tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51983166018834747152024-02-07T18:22:08.830-08:00African TripsAAAPDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114381621190702735noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198316601883474715.post-67371367738283594102016-02-13T15:52:00.003-08:002016-02-13T15:54:34.404-08:00AAAPD Jan-Feb 2016 Newsletter<div class="MsoNormal">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b>Letter from the 2016-18 President of AAAPD<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnve62sByxp2CthW3veGS3vEYeD5O94r-R4KNHMIukRepzJHB9slUc4dXlrukn7W3qNgA5dNubIIpIiZL3UoYSO0VRSyciAdrFSkzBiXM1732FT65ah29QnNF3rS9ThyphenhyphenoIePMgCEpkI-4/s1600/Dianah.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnve62sByxp2CthW3veGS3vEYeD5O94r-R4KNHMIukRepzJHB9slUc4dXlrukn7W3qNgA5dNubIIpIiZL3UoYSO0VRSyciAdrFSkzBiXM1732FT65ah29QnNF3rS9ThyphenhyphenoIePMgCEpkI-4/s1600/Dianah.png" /></a>Dear AAAPD members, partners and friends, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to start by thanking you for your continued
support and partnership with the Association of Agricultural Professionals in
the Diaspora (AAAPD), since our official launch in 2008. It is your continued support and good
partnership, coupled with a very devoted Board of Directors, that has ensured
that our association continues to grow and experience success during the past 8
years, as we pursue our vision of "Transforming African smallholder
agriculture through resource mobilization, intermediate technology intervention,
information dissemination, and networking”. I am very honored to serve as the President
for this new term starting Jan 2016.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The legacy of AAAPD began in 2006 when the Founding Board
Members saw the need to form this association to act as a catalyst for
agricultural development in Africa by tapping into the expertise of Africans in
the diaspora. Our 1<sup>st</sup>
President (2008-2011), Dr. Peter Jeranyama had a mammoth task to lead AAAPD
from its inception to a point where we became known across Africa, USA, and Canada.
Dr. Jeranyama is also a fulltime professor at Massachusetts University. Through
his leadership we successfully received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation to get established, build our website (<a href="http://www.aaapd-africa.org/">http://www.aaapd-africa.org/</a>), and develop
a database of African agricultural professionals based in the diaspora,
capturing their areas of expertise which provide a resource for organizations/ institutes/private
companies/individuals who access it for various purposes related to
agricultural development in Africa. Currently, our database has over 2000
professional members with expertise ranging from Agronomy/Crop Sciences, Soil
sciences, Animal sciences (Nutrition, Breeding, Health), Agricultural and
Resource Economics/Policy, Agribusiness, and Biotechnology. These areas of
expertise can be easily transferred to benefit Africa. Besides this, the
association successfully engaged with various leading agricultural organizations
and institutes based in Africa. This led to the establishment of partnerships and
linkages between African diaspora and organizations such as RUFORUM, FARA, AU/NEPAD,
AGRA, and several African Universities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
From 2012-15 we had our 2<sup>nd</sup> President
(Prof Andrew Manu, Iowa State University) building the association further by
expanding into Europe in 2012, where our new Branch was launched led by Dr.
Linley Chiwona-Karltun based at the Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. In 2014,
AAAPD and the sister branch in Europe hosted the first event in Sweden during
the biennial Nordic Days Conference. With one of our main objectives of facilitating
linkages between Western corporations/institutes/universities with similar
African institutes and universities, we have successfully hosted several events
at the World Food Prize conference held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, through
the generous support of Monsanto Company, Iowa State University and Michigan
State University. These events have provided a platform for various leaders
from Africa (Dr. Strive Masiyiwa-AGRA; Dr. Makinde-UN/NEPAD; Dr. Lindiwe M.
Sibanda-FANRPAN; Prof M. Rukuni-WALA etc.) to engage directly with potential
partners in the US agricultural industry that included executives from private
sector companies, donor community (Gates Foundation, USAID), and leaders from
various US Universities. In Canada, AAAPD
has continued to facilitate linkages and collaboration between <span lang="EN-GB">African and Canadian
institutions in a number of themes supported by the International Development
Research Centre (IDRC, Ottawa) through various calls for proposals. In this
regard, AAAPD has worked with RUFORUM to expedite these partnerships in
response to IDRC initiatives, thereby continuing to support our shared goals
for capacity building in Africa. </span>In
addition, several of our Board members have jointly developed curriculum with our
partners in Africa for agricultural courses to be offered at African
Universities, as well as facilitated study abroad programs for agricultural
students at Iowa State University to study for one semester in Ghana and South
Africa. Board members also participated in a NEPAD initiative to develop the
African <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Agricultural
Education and Skills Improvement Framework (AESIF).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
As our association
continues to grow, it has become even more important for us to strengthen the
partnerships and linkages that we developed over the past 8 years. In this regard, I would like to recognize and
appreciate the contributions and strong leadership of my two predecessors. Although we are currently experiencing a
downward trend in the agricultural industry, with company mergers and cutbacks
in the private sector, and reduced donor funding opportunities for development
work, I would like to borrow a quote from Aristotle Onassis, “It is during our
darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”. The light for Africa is
its bountiful youth. Much of the future employment for the youth of Africa will
be related to agriculture, farming and agribusiness. During my term as
president of AAAPD, I would like to encourage all our members, partners, and
friends to stay focused on strengthening our efforts to promote agricultural
development in Africa because this has the greatest potential to ensure that the
world can produce enough food to feed the rapidly growing population that will
reach 10 billion by year 2050. Africa has the capacity to help feed the world,
if we can stay focused on transferring the best technologies available to
enable African farmers to maximize crop and livestock productivity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We ask you all to join us and help to make 2016 -18 a great time
period for;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->African farmers to benefit more from the various
