Imo Poly develops highyield cassava stems

The management of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State, yesterday said that the institution has developed about 43 varieties of high yielding cassava stems for use by farmers in the state.

The institution’s Rector, Dr. Anderson Amadioha, who stated in an interview with newsmen, also said that this development was part of the school administration’s commitment to the attainment of food sufficiency and food security in the state.

“We have developed about 43 varieties of high yielding cassava stems for use by farmers. This is part of our commitment to the attainment of food sufficiency and security, creation of wealth for farmers, as well as improving the revenue base of the state”, Amadioha said.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Rector said that the varieties include those specially developed for pelleting with the aim of exporting them and another for starch production.

“The variety for starch production is aimed at meeting the federal government directive that 10 percent of flour for bread production should come from cassava starch. We also have a variety for garri production”, the Rector explained.

Dr. Amadioha also said that the school is taking time to properly educate farmers on the varieties, pointing out that Imo State Polytechnic has witnessed tremendous transformation since he came on board in 2005.

“Prior to my assumption of office, none of the courses run in the school was accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). All our science based courses have been cleared and about April, NBTE will come for the accreditation of the Business courses”, Amadioha said.

He assured that the school management has put everything in place in readiness for the next visit of the NBTE accreditation team, with a view to ensure that everything is successful.

Read More......

Cassava Ready for Field Trials

LABORATORY experiments for the genetically modified (GM) cassava have been completed and the National Crops Resource Research Institute (NCRRI) Namulonge has sought permission from the National biosafety committee to transfer the genetically modified cassava from the green house to the field.

"We are through with the laboratory work. If our application gets a favorable consideration by committee, we shall have the first genetically modified cassava in the field. We have all the tools that can be used to genetically improve the type of cassava we have today in the country,"Dr. Yona Baguma, a researcher said.

One of the roles of the national biosafety committee is to ensure safe conduct and safety of the biotech products to human beings and the environment. The cassava plants shall be subjected to various tests. Recently, the research institute came up with crop materials that combine resistance to both cassava mosaic and cassava brown stem disease.

Researchers have used the technology to impart genes of resistance to cassava mosaic, which is caused by a double stranded virus and cassava brown stem that is caused by the single stranded virus.

"We developed 12 cassava resistant and high yielding varieties. Unfortunately the ten have been attacked by cassava mosaic and brown stem diseases. The two remaining varieties have stood the test and we want to put them into the field to test their performance," Baguma said.

He said to come up with best cassava varieties Ugandans have to use of biotechnology best approaches. According to him, if the field trial succceds, the products that would be generated will be disseminated to the local farmers.

Baguma said famine maybe felt in some areas of the country due the extinction of most staple foods caused by the pest and diseases.

He said that cassava has been invaded by the mosaic and brown stem while black sigatoka and banana weevils are a threat to East African highland bananas.

According to the scientists, cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak disease are the most important constraints affecting cassava production in Uganda and most parts of Africa.

The research aims at improving CMD resistance genes while retaining the superior storage root traits. Baguma was speaking during a workshop on biosafety and biotechnology held at Imperial Royale Hotel on Thursday.

Read More......

Stop your bad habits

Lately I just thinking to stop smoking, I have been smoking for about 12 years and I fell that this kind of activity will cost a bad health, but who can stop it, althought I have been tryng to stop smoking but....it seems that this is not an easy way to do.

I belive that with a big eager I can just quit smoking, rather then just thinking about it then I decided to stop smoking right away,..I try not smoke for 1 hours and first it was success and again I try another hours and it works, then I feel terrible ,just only after 3 hours..oh God I can not do it.

Already try hard and try to forget, everything that conected to my mind that can pointed to my habits I try to dump far away,but still a good result is away from the reality. Frustated of tryng to stop smoking then I discuss with my friend that already succes with his program to stop smoking, he said it is as simple as you want, as long as you follow the instructur. He said that just visit the instructur website of NLP the instructur is Paul Mc Kenna the greatest mynd training and he is one of the moderator at NLP Training what he suggested is very useful and it works, and very effesien easy to understand.

Well I said in my mynd nothing to lose to give it a try, then I visit NLP and I find that the insctructur was really help full, and I find the the information that I got is really usefull and just only several weeks, I can handle my problem to stop smoking, the bad habits that not so easy to stop,hopefully you will having the same experience, just need to follow carefully all the instruction.

Read More......