TRAINING ON PRUNING AND TRIMMING OF PLANTS

By C. Ramful (CFCEO), forestry_mauritius

In the past, several in-house training sessions were dispensed by the Forestry Service to its own employees but for the first time a training programme was conducted solely for another institution, viz, the Road Development Authority (RDA).

Manual Pruning

It all started with a meeting at the RDA Head office where a request was addressed to the Conservator of Forests for providing training to general workers engaged in embellishment and maintenance works along the motorway. Thereafter, it was agreed that the training would focus mainly on pruning and trimming techniques.

Motorised Pruning

Subsequently, I was assigned the co-ordination duties and a training programme was mounted under the guidance of Mr Z. Jhumka, Assistant Conservator of Forests.  The training sessions were held on the 3^rd and 4^th of July 2018 at the Forestry Service Head Office and Curepipe Forest Nursery respectively, between 9.00hrs and noon. The kick-off was given by Mr V. Tezoo,  Conservator of Forests, and the various sessions were animated successively by ACF Z. Jhumka, Ag DFO P. Balloo, SFCEO N. Joyram and myself. The attendees included 10 general workers and one leading hand from the RDA.

Use of Lopper

Motorised Hedge Trimming

Power point presentations were made on the following:-

  ·  Importance of landscaping and embellishment;

  ·  Types of plants used;

  ·  Various stages in plant raising and costs; and

  ·   Maintenance and care of plants.

Controlling direction of tree fall 

This was followed by practical sessions on:-

·         Different pruning and trimming techniques;

·         Tree felling;

·         Types of tools and equipments used;

·         Proper handling and maintenance of tools and equipments;

·         Hazard identification and safety precautions; and

·         Use of personal protective equipments.

Explanation on hazard identification

The whole programme was concluded by a short evaluation exercise followed by refreshments. It was a really refreshing and enriching experience for both trainers and trainees.