advanced agricultural technologies available today,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->African women farmers to be equipped with the
skills, technologies and enabling environment to reap the financial rewards for
their hard work in agriculture, while ensuring food security,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Providing quality training and skills
development for African youths on agri-prenuership covering production,
processing, value addition, and marketing that will ensure that our African
youth view farming as a profitable business and,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Supporting more graduate students taking Masters
and PhDs programs in Agricultural subjects (Agronomy, Biotechnology, Plant
Breeding, Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Agribusiness, etc.). This will
involve facilitating enrollment and funding of African students at Universities
in US, Canada and Europe where our AAAPD members can help as mentors and supervisors.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please feel free to reach-out to me with any ideas/suggestions
as I welcome your input. My contact email address is: <a href="mailto:dianah.ngonyamo@gmail.com">dianah.ngonyamo@gmail.com</a>. We also invite you to visit our website
regularly, for updates and opportunity information for you and the continent of
Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank You,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Dianah
Rumbidzai Ngonyama, PhD <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>AAAPD President<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>_____________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Board of Directors:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Dr. Daniel Karanja (AAAPD Vice President, and Executive Director of the
Partnership to Eradicate Poverty & Hunger in Africa, Washington D.C.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Peter Jeranyama (AAAPD Director for Africa Outreach, and Professor
at Massachusetts University)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Andrew Manu (AAAPD Director for US Outreach, and Professor at Iowa
State University, USA)<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Stephen Machado (AAAPD Director for Communication and Information,
and Professor at Oregon State University, USA)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Linley Chiwona-Karltun (AAAPD-Europe President, and Research
scientist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Edmund Mupondwa (AAAPD Director for Canada Outreach, and Manager
for Central Agric Econs Administration, Canada)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Thandiwe Nleya (AAAPD Director for Gender Issues)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Samuel Essah (AAAPD Director for Finance, and Professor at Colorado
State University, USA)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ngolia Kimanzu (AAAPD-Europe COO)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
AAAPDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114381621190702735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198316601883474715.post-68574566858863274162012-12-28T11:58:00.002-08:002012-12-28T12:03:04.594-08:00Kampala Ministerial Conference on Higher Education in Agriculture in Africa <br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Daniel Karanja &
Peter Jeranyama’s Report on Kampala Ministerial Conference on Higher Education
in Agriculture in Africa (CHEA), Munyonyo Kampala 15</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">– 19<sup>th</sup>
November 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H2qu7XmwdzK6P3UGHk1Urx09BudtkSvnE0asNkBD95_N_-rHj_4_ZeaIElwT3ZF9gyorsZu1OORv8_39oCkdmEL2naIzzZmnqi5tpX19BxuwQxQZ1utilLh6xrBE3V3p1Qh_pt5AqT0/s1600/Kampala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H2qu7XmwdzK6P3UGHk1Urx09BudtkSvnE0asNkBD95_N_-rHj_4_ZeaIElwT3ZF9gyorsZu1OORv8_39oCkdmEL2naIzzZmnqi5tpX19BxuwQxQZ1utilLh6xrBE3V3p1Qh_pt5AqT0/s1600/Kampala.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Why We Participated:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5198316601883474715" name="OLE_LINK1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to participate in
an African led initiatives in higher education in agriculture<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to discuss
partnerships with AU/NEPAD Coordinating Agency, RUFORUM, FARA and others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to be recognized by
the African political leadership that AAAPD is a legitimate partner in
agriculture development and needs to be invited at the table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to foster new
relationship and strengthen existing ones;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to provide input in
the Ministerial Communique, and ensure recognition of the role and potential of
the African Diaspora to Africa’s higher education development<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">AAAPD Attendees<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Peter Jeranyama, President of AAAPD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daniel Karanja, Director
of Africa Outreach, AAAPD. Daniel was also
represented his institution, Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa ,
which paid for his expenses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Activities<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Peter presented on <b>Leveraging
Agricultural Knowledge, Innovation & Resources through Collaboration with
African Diaspora Networks in the Theme 6 Panel Discussion (see Program and
other Conference Proceedings at: </b></span><a href="http://www.ruforum.org/content/proceedings-ministerial-conference-higher-education-agriculture-africa-chea"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">http://www.ruforum.org/content/proceedings-ministerial-conference-higher-education-agriculture-africa-chea</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">) </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daniel participated
in drafting the final Ministerial communiqué (see copy at: </span><a href="http://www.ruforum.org/sites/default/files/file/CHEA/CHEA%20FINAL/Communique%20Final.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://www.ruforum.org/sites/default/files/file/CHEA/CHEA%20FINAL/Communique%20Final.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daniel and Peter
met and discussed about AAAPD with representative from several organizations
including (i) The World Bank- Washington, D.C. (Eiha Pehu and David Nielson),
(ii) RUFORUM (Prof. Ekwamu Adipala and Moses Osiru), (iii) CAADP (Prof. Richard
Mkandawire), (iv) FARA (Dr. Monty Jones), (v) AGRA (Dr. Rufaro Mundakadze, (vi)
ANAFE (Dr. Aissetou Yaye, Executive Director), (vii)PROTA (Dr. Achigan-Dako
& Dr. Zacharia Magombo), (viii) Vice Chancellors from COMESA countries (ix)
Education and Agriculture/Lands Ministers from COMESA (Minister of Land Reform,
Zimbabwe [Dr. Herbert Murerwa], Vice Minister of Education, Mozambique [ Prof.
