USP donates research equipment to Kastom Garden Association
PRESS RELEASE – August 6 2020
The University of the South Pacific (USP), through the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCESD) collaborated with the Solomon Islands based Kastom Garden Association (KGA) last month in a study on the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on community food security, education and livelihood in selected villages around Honiara and the Guadalcanal plains.
In appreciation of the collaboration and to assist with ongoing survey and research capabilities, the university donated a tablet and an audio recording device to the KGA management this week at the university’s Solomon Islands campus in Honiara.
The tablet contents a “KoBo Toolbox” software application, which is handy for researchers and social scientists to undertake community studies and be able to analyse data collected on a daily basis.
USP Solomon Islands campus senior staff representative, Leila Galo welcomed the KGA management team on behalf of the Acting Campus Director, Dr Patricia Rodie at the handover.
“On behalf of the USP Solomon Island Campus’s Acting Campus Director, I am privileged to be invited to the handing over ceremony of the voice recorder and tablet with the installed KoBo Toolkit, to KGA.
“I believe this will indeed support their work and research with Solomon Islands communities and I look forward to see KGA utilize this opportunity and more collaboration with USP in the future,” said Ms Galo.
Speaking from USP’s Laucala campus, PaCESD Acting Director, Dr Morgan Wairiu acknowledged KGA’s support as well as the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the financial support towards the survey.
“USP is happy to partner with KGA in conducting the study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on community food, health and livelihood.
“In appreciation of KGA’s endless support, USP is donating a tablet and voice recorder to KGA and we know that KGA will use the equipment for its monitoring of food security interventions in the future. The university is also grateful to CTA and IFAD for providing financial support for the study,” Dr Wairiu said.
Dr Wairiu also acknowledged the USP Solomon Islands campus’s Acting Campus Director, Dr Patricia Rodie and the USP PaCESD survey team for supporting the research and facilitating the handover in Honiara.
ENDS