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s effort to address current and emerging threats to mango production by small farmers in Kitui County, Kenya; the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; and a successful implementation of several international experiential learning activities in Ghana and Kenya by the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. The Center remains steadfastly focused on moving the dial on important issues around the global food and nutritional security. We thank you for taking time to review some of our activities.
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is Kenya’s second most important fruit after banana, accounting for 31.05% and 19.24% respectively (HCD, 2020). In 2020, there was an increase in the area under mango production from 56,090ha to 63,437ha, representing a 13 percent increase, while production dropped by 10 percent (91,006 tons) compared to 2019. The leading counties in mango production in 2019 ranked by value were Makueni, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale and Meru, which accounted for 67.3% of the value combined. Kitui County also produces mangoes.
Despite the overall increase, small-scale mango farmers encounter many challenges including mango fruit flies, weevils, rust and poor-quality planting material (HCD, 2020).
– Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC
“Given the production challenges facing the smallscale mango farmers, we intend to identify pre- and post-harvest problems that small-scale farmers face in Kitui County, Kenya. To achieve this, specific activities were carried out, which included training farmers on pest/disease surveillance as a digital tool and rather a new tool in technology space for
monitoring current and any new emerging diseases and pests to mango crops in the County of Kitui.”, said Dr. Everlyn Okoth of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.
The trainees were drawn from different relevant sectors of the mango value chain and the county government. They were selected based on age, for which 95% were younger than age 35 to take the youth aspect into consideration. (continued)
They represented the Kitui cooperatives (6 No.), the front-line extension officer, two county government representatives, the cooperative contact and organizing youth. Two student assistants, camera personnel and four trainers on selected topics in line with challenges, quality and standard certification of the mango products were also represented.
Funded in part by the 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD), the impact of this project has been an increase in farmers’ knowledge and management of emerging mango pests and diseases. Twenty stakeholders (researchers, farmers, county officials and the entomologist) were trained on the PlantVillage Nuru application using mart technologies (cellphone apps) to survey and record mango diseases. This brought an increased adoption of mango fruit flies integrated pest management, and other pests and diseases in selected sites of Kitui County through training by entomologists and other experts using appropriate technologies. ///
Dr. Eustashe Banza, a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) professor and vice president for Academic Affairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, visited the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Sept, 20, 2023, to promote partnerships between the universities.
UMES has collaborated with UNIKIN on projects funded by the 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) and the Current and Emerging Threats to Crops Innovation Lab. These projects include capacity building for the UNIKIN experimental station’s personnel, training for UNIKIN Agronomy students, and the extension program involving women’s training on the cassava value chain.
Given the various activities already implemented by UMES faculty at UNIKIN, it was imperative to formalize this partnership with the signing of an MOU between the two institutions.
Banza acknowledged the great work being accomplished by UMES and UNIKIN.
“I am to concretize the dream,” Banza said of the formalization of this relationship. “I hope that the partnership with UMES-UNIKIN will flourish.”
Allen recognized the significance of the MOU.
“UMES does not sign MOUs that collect dust in the drawers but rather MOUs that are followed by an
“I am to concretize the dream... I hope that the partnership with UMES-UNIKIN will flourish.”
- Dr. Eustashe Banza VP, Academic Affairs, University of Kinshasa
articulation agreement leading to concrete actions,” Allen said. “I am very much encouraged by what has already been accomplished by both institutions, UMES and UNIKIN. I am indeed more optimistic about what will be accomplished.”
Dr. Moses T. Kairo, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences dean and CEGFSD director, acknowledged the great contribution of CEGFSD, which funded most projects implemented at UNIKIN. Training households on cassava value chains, especially using cassava flour in bread making, pancakes, and doughnuts, is crucial for responding to local problems with local solutions. UMES and UNIKIN faculty may find it rewarding to engage in mutually collaborative research opportunities as well as engage students from both institutions in global food security and student workforce development.