Doutor Arlindo Chilundo], Minister of
Agriculture and Animal Resources [Dr. Agnes Matilda Kalibata], (x)SLU (Swedish
University of Agriculture) [Dr. Linley Chiwona-Karltun], (xi) AU-Commission of
Education {Beatrice Khamati-Njenga}, (xii) USAID {Kaarli Sundsmo}, (xiii)
Rockefeller Foundation, (xiv) IDRC (Pascal Sangiga), (xv) Winrock
International, (xvi) FARNPAN {Dr. Lindiwe Sibanda), (xvii) Min of Agriculture
& Min. of Finance, Uganda and others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Outcomes
of the side meetings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the <b>World
Bank</b> lunch meeting with Eiha and David, they suggested that AAAPD help
strengthen national capacities in implementing CAADP agriculture investment
plans as required under the CAADP process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> 22 countries are at the stage signed their CAADP
compacts but often are constrained by lack
of implementing skills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The WB suggested AAAPD
raise a team of 20 appropriately skilled people to work as consultants for
countries with respect to the CAADP process. The full cost for 2-3 weeks assignment
may be about $400K; the World Bank can
cover half the cost and AAAPD raise the other half from BMGF or otherwise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">AAAPD Secretariat was
discussed and Eiha/David felt that AAAPD
will need a Secretariat to be more
effective (an idea that the BMGF is beginning to warm up to—especially now that
the WB is taking us seriously)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Meeting with CEO of
<b>FARNPAN</b>---FANRPAN would like to involve the Diaspora for capacity
building at project level. FARNPAN has the mandate to implement (??? NOT SURE
ABOUT THIS) a SADC CAAPD compact. They run $6M program and would invite AAAPD
to request a formal affiliation and terms of reference be drawn. The idea is
for FARNPAN and AAAPD to draft <b>contr</b>act for each project we are involved
in and progress measured against that contract. The major focus areas may be on
policy analysis and role of gender in meeting millennium development goals <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Executive Secretary, FARA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">—FARA would like to involve AAAPD in planning and co-hosting
a Diaspora regional meeting, that will highlight the role and contributions of
the Diaspora and help create tangible partnerships and programs. Key issues are
reaching out to existing capacity in the Diaspora to complement what is
available in the continent, and also thinking about replacing retiring cadre of
scientists and other professionals. <b>FARA is concerned about the absence of
skilled staff in the continent</b> and low publication levels by African
scientist---these are areas the Diaspora could help in. <b>FARA recognizes the
skills resident in the D</b>iaspora and it is good t<b>o tap into it to enhance
capacity on projects</b> on the ground. FARA is pleading for Action! Action!
Action!. <b>IDRC – we had a meeting with IDRC officers r</b>esponsible for the
East <b>and Southern Africa region based in</b> Nairobi. They are keen to work with
the Diaspora and are f<b>unding </b>a Diaspora-related project with AGRA. We should
follow-up with a potential concept/proposal, especially throughout Canada
Diaspora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ANAFE</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – is keen to involve the Diaspora in its program. Need to peruse their
projects and determine entry points, while thinking of new creative ideas. Idea
is to develop joint projects and look for joint funds. One such project where
we could collaborate is the UNIBRAIN funded by DANIDA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">CAADP AU/NEPAD Agency</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – There is need for political leadership in Africa
to recognize Diaspora assets. The Diaspora can also be involved in Monitoring
& Evaluation of NEPAD/CAADP programs, modeling change, and in creative business
development. To achieve the 6% agricultural growth and meet the 10% GDP
allocations to agriculture as pledged in the Maputo declaration of 2003, Africa
need significant increase in human resources, and the Diaspora can help support
that. Non state actors such as the Diaspora involvement and CSO’s involvement
is key in the CAADP process and in raising the level of advocacy to engage
government, donors, etc and in assessing impacts of programs and investments (need
to show data that demonstrate good returns to investments in agriculture—data
collection is scant).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">RUFORUM</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> –need creative ways of strengthening capacities. We
need to make best use of what we have. <b>ICT con</b>nectivity has become
better but more needs to be done. <b>Need to</b> create platforms that allows
sharing of information<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Need to support
practical training –like on the job training while completing degrees. Utilize human
resources from the North. Develop capacities with the right skills—focus must
be on the entire agricultural value chain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Concentrate
opportunities within North-South and South-South cooperation’s—must all rally
around the CAADP framework<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">AGRA </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">– Developing capacities should also include infrastructural
considerations ---students should have access to good dorms and lab facilities.
<b>Need </b>to be innovative at problem solving, don’t reinvent problems. <b>Ensur</b>e
implementation of programs and enhance farmer productivity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All must be supply
driven to demand driven investments<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Final Communiqué reads in
part</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Commit</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">, in
view of the above observations, to support local and international partnerships
which address critical capacity needs for sustainable agricultural development.
<b>This includes partnerships amongst universities
and engagement with communities, private sector and the African Diaspora’s.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
the Conclusion of Partnerships Side Event:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Minister of Lands and
Rural Resettlements (also Acting Min. of Higher Education), Republic of
Zimbabwe, Dr. Herbert Murerwa read this statement: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Africans
in the Diaspora are an important resource to the continent. They contribute
immense resources in terms of their remittances and development projects. But
they possess greater resource and value that needs to be harnessed:
intellectual skills, institutional resources and networks. The Association of
African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD) is recognized by
this Forum as a critical resource to Africa’s development efforts and will be
formally affiliated with the African Union/NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme<b> </b>(CAADP).CAADP
serves as a conduit through which Africans in Diaspora can contribute their
skills, resources and networks in support of African-led development
initiatives.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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AAAPDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114381621190702735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198316601883474715.post-45472397440806287112012-12-28T10:53:00.003-08:002012-12-28T11:49:16.662-08:00Southern Africa Trip<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Southern African
Report<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September-October,
2009<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Background<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of AAAPD’s key objectives is to initiate and lay foundation for the development
