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Course Content (English)

 

Sugar Technology (Training of sugar factory laboratory analysts on ICUMSA Methods for white sugar analysis)

Training topics

  • Polarization
  • Sugar Moisture By lost on drying
  • Solution colour at pH 7.0
  • Particle size distribution by sieving
  • Conductivity ash
  • Reducing sugars by Knight and Allen EDTA Method
  • Insoluble matter by membrane filtration
  • Sulphite determination by Rosaniline Colorimetric Method
  • Turbidity

10-day acid beverage floc test

 

Geographical Information Systems
Training topics

  • Introduction to basic concepts of GIS
  • File Conversion
  • Map Projection
  • Hands-on Training


Agricultural Chemistry
Training topics

  • Research and development in sugarcane nutrition – an overview
  • Nutrient requirements of sugarcane.
  • Role of nutrient in sugarcane.

-   Major nutrients
-   Secondary nutrients
-   Micronutrients
-   Symptoms of nutrient deficiency

  • Managing NPK requirements of sugarcane
  • Philosophy and Methodology of soil testing

-   Sampling techniques and analysis
-   Interpretation of test results and fertilizer recommendations

  • Philosophy and Methodology of foliar diagnosis

-   Sampling techniques and analysis
-   Interpretation of test results and fertilizer recommendations

  • Integrated approach to nutrient management
  • Good nutrient management practices for minimizing environmental impact.
  • Sugar analysis

-   ICUMSA methods
-   Pesticide residue analysis

  • Quality Management System for testing laboratory – ISO/IEC 17025


Sugarcane Breeding and Physiology
Training topics

  • Origin and history of Sugar Cane Breeding
  • Introduction to Sugar Cane Genetics
  • Breeding Systems
  • Hybridisation Programme
  • Selection of Varieties
  • Description and Identification of Sugar Cane Varieties

Practicals and demonstrations

  • Establishment of trials at the Final Phase of Selection and data analysis

-   Policy for establishing Final Phase Selection Trials
-   Objectives/production zones/sites/soil types/resources/multi-location trials
-   Data collection/data validation/organisation/data storage and retrieval
-   Interpretation of results
-   Decision making
-   Industrial trials
-   Participatory approach to selection

  • Introductory course with a practical focus on the use of statistical methods in the process of conducting scientific research

-    Data, samples and populations
-    Descriptive statistics (numerical and graphical)
-    Probability (basic)
-    Normal distribution and sampling distributions
-    Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals
-    T-tests
-    Analysis of Variance
-    Multiple Comparison Tests
-    Correlation and Regression
-    Non-Parametric Statistics
-    Sampling
-    Chi-Square and Contingency Analysis

  • Plant Physiology

-   Sugar Cane Botany
-   Basic Physiological Processes
-   Sugar Cane Physiology
-   Sugar Cane Production
-   Practical Sessions

Biotechnology
Training topics

  • Introduction to Biotechnology
  • Plant Tissue Culture techniques and disease elimination
  • Molecular plant disease diagnosis
  • Molecular plant breeding techniques including molecular markers, genetic mapping, QTL identification,  diversity studies
  • DNA fingerprinting of varieties
  • Plant genetic transformation, regulations and biosafety
  • DNA barcoding
  • Both theoretical and practical training can be provided.


Cultural Operations and Weed Agronomy
Training topics

  • Weed Science/Weed Agronomy:
  • Weed identification and classification
  • Weed control methods
  • Weed competition and mechanisms of competition
  • Herbicide testing and registration
  • Spraying techniques
  • Non-chemical methods of weed control and weed management

Cultural Practices of sugar cane:

  • Land preparation and minimum tillage practice
  • Planting of sugar cane
  • Cane row spacing and sett density
  • Green cane harvesting and trash blanketing
  • New cropping systems for sugar cane
  • Ratoon management
  • Farm planning and soil conservation
  • Farm planning for mechanized harvest
  • Use of Digital Terrain Modelling (DTM) for farm planning
  • Soil erosion and RUSLE model


Entomology
Training topics

  • Overview of Entomology
  • Basic insect morphology and biology
  • The main groups of insects
  • Important orders and families
  • Pests and their populations
  • How do pest populations arise?
  • Distribution and origins of sugar cane pests
  • Pest   management
  • Management of sugar cane pests in Mauritius
  • Laboratory rearing of pests and their natural enemies


Agricultural Extension and Communication
Training topics

  • Theoretical aspects in Extension

-    Definitions of Agricultural Development and Extension
-    Role of Agricultural Extension
-    The practice of Agricultural Extension worldwide
-    Extension approaches and methodologies
-    The role of the Extension Agent and his/her training needs

  • Development of extension programmes - problem identification and planning
  • Monitoring and evaluation of extension programmes
  • Use of IT in Extension and Development of Communication media for extension
  • On-farm experimentation and establishment of trials (including visits to MSIRI Experiment Stations)


Mechanization
Training topics

  • Land Preparation, Farm planning and Field layout

-   Principles of soil tillage
-   3 Point Linkage
-   Equipment for soil tillage – Principles and settings

  • Mechanization of cultural practices

-   Principles and calibration of mechanical spreaders
-   Application of fertilizer and Soil amendments, herbicides and pesticides

  • Harvesting and Transport

-   Mechanical harvesters
-   Mechanical loaders
-   Cost effective transport systems

 

Plant Pathology
Training topics

  • Introduction to diseases
  • Important concepts in plant diseases
  • Diseases and their causal agents
  • Distribution of diseases
  • Symptomatology
  • Diseases caused By bacteria, fungi, viruses, phytoplasmas and nematodes
  • Techniques of disease diagnosis and identification
  • Transmission of diseases
  • Disease management

Practical/demonstrations


Irrigation
Training topics

  • Soils of Mauritius and their physical properties
  • Soil moisture holding capacity
  • Crop water demand and Irrigation water requirement
  • Irrigation scheduling - soil water balance and other techniques
  • Principles, operation and maintenance of Irrigation Systems:
  • Drip irrigation
  • Overhead irrigation – high pressure gun, center pivot & dragline
  • Surface irrigation
  • Choice of systems
  • Irrigation software

The training consists of theoretical presentations, practical work and demonstrations.