The MOU was signed after several activities at UMES, including visits to UMES facilities such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences labs. While at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Banza learned of various projects under the leadership of Dr. Pamela Allison and their impact on fostering innovations in the community. At the CEGFSD office, he learned how the Center manages international portfolios across the 1890 land-grant institutions. At the Experimental Station, Banza saw in real time how corn harvesting is done using a sophisticated combine owned by UMES. Finally, at UMES Extension, Dr. Nadine Burton introduced various aspects of the specialty crops program to Banza, ranging from the production of non-native vegetables to processing and value addition to marketing of these products on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Washington, D.C., area. ///
The CEGFSD conducted its third annual Advisory Council meeting on the sidelines of the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue on Oct. 25, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. This annual meeting was centered around the best management and operation of the Center. Questions posed included steps needed for scaling up ongoing Center projects, necessary strategies for engaging large donors and global food security stakeholders, the Center’s handling of international trade policy relevant to the U.S. imports and exports with the Rest of the World, building linkages with other 1890 Universities Centers of Excellence and the Center’s overall engagement in policy on the global food security stage.
The Center also recognized the contribution of Dr. Mortimer Neufville, CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation, as the foundation founder and supporter of CEGFSD. His award read:
“In recognition and gratitude for your unwavering, lifetime dedication and leadership within the 1890 community. Your work has changed the lives of multitudes of people for the better, and the world is definitely a better place because of you. Awarded October 25, 2023.”
Sylvia Megret, ACDI/VOCA CEO and AC president, presided over the Advisory Council meeting.
Following the annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, CEGFSD participated in the side event organized by the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue on Oct. 26, 2023.
Harnessing 1890 land-grant universities’ capacity to deliver food security solutions and a workforce of the future was the theme of the side event. As a new Center, CEGFSD synergizes the collective capacity across nineteen 1890 land-grant universities to address critical global food and nutrition security issues while developing a future workforce. CEGFSD is keen to engage other players in this space and establish/grow collaborative partnerships to address these issues. The side event provided an opportunity for the Center to engage key players in the global food security space with the participation of the 1890 land-grant universities’ partners.
Participants who attended the side event learned and understood the priority areas of interest and capacity within the 1890 land-grant universities to carry out food and nutritional security work. Despite the early schedule, this event was well attended with overflow seating. Participants established linkages with 1890 land-grant university scientists, leading to enduring collaborative partnerships.
The session identified and discussed the most critical food and nutritional security challenges in teaching, research and extension, to which the 1890 universities, through CEGFSD and their partners, could make a substantial contribution. Participants also discussed the imperatives for successful engagement and articulated specific short- and medium-term actionable goals.
The invited speakers for the side event were Dr. Manjit Misra, director, Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA; Dr. Douglas Steele, vice president, Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources, APLU; Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, dean, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences; and Dr. Antonio McLaren, vice president for programs 1890 Universities Foundation. Dr. Moses T. Kairo, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences dean and CEGFSD director at UMES, moderated the session. ///
F
unding through the 1890 Center of Excellence in International Engagement and Development enabled the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) to conduct three signature study abroad programs for students pursuing degrees in agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, and human sciences at 1890 land-grant institutions.
“Through the programs implemented, faculty and staff we’re able to design innovative programs that enabled students to apply knowledge and skills gained through classroom experience in global
contexts,” said Dr. Pamela D. Moore, associate dean for global engagement at the UAPB School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.
Hands-on agriculture education in Ghana
A two-week study abroad program led by Dr. Emmanuel Asiamah, assistant professor of animal science, allowed four UAPB, North Carolina A&T University and Tennessee State University students to learn about tropical agriculture and familiarize themselves with Ghana’s history, culture and people.
Asiamah was accompanied by Dr. Nina Lyon Bennett, professor and assistant dean for academics for the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, and Annette Fields, interim director of the Carolyn F. Blakely Honors Program and doctoral student in aquaculture/fisheries. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) designed and implemented the program.