of strong and effective linkages between African agricultural professionals in
the Diaspora and African institutions such as the AU/NEPAD, FARA, RECs,
governments, African universities, NARS, AGRA, SADC, COMESA, FAO, CGIAR,
smallholder farmers associations and agribusinesses. This foundation is
necessary in the building very strong partnerships and linkages with these
African institutions. For this reason,
AAAPD organized a regional trip to the SADC region in September – October,
2009. This trip accorded delegates an opportunity to familiarize themselves
with what is going on and discuss ways to partner with key institutions on the
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
order to ensure maximize the level of contact with African colleagues and
institutions on the ground, AAAPD delegates were sponsored to participate in a
joint plenary/symposium with the African Crop Science Society Conference that
took place September 27 – October, 1,
2009 in Cape Town. The theme of the conference was Science and Technology:
Supporting food security in Africa. Subsequently, the delegates also scheduled
a series of meetings in the region in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Prior to
the trip, significant pre-conference planning and appointment scheduling was
undertaken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
report has four sections and a summary statement based on the countries that
were visited as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
1: South Africa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
2: Zambia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
3: Zimbabwe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
4: Malawi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
5: Summary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section 1 South
Africa (Cape Town)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">African Crop
Science Society Conference (ACSS)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund Mupondwa</st1:personname>
and Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Stephen Machado</st1:personname><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Cape Town trip was highly successful as AAAPD delegates participated in a joint
plenary/symposium with the ACSS. The ACSS conference was chaired by Dr GD
Jourbert, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, with welcoming address by
Professor Kasem Zaki Ahmed, President of ACSS. This was followed by the official
opening address by Ms. Helen Zille, Premier of Western Cape Province, who gave
an excellent speech focusing on governance and leadership. She also stated the
need to empower small-scale farmers to lobby their politicians; the need for
scientists to be more involved in policy formulation; the need for African
institutions at all levels to create the right social political environment to
foster agricultural development; the need for greater investment in
agriculture. It was interesting to note that the Premier made specific
reference to the role of Africans in the Diaspora in reversing the brain drain
through active engagement with the continent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Three
key note addresses followed: i) Professor Mohammad Karaan (Perspectives on
science and technology supporting food security in Africa); ii) Professor
Stephen Baenzinger (The future of plant breeding); iii) Professor Agnes
Mwang’ombe (Food and nutrition security and poverty issues in Eastern and
Central Africa: Still a challenge to the realization of millennium development
goals and gender diversity). One unifying theme from these speeches related to
developing multi-disciplinary capacities and approaches in resolving Africa’s
complex problems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the opening ceremonies, AAAPD had the privilege of meeting with Professor Agnes
Mwang’ombe to congratulate her on the keynote speech as well as brief her on
the AAAPD initiative. She was extremely impressed that such an initiative was
coming to fruition. Prof Mwang’ombe would like to be updated as we progress with
AAAPD next steps. In particular, she pointed out many areas in which AAAPD
could help. For instance, she noted that the African educational curriculum is
very obsolete; this is an area in which capacity building is highly needed.
Prof Mwang’ombe talked about formal and informal capacity building especially
in relation to working with small-scale farmers. She also suggested that the
millennium development goals set for 2015 will be far from being achieved
without the necessary conditions for developing multi-disciplinary capacities for
meeting the many challenges that lie ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the afternoon, AAAPD members spent time attending a number of concurrent
sessions and meeting with African scholars from various universities and
institutions. There were a few concurrent sessions focused on improving
livelihoods of small scale farmers. Of interest, the issue of capacity building
had a new dimension in one presentation on biosafety capacity building project
for sub-Saharan Africa. AAAPD also met
with presenters for this session and learned with interest that this project in
fact received funding from BMGF and is currently implementing a 3-year
biosafety capacity building project in sub-Saharan Africa in the field of
modern biotechnology. There was a presentation that focused on capacity
building in the development of indigenous technologies in the processing of
agricultural produce and its implications for food security and increased
income among rural households. This area was identified as significantly
lacking. For instance, in Nigeria, 85% of processors and marketers of cocoyam
were women. However, this value-chain does not exist. Within the area of
value-added production, there was also an interesting paper on bio-fuels from
indigenous energy crops. The question of how small scale farmers would be
integrated into this value-chain was raised.
A session by Dr. GYK Kanyama-Phiri discussed strengthening university
contribution to national development: The role of RUFORUM (Regional
Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture) which is an umbrella
body for 25 universities in Eastern,
Central, and Southern Africa formed in 2004 (more will be said about RUFORUM
below). This is a subset of sessions attended throughout the conference by
AAAPD members. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following day involved more concurrent session plus the AAAPD symposium which
was well organized and attracted a large audience that was highly
representative of African professionals from the continent. The symposium,
Chaired by Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Stephen Machado</st1:personname>,
included a keynote speech delivered by Professor Mandivamba Rukuni and a
session presentation by Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund Mupondwa</st1:personname>.
The keynote speech provided an excellent context for African development
issues, with a focus on <span class="b1">rebuilding
African leadership. Professor Rukuni provided a great introduction to his
recent book </span>'Being Afrikan - Rediscovering the Traditional
Unhu-Ubuntu-Botho Pathways of Being Human" in which he challenged African
scholars at the symposium to take up the call to transformational leadership.
Edmund gave a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation on the vision and mission of
AAAPD and the role of the Diaspora in economic development, including
objectives of AAAPD within the 12 months of the planning grant and where AAAPD
next steps would be past the initial planning phase. The principle of
partnership with African colleagues was emphasized and was well received. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
very lively discussion followed, with all the speakers stating that the AAAPD
concept was very long-overdue and highly welcome. Many saw AAAPD’s the
relevance in many areas of agricultural development. It was very interesting to
note the complete unanimity with which all the speakers articulated capacity
building as a key area in which AAAPD could have a major positive impact.
