Project News

1. JISNAS-WUR-YAU Joint Seminar and Workshop 2018

JISNAS (Japan Intellectual Supporting Network for Agricultural Science), Wageningen University and YAU jointly organized IPM Seminar and Workshop on Improvement of Agricultural Research and Its Application at YAU on 3rd and 4th February. JICA TCP also participated both the Seminar and the Workshop. The counterparts of the project delivered presentation of on-going research in the Seminar on 3rd February. In the Workshop, Planning and Management TF, Education TF and Research TF of JICA TCP delivered presentations on the management system of education and research in YAU and TCP’s efforts in order to improve it. At the discussion session of the workshop, active exchanges of opinions on YAU / JISNAS / WUR's future education and research initiatives were held.

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2. The 9th International Conference on Environment and Rural Development

The 9th International Conference on Environment and Rural Development was held at the Grand Amara Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw on 24th February, and about 100 researchers from Japan, ASEAN countries, Europe and others participated.

Approximately 20 faculty members from YAU participated, and two groups under the Pilot Research Program of JICA TCP delivered presentations. The RB01-1-1 group presented "New Science Tools for Spatial Distribution of Yield and Management Practices of Major Pulses in Selected Area in Myanmar" in Poster Session, the RC 01-1 group made "Current Postharvest Management of Sesame Farmers in Selected Area of Myanmar" in Oral Session. As a result, the RB01-1-1 won the poster award. The outputs of the seminar will be published as proceedings by the organizer.

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3. Implementation of Pilot Research

1) Research groups under the Pilot Research Program conducted fieldworks as follows.

• 4th, 10th, 18th and 24th February:
  RB03-1 group collected insects in 7 Townships in Nay Pyi Taw.
• 4th, 10th February:
  RB01-1-3 group conducted survey on the cultivation of vegetables in Phyinmana TS, Nay Pyi Taw.
• 9th - 11th February:
  RB01-1-1 group conducted survey on the cultivation of pulses in Phyinmana TS, Nay Pyi Taw.
• 10th - 22nd February:
  CR08 group conducted vegetation survey and aerial photography by drone.
• 13th - 16th February:
  RB01-1-3 group collected data at local DOA office and set the research points in the field in Tonegwa TS, Yangon.
• 13th - 16th February:
  RB01-1-1 group harvested and threshed pulses in the experimental fields in Tonegwa TS, Yangon.
• 20th - 22nd February:
  RB01-1-1 group carried out post-harvest processes of pulses in the experimental fields in Phyinmana TS, Nay Pyi Taw.
• 21st - 24th February:
  RC01-2 group conducted interviews to Sesame oil companies and exporters in Yangon.

2) Laboratory and in-farm experiments were also conducted as follows

• RA01-1-1 (Plant Breeding, Physiology and Ecology group):
  The data analysis is continued. And summer season cultivation for selected varieties is started.
• RA01-1-2 (Agronomy group):
  The investigation of several indicators of about 100 varieties has been completed. The team started to analyze the data.
• RA01-2 (Soil and Water Science group):
  The team screen the drought-tolerant rice varieties on the seeds provided by RA01-1 group. And the team also prepares to screen the salt-tolerant rice varieties by pot exam.
• RA02-1 (Plant Pathology group):
  Pathogens of rice blast and leaf blight collected in Zaya Thiri and Pyinmana were continuously cultured. And the team started to exam disease resistance for 73 varieties and strains of rice harvested by RA01-1 group.
• RA02-2 (Entomology and Zoology group):
  The team continued to work on93 rice varieties and strains harvested by RA01-1 group both in paddy field and pots.
• RB01-1-1 (Agronomy group):
  The team inputs and analyzes the data of pulses collected from Phyinmana TS, nay Pyi Taw and Thonegwa TS, Yangon. The paper reported in part of above research was presented in the 9th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development and won the poster award. The presentation will be published on proceedings of the conference.
• RB01-1-3 (Horticulture and Agricultural Biotechnology):
  The team continues to input the data of vegetables cultivation collected in Phyinmana TS, Nay Pyi Taw.
• RB01-2 (Soil and Water Science group):
  N and Ca of collected 80 sample soils have been measured and the team starts to develop its' mapping.
• RB02-1 (Plant Pathology group):
  The team continues to identify nematode in the soils collected from 5 fields in Nay Pyi Taw.
• RB03-1 (Entomology and Zoology group):
  The team continues activities to identify and count pests collected by insect net in order to develop a pest-warning model.
• RC01-1 (Agronomy group):
  The team presented the paper mentioned in part of research results in the 9th International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development and also writes another paper in order to submit international jounal.
• RC02-1 (Horticulture and Agricultural Biotechnology):
  The team is analyzing the result of measurement of respiratory activity, producing ethylene and writing the paper.
• RC-02-2 (Plant Pathology group):
  The team continues to cultivate pathogens isolated from the infected mango fruits.
• CR02 (Animal Science group):
  The team prepared breeding facilities for experiments on small ruminants.
• CR-04 (Plant Breeding, Physiology and Ecology group):
  Report writing on cultivation method in deep-water rice production area is ongoing. The team also almost completed the surveys on the growth and yields of deep-water rice.

Measuring Amylose contents (RA01-1-1 group)

Sorghum cultivation for silage (CR-02 group)