“While in Ghana, our participants had the chance to engage in several hands-on agriculture-related activities,” Asiamah said. “They joined KNUST students in the field to learn about maize breeding, visited a catfish farm, learned a little about the business side of agriculture and even saw how palm weevil insects are being farmed for value-added food products.”
During a visit to a poultry farm, students learned how to sort chicken eggs without using machinery, gaining insight into the differences between highand low-tech farm production.
“The poultry farm activity opened the students’ eyes and put things into perspective for them,” he said. “Because they were sorting eggs manually, they better understood how quickly egg-sorting machines in the U.S. work.”
During another two-week program in Ghana, and through a long-standing partnership with Valley View University, 1890 land-grant universities’ faculty and students in aquaculture/fisheries designed and conducted a three-day extension training program for VVU faculty, staff, students, farmers and extension personnel.
Under the leadership of Dr. Dayan Perera, extension aquaculture specialist, the program included the participation of Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, professor of aquaculture and fisheries, and Dr. Gulnihal Ozbay, Delaware State University professor and Extension
specialist in natural resources. One UAPB graduate student and three students from DSU benefitted from Ghana’s experiential and cultural learning activities.
“This program had two overarching goals,” Perera said. “First, we wanted to provide educational training in aquaculture and fisheries to students and staff at Valley View University. Secondly, we wanted to train our students to become teachers through experiential learning.
“This was an opportunity for them to learn how to interact with another culture and gain a global perspective they can incorporate in their ongoing teaching, research and extension activities,” he said.
Perera worked with Valley View University faculty and students two years ago when he conducted
workshops on aquaponics, the combined farming of fish and plants. At the time, the participants could not produce fish because of problems with aeration and a lack of air pumps, so he showed them ways to construct simple but efficient aeration systems.
When he returned to Ghana this summer to work with the same people, Perera was impressed to see their progress.
Community service and experiential learning empowers human science students in Kenya
Through a 10-day intensive community service and experiential learning program in Kenya, human science students from UAPB and Tennessee State University gained cross-cultural insights. They were empowered to apply classroom theory to reallife situations.
Conducted under the leadership of Dr. Jane Opiri, assistant professor of merchandising, textiles, and design, the program also included the participation of Dr. Suzette Goldmon, assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management, and Dr. Karleah Harris, assistant professor of human development and family studies. Opiri, originally from Kenya, organized the study abroad program in conjunction with her alma mater, Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.
“The idea of this program was to allow our students to compare the American and Kenyan cultures and develop their professional skills,” Opiri said.
“Over the course of the program, through volunteer work, they had the opportunity to enhance their teamwork and empathetic skills. They returned from the trip with a greater cultural intelligence and understanding of responsible citizenship.”
Several program activities were directly related to the participants’ educational tracks at UAPB. For example, they received first-hand training in merchandising, textiles and design during a tour of the Kitui County Textile Center. During a meeting with a rising Kenyan fashion entrepreneur, they learned the ins and outs of fashion design and even worked with a tailor to design their own garments. Before embarking on a safari tour, they were taught about tourism management in Kenya.
The students also volunteered at a home for orphans and vulnerable children in Kayole, Kenya, where led educational games and activities for the children.
Five students participated in the program, including one from Tennessee State University. ///
Director Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D. DIC Professor and Dean
Associate Director Stephan Tubene, Ph.D. Professor and Chair
Contact us: email: cegfsd@umes.edu
Kiah Hall, Room 1104, Suite 1502
University Blvd. S. Princess Anne, Md. 21853 ph: 410-651-6740 www.umes.edu/sans/ncoe/cegfsd/
Assistant Director Maricelle Saullo, MBA, M.Ed. Carlos Cruz Program Coordinator
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions. CEIED Award 2020-38427-31514 and CEGFSD Award 2021-38427-34838.
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The CEGFSD Newsletter is published by the Office of Agricultural Communications. agcomm@umes.edu | 410-651-6084