Subsequent to the AAAPD symposium, African scholars presented themselves and
signed up for AAAPD membership. Up to 100 scientists signed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">After the AAAPD symposium,
Edmund and Stephen attended a symposium organized by RUFORUM. This interaction
with RUFORUM’s Dr. Moses Osiru (Program Manager) and his associates was most
informative and constructive. Dr. Osiru
and his associates highly embraced the AAAPD concept and viewed AAAPD as a very
useful resource that can truly enable RUFORUM to achieve its objectives. For
instance, Dr. Osiru stated that although the University of Malawi Bunda College
has been selected as the lead centre for Ph.D. training in Agricultural
Resource Economics and Agriculture (with the first 25 PhD students set to start
in September 2009), there were significant implications for the capacity to
offer this program. Dr. Osiru saw AAAPD as a stronger resource that support
strengthening of capacity in this area. Issues that were raised by attendees
included: 1) what is the vision beyond the project? 2) research funding is very
short term; 3) faced with a lot of needs but with very scarce resources; 4) can
only do a fraction of “wish-list” and hence need to set priorities and move
forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Side Meetings<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">During the ACSS, Edmund and
Stephen also organized in-person meetings with a number of African delegates in
order to gain further understanding of issues. These include <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Professor Pangirai Tongoona
(African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Kwazulu-Natal),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Professor Kwaramba Mariga
(University of Limpopo),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Jane Alumira (SADC-ICART
– Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training in the
SADC Region), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Francis Nang’ayo
(African Agricultural Technology Foundation),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Obi Udengwu (University
of Nigeria Genetic Resources and Conservation),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr (Mrs) N.I. Odiaka
(University of Agriculture Makurdi Nigeria),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Ignacio Casper Madakadze
(University of Pretoria Dept of Plant Production and Soil Science), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Constance Chiremba
(Agricultural Research Council South Africa), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Lerotholi L. Qhobela
(SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre – Lusaka Zambia), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Olawale Taiwo Adeniji
(The World Vegetable Centre – Arusha Tanzania),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Norn Looney (President
Global Horticulture Initiative – Arusha Tanzania), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Regina Ntumngia Chiang (MINADER-
Cameroon),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. F.R Kutu Soil Fertility
and Chemistry University of Limpopo),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Olusola A. Ladokun (Lead
City University of Ibadan –Biochemistry),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Lawrence G. Owoeye
(Agricultural Research Council), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Kalaluka Munyinda (<st1:personname w:st="on">Department of Agricultural Research</st1:personname> and University
of Zambia),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Mick Mwala (Professor
and Head Crop Science University of Zambia),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Judith Lungu (Dean,
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Professor Mandivamba Rukuni
(formerly with The W.K. Kellogg Foundation),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Gospel Omanya (African
Technology Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya), <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Moses Maliro (Banda
College of Agriculture, University of Malawi)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Godfrey Khumalo
(University of Swaziland, Swaziland)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Pamela Paparu (National
Crops Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Daniel Mugendi (Kenyatta
University, Nairobi, Kenya)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. E Aigbekaen (Cocoa
Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. J.S. Tenywa (African
Crop Science Journal Secretariat, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Rafael Masinga
(Instituto Superior Politenico De Manica, Manica, Mozambique)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Paul Mapfumo
(SOFECSA-Soil fertility Conservation For Southern Africa, CIMMYT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Jedidah Danson
(ISAAA-International Service for the Acquisition of Agricultural Biotech
Application, South Africa)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. W.I.H Makumba (Chitedze
Research Station, Malawi)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Issues Identified<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Need for
capacity building<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Relevant
curricula; most universities using colonial curricula that has no relevance to
current problems and technological needs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Lack of experienced scientists; most in the
Diaspora<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Lack of adequate resources for education,
research, and extension (computers, books, internet, personnel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lack of capacity
to deliver agricultural research and development (“broken pipes”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Need to translate
research results into tangible technology that could be used by farmers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lack of
investment in rural infrastructure (roads, grain storage depots)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lack of inputs
and markets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Poor and
declining fertility<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Too many
networks or organizations working on similar missions; need to consolidate to
be more effective in sourcing funds and execution of work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Need to support,
educate, and empower women<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Establishment of
regional centers to facilitate AAAPD work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">All approve of
the AAAPD mission and want to be part of the project<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One outcome from the
meetings in Cape Town was the fact that AAAPD was able to link RUFORUM recently
with an academic institution in Canada to help them develop a joint proposal on
a Climate Change Research Initiative recently announced by IDRC. The request
was sent to Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund Mupondwa</st1:personname> in
Canada who facilitated the linkage. RUFORUM had earlier sent an email to
request to AAAPD through Edmund help in linking them with a Canadian university
or research institution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Section 2. Zambia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Edmund Mupondwa and Dr. Peter Jeranyama<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The meetings in Zambia were
arranged ahead of time through both official channels and personal
contacts. Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund
Mupondwa</st1:personname> met with the University of Zambia Faculty Council
and gave a PowerPoint presentation. The meeting was chaired by the Dean of the
School of Agricultural Sciences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Attendance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Judith Lungu – Dean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Mick Mwala<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Egbert Yambayamba<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Davies Lungu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Moses Daura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Himoomga Bernard Moonga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Elijah Phiri<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Mwikisa Likulunga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Victor Shitumbanuma<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Raphael Jere<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Dr. Kalaluka Munyinda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The meeting started with an
introduction by the Dean who gave an overview of the history of the School and
the significance of capacity building. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The School of Agricultural Sciences was
established in 1971 and offers five undergraduate programs (five-year duration)
leading a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree in the following:
Agricultural Economics and Extension, Animal Science, Crop Science, Land
management and Food Science and Technology. The School also offers two
Master of Science programs (two-year duration) in Agronomy (with the option to specialize
in either Crop Science of Soil Science) and in Animal Science. The Crop Science
option has been developed into a SADC regional MS program, training students
from the SADC region.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The introduction was
followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Edmund on AAAPD. This AAAPD concept
and initiative was very well received by the entire Faculty Council, with all
the members feeling that it is a long overdue concept whose time has come. A
very lively discussion followed; it focused on a range of issues constraining
African educational and research institutions from excelling in many areas of
science, technology, and innovation. A number of key points raised included the
following: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Institutional physical
infrastructure is an impediment to science and innovation. For instance,
scientific advances in Food Science/Processing have been frustrated by the lack
of pilot plant capacity to scale up technologies. Does capacity building include the ability to
have access to pilot plant facility? There is no capacity to even assess
research and development (R&D) in this value-added area in terms of its
impact on small scale farmers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Issues Indentified<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What models do
we need to transfer knowledge to small scale farmers and rural entrepreneurs?
Do we need a model village as part of initiatives that AAAPD can support? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lack of business
models for the transfer of technology from university laboratories to small
scale farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">How do we tailor
technology to rural women to enhance farm productivity and value chain
integration? Can AAAPD provide
capacities in this area by working in partnership with African institutions?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It is important
to overcome the misconception that everyone in the village is a farmer (or that
everyone in the rural area is a farmer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It is important
to integrate the rural economy to the mainstream economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Women in higher
education: The University has a good gender balance in its student enrolment.
