Source: COLLEGE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS submitted to
COLLEGE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS GREENHOUSE SOILLESS SYSTEM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029077
Grant No.
2022-70008-38347
Cumulative Award Amt.
$165,330.00
Proposal No.
2022-04616
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2022
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2026
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[AA-Q]- Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Areas
Project Director
Ogunmokun, A. A.
Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
ULIGA CAMPUS
MAJURO,MH 96960
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
As a Small Island State with less than 60,000 people, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability compounded by poor soil and limited space for food production especially in the two urban centers comprising of 75% of the total population. These factors combined with colonial legacies and dependency on food aid resulted in limited local food supply leading to an increase in NCDs and other diseases. The government is promoting the greenhouse soilless systems as one of the climate smart solutions to the problem. There is a need to expose, train and carry out research and extension on the operations of the technology. The College of Marshall Islands, the main institution providing higher and further education services to the country, developed an Associate Degree in Agroforestry Education for Health and Sustainable Livelihood (AS-AEHSL) with a NIFA Grant (21-04342) which will be starting in Spring 2023. The overall project goal is to help expand the college's infrastructure at the Uliga Campus for students' experiential learning that is necessary to support the new associate degree program so as to educate and produce food professionals able to solve food production issues in RMI. The specific objective is to acquire 4 greenhouses, 24 hydroponic systems and 8 aeroponics systems, and 1 aquaponic system for teaching and research into the appropriate greenhouse soilless technology for RMI. We will also build similar infrastructure at the Arrak Campus of the College that will be used to provide valuable experiences and learning opportunities on soilless farming to the farmers and community members through the sharing of information at farm demonstrations, workshops, and dissemination of research findings.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1027410106025%
2031430102025%
9037410106050%
Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
1430 - Greens and leafy vegetables; 7410 - General technology;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The overall project goal is to build Greenhouse Soilless (Hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic) infrastructure at the Uliga Campus of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) for student experiential learning that is necessary to support the new associate degree program - Associate of Science in- Agroforest Education for Health and Sustainable Livelihood- to educate and produce future food professionals able to solve food production issues in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The infrastructure that will be built will assist in implementing this curriculum. We will also build similar infrastructure at the Arrak Campus of the College that will be used to provide valuable experiences and learning opportunities on soilless farming to the farmers and community members through the sharing of information at farm demonstrations, workshops, and dissemination of research findings.Specific Objectives are:Acquire 4 greenhouse facilities (2 small sized ones at Uliga and 1 large and 1 small sized at Arrak), 24 hydroponic systems, 8 aeroponics systems, and an aquaponic system.Extend experiential learning opportunities to students through course-based activities/projects, internships, and work-study opportunities among those taking Introduction to Agriculture (+ 35 students/semester from Liberal Arts, Business, and Education Departments) and those to be registered to the Agroforestry program (+ 20/ semester).Develop and carry out research to compare different aspects of soilless cultivation vs conventional cultivation using soil medium.Run experiments with plant varieties, fertilization strategies and economics of running the greenhouse as an enterprise that can be used to provide training and extension to those wishing to build a similar greenhouse.Enhance food security among CMI students and within the Majuro community by increasing the production of food produce within the CMI Greenhouse gardens.Impart knowledge, skills and tools to external stakeholders like high school students and Laura farmers using the Arrak campus' Greenhouse Soilless infrastructure.
Project Methods
The greenhouse at the Uliga Campus will be used as a learning facility for the students taking the agriculture (AGR 101) course (Education, LA, Business Studies) and those that will register for the core courses in the two-year program for Associate degree in Agroforestry Education for Health Sustainable Livelihoods (AGF 106, AGF 107, AGF 108, AGF 201, AGF 202, AGF 203, AGF 205, AGF 207 and AGF 230). Under our supervision, students will maintain the garden while also learning skills such as monitoring, diagnostic and evaluation skills, research skills, and reporting and communication skills. Students will have actual hands-on opportunities to assemble soilless production systems and learn not only about the plant and soil sciences, but also applications of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics.At the Arrak campus, we will work with the College's Land Grant office to advance and complement the land grant's research and outreach activities while providing a place for internship for our students. The Arrak Campus is adjacent to Laura Village where the majority of vegetable growers in Majuro (Capital city of RMI) is based. This Arrak facilities will be used to provide valuable experiences and learning opportunities on soilless farming to the farmers and community members of Laura through the sharing of information at farm demonstrations, workshops, and dissemination of research findings.

Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The concept of the project was introduced to 45 students who took Introduction to Agriculture and 10 students registered into the AS degree in Agroforest Education for Health and Sustainable Livelihood. All the 7 Extension Agents of the CMI/CRE Land Grant took part in the preparations for the project. Changes/Problems:The original plan was to purchase 4 greenhouses but due to high shipping costs and other logistical issues, we went for a locally designed single greenhouse that is big enough to accomodate all the previous goals of the project. Dr. Ekta Madan, one of the co-Project Director has left the College so we need to replace her. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three staff members were trained in the operation and management of hydroponics systems. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The progress is reported in the College's Annual Report and to the College's Board of Regents. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will conclude the construction of the greenhouse and purchase the hydroponic/aeroponic systems.We will carry out theplans for running the systems. We will organize more training for the Field Technician in managing greenhouse soilless systems and integrate hydroponics/aeroponic systems content and fieldwork and promote opportunities for experiential learning and conducting research. We will hire workstudy students and train them on how to operate the systems and how to track and capture data related to comparative studies.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We originally budgeted for four greenhouses to be located 2 each at our Uliga and Arrak Campuses. However, we had problems with procuring and shipping the greenhouses from the mailand due to high costs and logistical problems. It was therefore decided to build just one greenhouse locally at the Arrak Campus. The tendering and bidding processes isconcluded and the tender for building the greenhouse is awarded to a local contractor. Once the construction is completed, the plan of work will continue as schedulled.

Publications


    Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We are currently in the process of recruiting a Field Technician who will be trained in the soilless system production along with others interested in the training.. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The project was announced by the College's President during the College's Commencement ceremony for the community and stakeholders' awareness. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will conclude the recruitment of the Field Technician, and acquire the greenhouses and hydroponic/aeroponic facilitiesthrough the colleges' tendering procedures. We will develop plans for building the systems, as well as plans for training and record keeping. We will assemble the greenhouse systems at both Arrak and Uliga Campuses with Physical Plant staff members playing a leading role in construction and initial setup.Students registered for AGR 101 and AGF 106 will be involved in building the hydroponics/ aeroponic systems. We will organize training for the Field Technician in managing greenhouse soilless systems and integrate hydroponics/aeroponic systems content and fieldwork into Spring courses (AGR 101, AGR 106, AGR 107) and promote opportunities for experiential learning and conducting research. We will hire work-study students and train themon how to operate the systems and how to track and capture data related to comparative studies.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The start of the project in September 2022 coincided with the lockdown of the country due to COVID-19 fears and the consequent shutdown of the country. After the lockdown was lifted,there were problems with the procurement of the soilless systems as many vendors do not ship directly to Majuro. We are now dealing directly with the manufacturers and will progress with the purchase soon.

    Publications