24 Oct 2013

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) and Regional Agricultural and Environmental Innovations Networks-Africa (RAEIN-AFRICA) have established a collaboration to enhance their common interest.

Briefing members of the press about the collaboration during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the two organisations, CCARDESA executive director, Professor Timothy Simalenga said the cooperation was intended to improve the food security situation and the livelihood of people in the region.

Prof. Simalenga said the two organisations had agreed to establish collaboration in research, technology development, technology application and transfer, training and the future development of agriculture.

“We did not forget about capacity building because we need to capacitate people, to train young scientists, enhance their skills and also institutional capacity building as well,” said Prof. Simalenga.

“We also have a key area of what we call information technology or communication and knowledge management. We want to play a role in the region, to create an environment where farmers can make money and improve the food security for our people,” he added.

RAEIN-AFRICA executive director, Ms Doreen Shumba-Mnyulwa said through the collaboration, the parties intended to ensure that basic research was effectively utilised by different farmers and societies for the benefit of the region.

“We feel we will be able to multiply what we have been doing to reach more people in other countries that perhaps our activities have not yet reached. This is a unity that has been agreed upon for the betterment of livelihoods,” she added.

The parties have also reached an understanding to cooperate and collaborate on research and development that focuses on any aspect of food security and livelihood and natural resources management. It also included technology development, adaption and transfer practices that enhance the relationship between research industry and bio-safety and bio-diversity.

Other key areas of cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations would be in the development of products. The parties’ cooperation included exchange of research personnel, scientific experts, specialists and technical trainees. It also includes joint planning and development of research proposals and execution of research projects and programmes.

CCARDESA is a regional agricultural organisation that was launched by the ministers of agriculture and food security in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in July 2011. RAEIN-AFRICA is a regional network mandated to carry out research and development, primarily in agriculture and the environment, interfacing science, technology and society for poverty reduction and sustainable development in all the 15 SADC countries. ENDS