However, it was also observed that the faculty will continue to enhance the
enrolment of women proportionate with their prominent role in agriculture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Technological
obsolescence: There was lively debate
around technological obsolescence as it affects teaching including: lack of
laboratory equipment and supplies (e.g., the lab at the school still uses
microscopes that were purchased when the school opened in 1971); lack of
computers and internet access compounded by poor connection/download time (it
takes the Dean one hour for her web page to open - if it opens at all);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Information
systems: Lack of online scientific journal access. What role can AAAPD play in
strengthening capacity to access and use different sources of information? This
lack of access has been particularly felt at graduate student research level? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Inability to
offer course segments in the semester because there is no one to teach them;
inability to complete degree offering for students who have to postpone taking
the course until a professor is available to teach the course; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lack of career
development programs for faculty (conferences, collaborative research,
mentorship programs for both women and men; sabbaticals; etc) that enable
researchers</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> and educators to systematically
upgrade knowledge and skills.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The issue of
collaboration was quite prominent during the discussion. The Council felt that
human resource constraints could be addressed by greater multi-institutional
partnerships between universities, NARS, extension agencies, farmers'
organizations, private sector, other relevant stakeholder that are essential to
institutional change. However, again
this is constrained by insufficient capacity to develop viable and sustainable
multi-institutional partnerships. What
role can AAAPD play in building synergies among institutions and programmes in
agricultural education, research and extension?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Integrated
approaches: The Council pointed out that increased collaborations will provide
human resources that would make it possible to upgrade the faculty’s curriculum
for teaching and learning in a way that recognizes the need for integrated
approaches in view of growing interdependence between science disciplines. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Council also
emphasized the need for long-term view. The School is constantly bombarded by
short-term offers of support in the form of capacity building that are
fragmented and uncoordinated from all sorts of donors. To a large extent, most
of these capacity development initiatives did not yield expected outcomes
precisely because they were both fragmented and only targeted at single and
non-integrated issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There was also a
suggestion to have model universities. In other words, is it possible for AAAPD
to adopt model universities or institutions to demonstrate the importance of
sustainable capacity building initiatives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Council also
felt that a lot needs to be done in order prepare students better for their
careers. There are currently no mentorship programs for young scientists. AAAPD
provided an example of Canada’s FSWEP (Federal Government Student Work
Experience Program) which provides summer experience for students in federal
government laboratories and other institutions across the country. One of the most beneficial aspect of a
program such as FSWEP is the fact that it helps to create and integrate
vertical links in the entire education system from formal schooling to
professional training<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Information
needs were identified. The irony is that even where locally relevant
educational materials based on agricultural research experiences in Africa
exist, there are not knowledge-based innovation systems that enable efficient
access to this information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">In a nutshell,
the meeting at the University of Zambia echoed issues that we came across in
South Africa: lack of institutional capacity to offer training due to
financial, physical, technological, and human resource constraints. The Faculty
Council felt the AAAPD could play a very pivotal and supportive role in
mobilizing resources; even technologies considered to be obsolete in North
America would be significantly more functional compared to what is currently
used in some African institutions. This discussion also extended to the
Ministry of Agriculture where it was noted that similar institutional constraints
cited above have virtually made many forms of collaborative research, training,
and extension impossible. Government research was still characterized by very
weak human and institutional capacity for designing, implementing, and managing
scientific research. It was also noted that there were deficiencies in
agricultural research management and scientific quality, a point that was also
echoed during the ACSS meetings and common to most sub-Saharan Africa. In fact,
the current</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> institutional and programmatic
separation of universities and national agricultural research institutes was
seen as a major stumbling block to science, technology, and innovation. The
Council asked: “Can AAAPD play a role in breaking down these institutional and
programmatic barriers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Side Meetings<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">The
Zambia meetings were quite hectic because of limited time allocation to this
activity. Nevertheless, additional meetings were held, including the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Perpetua Kalala</st1:personname></span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> (Senior Policy Director – FAO
Regional Office for Southern Africa). Dr, <st1:personname w:st="on">Perpetua
Kalala</st1:personname> is a highly knowledgeable FAO professional who
endorsed the AAAPD concept and was very instrumental in linking us up with
gender experts on the continent. She felt that AAAPD is highly relevant and can
play a catalytic role in creating conditions and capacities for moving the
continent into the 21<sup>st</sup> century. There was complete unanimity in her
view regarding challenges of capacity building and the marginalization of the
rural sector. Dr. Kalala also noted that AAAPD needed to guard against
perpetuating the “dependence syndrome” in which communities in certain rural
areas have tended to resort to expecting donors to “provide solutions”. AAAPD
needs to differentiate itself by offering a very long-term strategic view and solution;
working directly with the beneficiary constituencies while giving the
beneficiary a capacity to be independent and self-sustaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Dr. Mary Bwalya</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> (Clinical Paediatrician - World Health
Organization, Southern Africa Region): A very productive discussion with Dr.
Bwalya focussed on the impact of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other health issues on
women in rural areas and how this erodes the capacity of women to engage in
sustainable rural livelihoods. Dr. Bwalya stated that health issues must be an
integral part of any strategy aimed at building capacities for rural women in
agriculture because of the direct impact of health on labour supply and labour
productivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Dr. Jones Govereh</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> (Senior Policy Coordinator – Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa – COMESA): The meeting with Dr. Govereh was
attended by Dr. Jeranyama who had finally managed to fly to Lusaka from Boston
after initial UK Visa difficulties that prevented him from flying to Southern
Africa in the first place. Dr. Govereh was highly supportive of the AAAPD
concept and strongly felt AAAPD had a pivotal role to play. He identified the
following issues: i) connect with networks already operating in Africa on
agricultural issues; ii) join professional associations in Africa; iii) adopt a
few African institutions and make a success story out of them – others will see
this and be won over; iv) must identify liaisons on the continent; v) learn
from other successful Diaspora organizations like the Indian Diaspora that was
responsible for the highly successful IT industry in India; vi) negotiate with
publishers to provide reduced rate access to online journals for African
institutions; in turn give publishers “free” access to AAAPD portal to
advertize their products.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;">Hon. Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Situmbeko
Musokotwane</st1:personname></span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: HI;"> (Minister of Finance). The meeting with Hon. Dr. Musokotwane did not take
place because he had to accompany the President on a foreign mission. However,
Dr. Musokotwane sent Edmund a personal email reply that was highly supportive
of the concept of AAAPD and its mission, noting that Zambia already had a
Diaspora Desk at the Office of the President (State House). Dr Musokotwane
conveyed our AAAPD concept note to his other colleagues in the cabinet. Dr.
