COM-FSM Agriculture students will have better access to computers to complete assignments and conduct online research over the Internet. Moreover, they can research other higher education institutions, scholarships, and employment opportunities.
The Agriculture Division might utilize the computers to develop brochures advertising compost for sale from its piggery waste management system. All proceeds from the sales go into a student fund.
Attendees at the donation ceremony included U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Peter A. Prahar, USDA NRCS Resource Conservationist Paul Lake, COM-FSM Vice President Ringlen Ringlen, Agriculture Division Chair Professor Kiyoshi Phillip, and Instructional Affairs Director of Academic Programs Karen Simion.
In his remarks, Prahar noted that USDA-NRCS offers technical assistance “free of charge, to FSM residents through their national, state, and local governmental agencies and organizations.”
He also expressed his “hope [that] this event and this donation remind us of the twenty-five year partnership between the FSM and the NRCS — a partnership that has worked to ensure a sustainable future for all FSM citizens.”
NRCS has a history of partnership and providing technical assistance to COM-FSM’s Agriculture Department, including assisting in the design of a piggery waste management system, soils training for COM-FSM and high school students, and raised bed gardening training.
COM-FSM Agriculture Professor Kiyoshi Phillip is a longtime supporter of NRCS and was active in the Pohnpei Soil and Water Conservation District.
