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MATI – ILONGA STUDENTS ADVISED TO USE AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION RESOURCES FROM SNAL

Students from Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute (MATI – Ilonga) have been advised to have the culture of reading and search for wide knowledge in various agriculture produce and practices. This will not only help them to excel as subject matter experts (SMEs) but also in future they can have self-employment and become next millionaires. This dream can become true if they learn how to apply different best agricultural techniques and adopt innovative and proven agriculture technologies documented into different booklets available at Mkulima collection – SUA.

The advice was given by the Director of Sokoine National Agricultural Library – SNAL Prof. Camilius Sanga when he was talking to them during the visitation at Ministry of Agriculture Training Institute – MATI-Ilonga, Kilosa in Morogoro region.

They were also advised that since they are into agriculture fields by reading and research they can become good writers in various agricultural practices and contribute in building the agricultural information resources by adding them into Mkulima Collection.

Photo: students listening to the presentation made by Mr. Jabir Jabir from SNAL

The visits was done on 14 June 2022 as a continuing series of meetings with agricultural based institutes, community based groups or association and telecentres or information centers. This is a SNAL mission on marketing the research outputs from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Sokoine National Agricultural Library. These research outputs are in form of electronic resources available at our Institutional Repositories (SUAIR & TACCIRE & Mkulima Collection).

During the presentation students and their instructors were keen to listen to the presentations and asked various general questions (i.e. frequent asked questions – FAQs) regarding to the access to information from SNAL for their academics but also specific questions related to agricultural information needs.

MATI – Ilonga has a total of three hundred eight two (382) students. The female are two hundred and ten (210) while males are one hundred and seventy two (172). The institute provides Certificate program in general agriculture as well Diploma program in the fields of general agriculture, food production and human nutrition.

MATI- Ilonga was officially inaugurated on September 17th 1972 by the late father of the Nation Hon. Julius Kambarage Nyerere. The institute provides a two year Certificate program in general agriculture as well as, a Diploma program in the fields of general agriculture, food production and human nutrition. Short courses are also offered to farmers, extension workers and other clients as well.

 Prof. Sanga emphasizes a point when he was talking to MATI-Ilonga students in Kilosa, Morogoro

Mission to Disseminate and create awareness on access to agricultural information continues to LITA, Morogoro

A team from Sokoine National Agricultural Library – SNAL staff on 10 June, 2022 delivered an introductory session on Mkulima Collection repository, SUA and SNAL activities to the community of students and their lecturers at Livestock Training Agency (LITA) Morogoro campus.

The session aimed to expose LITA students with agricultural information that available at SUA through SNAL and its various information resources which includes the Mkulima Collection repository. The aim is to give easy access to such information to farmers, animal keepers and all others interested in agricultural information needs.

The mission stated in the act no. 21 of 1991 section 6(2)a, which established SNAL where under functions it states that, the Library shall have power among others on serving the library and information needs of agricultural researchers, teachers, students, extension workers, farmers and peasants as well as any other group in need of such information.

Delivering the notes to students and staff of LITA - Morogoro, Mr. Victor Inyasi, SNAL Library officer, emphasized on the need of students and lecturers to understand on the availability of Mkulima Collection Repository, how to use and what kind of information that available since those information will help them in the process of service delivery to their animal keepers clients around the country.

The session attended by two hundred eight three (283) students (107 were males and 176 were females) and twelve (12) staff. Students attended were those taken the basic certificate in Animal Health and Production (NTA Level 4), the Technician Certificate in Animal Health and Production (NTA Level 5) and the Ordinary Diploma in Animal Health and Production (NTA Level 6) and the demand driven short courses.

The LITA Morogoro campus established in 1948 as an Asian Agricultural School. The aim was to train Agricultural Officers to run Asians’ rice farms at Wami – Morogoro. The His Highness Agha Khan in collaboration with by then the Ministry of Agriculture under Colonial Government financed the training.

Mr. Victor Inyasi delivering introductory notes on Mkulima Collection to students and staff at LITA, Morogoro Campus.

Mkulima collection collects, organizes and provide access to farmers related information. To learn more please listen THIS VIDEO

SNAL acquires new document scanners to speed up the process of digitization of information at SUA

Sokoine National Agricultural Library – SNAL has procured two modern document scanners (CZUR ET16 Plus Book Scanner) in order to speed up the exercise of digitization thesis and other document and uploading them into the Sokoine University of Agriculture Institutional Repository – SUAIR and Mkulima Collection.

The move made through funds allocated by the SUA management as to improve the use of technology at the university. The digitization exercise of thesis, dissertation and other documents such as scientific papers and articles written by lecturers, books and other university documents was slowly done due by the use of older scanners which their speed and mode of scanning was not easy to upload many documents at a time.

In making sure SNAL staff mainly from Knowledge Management section are capable of using them a technician Mr. Salehe Senga from COSEKE company who supply them provided a day training on how to use and service them.

The process of digitization of those documents will easier the access of various information through library website and available them from remotely. The move will reduce need of a library users to come physical to the library since they can use it from where ever one is.

Knowledge management staff following closely on instruction given by a COSEKE Company technician Salehe Senga on how to use new document scanners.

INTRODUCTION OF SNAL TO BIGWA FOLK DEVELOPMENT COLLEGE

Students of Bigwa Folk Development College in Morogoro apprehended the move done by Sokoine University of Agriculture - SUA through Sokoine National Agricultural Library – SNAL of visiting them at their college and introduce to them its services to public which specifically aimed at agricultural information services through Mkulima Collection.

Speaking after the introductory presentation done on 19th May, 2022 by one of the team members from SNAL Mr. Jabir A. Jabir, most students noted that they always thought SNAL is for university students and their lecturers only. Also it was of interest to them to know that SNAL is also a public library in terms of agricultural information needs to the general public.

Speaking to them Mr. Shaban Chika, Mkulima Collection staff member adviced students that by knowing what can be available on Mkulima Collection so as to read and utilize better practices found through various information available as to do better in their farming, gardening and animal keeping and not only at their places but also to share it to their neighbors.

SNAL has been in campaign to promote the use of information in agriculture and its related activities as for getting quality agricultural outputs but also use of library and the resources available especially to its neighbors and Morogoro residents involved in farming and animal keeping to start with later the visitation will be extended to other regions.

The campaign also aimed at promoting SUA information repositories like the Mkulima Collection and SUA institutional repository - SUAIR to those who might be possible clients and interested in access and use the information that are deposited into those repositories.

Bigwa Fold Development College established in 1975 and the college has various fields of training including cookery and Food Nutrion, agriculture and animal husbandry, tailoring, masonry, electrical engineering also the college trains on entrepreneurship, business and language – Kiswahili. Currently the college has also most one hundred and fifty students

 Mr. Jabir A. Jabir doing a presentation on SNAL and Mkulima Collection while students following carefully.