Musokotwane was Edmund’s classmate during undergraduate studies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Section 3: Zimbabwe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Peter Jeranyama</st1:personname> and Dr.
Stephen Machado<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.
Jeranyama and Dr. Machado had personal interviews with several community
leaders in Zimbabwe including;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Professor E.O.
Enwerem</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
Division Chairman of Clinical Practice and Patient Care at the National
University of Science & Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulawayo. This
conversation centered on malnutrition and poverty and how the faculty is
dealing with severe cases of malnutrition and food poisoning as people would eat
anything they found. The collapse of the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe has
caused resurgence in diseases that the country had not dealt with in more than
30 years, and ones which had been contained. All these can be traced to
unavailability of food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Abraham
Kamanga</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
Manager at Agricultural Bank of Zimbabwe (AgriBank), Bulawayo. Peter discussed the issue of access to credit
with Mr. Kamanga for the agricultural community. Mr. Kamanga stated that due to the collapse
of commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe, AgriBank now rarely gives credit/loans
for agricultural related activities. Peter thought this contradicted the very
rationale for AgriBank’s existence which requires the Bank to provide credit to
the farming community. Instead AgriBank is involved in normal banking functions
such as savings and current accounts for customers from all socio-economic
backgrounds. There is no confidence in the security of tenure of current
farmers; as well, the lack of collateral security was the reason why AgriBank’s
portfolios of activities were shifted from agriculture to the general economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rev. A. B.
MacLean</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
of Ingwenya Mission, Umguza, near Bulawayo. This was a very interesting
conversation with the man of the clothes.
Rev. MacLean finds himself having to help with agricultural
recommendations of his parishioners because the extension service has either
collapsed or they simply do not know what they are doing. He wanted to know in
what ways AAAPD could help his church members and people around his mission to
grow better crops for their own food consumption and to market the excess on
the market. He had a lot of questions on fertilizer recommendations and crop
rotations. He stumbled upon Peter’s name through Peter’s 2000 publication on
smallholder cropping systems of Zimbabwe. Peter has since connected Rev,
MacLean with the Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Research Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Jaymore
Gotora</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
newly settled farmer in Goromonzi. Mr. Gotora invited Peter to the farm in
Goromonzi where Mr Gotora raises chicken, cattle and grows maize. His major
concern was the poor quality of seed maize. Mr Gotora feels the old seed they
used to get from Seed-Coop is no longer the same and has observed a lot more
variability in his crop although the crop is treated with the same amount of
fertilizer. Unfortunately, he could not get help from the extension workers as
they were mostly unavailable perhaps looking for money in other enterprises to
feed their families. The issue of mechanized agriculture featured a lot in the
conversation, access to capital and agriculture loans. In the past he had been
forced to sale all his maize to the government run Grain Marketing Board and he
is still owed payments arrears for two years. Mr. Gotora bemoaned the absence
of private buyers of agricultural commodities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms. Tineyi
Chakanyuka, Seed Services, DR&SS Harare Research Station</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. Ms. Chakanyuka
is a Research Officer at the Harare Agricultural Research Station and wondered
if AAAPD would entertain a proposal to (i) establish a seed health laboratory
at the station and (ii) provide support to train farmers on seed production
principles. According to Ms. Chakanyuka, the seed certifying agency has been
rejecting a lot of seed due to poor seed production practices since the land
reform. New farmers are not trained in seed production and the rejection of
some hectares of seed would have caused a severe shortage of good quality seed;
the country is now relying on imports. On the other hand, the quality of
imports is not assured since neighboring countries would keep the best seed to
themselves and sale the worst. She cited
an example where they imported a sorghum variety from a neighboring country and
only to find out that the seed had been infected with kernel smut—a seed borne disease
in post control trials. However, the damage had already been done as this seed
had been distributed in the growing area and now they have a problem at hand of
trying to eradicate that seed borne disease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Christopher
Nyakanda, Private Fruit Tree Breeder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> & formerly Senior Lecturer University
of Zimbabwe. Dr. Nyakanda is a renowned
crop scientist and had risen to the position of senior lecturer in the Crop
Science department at the University of Zimbabwe. He left formal employment to become a private
fruit tree breeder. He was concerned about how major agricultural development
agendas put emphasis on agronomic crops at the expense of fruits and vegetables
which are equally important in food security.
He suggested that for sustained agricultural production the focus should
be on commercialization of small growers so they can effectively participate in
the economy. He raised the issue of access to credit as a major hindrance to
expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ms. Faith Ndlovu</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Bulawayo. While on the trip Dr. Peter Jeranyama
interviewed and recruited Faith Ndlovu, a recent graduate from University of
Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Agriculture for a Masters degree at UMASS Amherst under
his tutelage. Faith will be attending UMASS beginning the spring 2010 semester.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Philip
Taylor, of Capstone Seeds</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Howick, South Africa. I met Mr. Taylor in
Johannesburg and he had just returned from a seed market assessment in Zimbabwe
and Malawi. He had been encouraged by
the use of multiple currencies in Zimbabwe and he felt that was good for his
business as well as others. To date, he has set up a seed warehouse in Harare
and they have started to market seed for this season. He felt like competition
was very high on common commodity crops such as maize but very low on pasture
and fodder seed. They as a company had made more profits marketing fodder and
pasture seed. I asked him how he raised and where he raised his pasture seed. I
was surprised to hear him say that all his seed was imported from New Zealand.
They breed and multiply in New Zealand. He figured out that the cost of separation,
cleaning and maintaining purity either in Zimbabwe or South Africa was too high
compared to transportation charges he pays to transport seed into Africa from
New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. Danisile
Hikwa,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Director of the Department of Agricultural Research and Specialist Services
with its headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. Dr. Machado had a one and half hour
long meeting to introduce AAAPD concept and its objectives. She was very
excited about the prospect of partnering with AAAPD in the development of African
agriculture. She pledged the full support of her institutions and associated
scientists. She stressed the need to work with the Zimbabwe Farmers Union and
the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union for this project to be successful. This
entails going out there and meeting the farmers and rural development
administrators to get a grasp of the problems in the rural areas before
formulating research or project strategies.
However, she indicated that there were obstacles to their full
participation. The first was connectivity. They have poor internet service and
very few computers that are also antiquated. They also lack transportation and
financial resources to do the fact finding mission needed to launch AAAPD
projects. Retaining staff was also a big problem as many leave for better
working conditions and remuneration. Our discussion led to a bigger meeting
where we made a presentation about AAAPD and its goals. This meeting is
described below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Gibson
Guvheya, The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF): </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
establishment of ACBF was created to solve the severe Africa's capacity problem
and to invest in indigenous human capital and institutions in sub-Saharan
Africa. The ACBF was established in 1991 by the African Development Bank
(AfDB), the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)),
African governments and bilateral donors and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Membership comprises the AfDB, UNDP, the World Bank, the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), and 41 African and non-African countries and institutions (Benin,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo
(Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Finland, France, Gabon,
Ghana, Greece, India, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,
Mauritius, The Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Rwanda, Sao Tome &
Principe, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom,
United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Japan has in the past
contributed resources to ACBF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.
Guvheya indicated that although ACBF was initially geared toward institutional
capacity building in the field of administration and economics, ACBF has now
realized the importance of agriculture and is initiating programs in this
field. Therefore the timing of the formation of AAAPD was perfect and ACBF is
willing to join AAAPD as an institution and collaborate in human capacity
building in agricultural and related fields. Issues that arose are reported
below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Institutional Contacts<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">University of Zimbabwe</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Mt Pleasant,
Harare. At the University of Zimbabwe we had a group meeting comprising
faculty, graduate students and the Faculty of Agriculture Executives (Professor
Charles Mutisi, the Dean and Associate Professor Justice Nyamangara, the
Associate Dean) and heads of departments. This was a well attended meeting with
at least 50 people in the room. <st1:personname w:st="on">Stephen Machado</st1:personname> and <st1:personname w:st="on">Peter
Jeranyama</st1:personname> represented AAAPD at this meeting. We gave a power
point presentation of the vision, mission and objectives of AAAPD. We opened the floor for question and
answers. The dean and faculty were
excited about the opportunity to partner with AAAPD and they wanted to know how
they can become members since the organization is for those operating from
outside the continent. We explained this as a partnership with our African
counterparts while those in the Diaspora become members on an equal footing
with partners. Graduate students though AAAPD was a granting organization where
they could apply for scholarships to go study abroad and we tried by all means
to manage their expectations and to let everyone know we were on a fact-finding
mission and to assess potential partnerships in the future. Issues that arose
are reported below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<st1:personname w:st="on"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Department
of Agricultural Research</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
and Specialist Services (DR&SS), Harare. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This meeting was attended by more
than 20 Research Officers including three divisional directors of Crops
Research, Animal & Pastures and Services. We were well received at this
meeting. Stephen and Peter did not know the reaction we would get at this
meeting because both Stephen and Peter had worked at this research station 17
years ago. We were so pleasantly surprised to be received like the prodigal son
who had come back home. Issues that
arose are reported below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Issues
Indentified<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Human
capacity development: All the individuals and institutions we talked with
brought up this issue as their most important priority. Attrition due to poor
or total collapse on the economy had rendered mostly public institutions
ineffective at providing services. Most
of the human resources remaining are not adequately trained to handle the
pressure of the job and most of them hold first degrees and in some instances
are trained only up to a diploma level. The directors at DR&SS felt that
for one to become a proficient researcher, they must have graduate degree
training. Currently, they have less than 8% of their staff with such
qualification. They also felt that current issues of biotechnology, biosafety
and intellectual property rights are not well understood and they do not have
the know-how to deal with these issues and yet they are expected to have
scientific and policy positions on the issues. At the University of Zimbabwe
also the issue of staff development came up. In the past they had programs of
staff development but the bonding system did not work as expected to retain
that capacity. The recent economic crises exacerbated the loss of experienced
lecturers to neighboring countries. Certain courses in the program have not
been taught in years due to the lack of expertise in those areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Institutional
development: Most agricultural institutions in Zimbabwe have nearly collapsed
from a cascade effect of the ill conceived and implemented land reform. Capital flight has not made things any easier. The need to develop markets for inputs and
for produce and regulatory mechanism that govern such institutions; develop
policy networks that help to lobby and inform policy makers. There is very
little public investment in agricultural institutions in both human and capital
goods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Resource
mobilization: Access to modern equipment and instruments. Fundamental tools
like computers are absent. They wondered if those in the Diaspora could
mobilize such resources even if they are second hand that would help immensely.
Operational budgets to be able to visit research sites, to actually buy
research inputs, extension activities and teaching resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Internet
access: Harare Station has only three computers with access to internet on an
intermittent basis and only the research directors had access to those. The
same thing at the University of Zimbabwe that access to internet was difficult
and as faculty you would have one day a week access for one hour. In addition
to access, the issue of electronic journals came up and they wanted to find out
if AAAPD could enable them to have access to these resources through its web
portal to facilitate literature searches and to keep up with the state of the
science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mentorship
programs: This came up mostly from
female professionals who wondered if AAAPD could facilitate mentorship of young
women into agricultural sciences by pairing them with successful female
scientists in North America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Research
and Contact Leave: To facilitate
information exchange and in building bridges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Establishment of regional offices with
regional representatives to facilitate AAAPD projects. These regions could
follow the current political or economic boundaries e.g. SADC, ECOWAS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Need to develop value chain for small
holder agriculture to enable them to engage in international trade. Marketing
of raw and unprocessed produce will not greatly improve the current small
holder farmers’ situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 6pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Section
4: Malawi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund Mupondwa</st1:personname>, Dr.
<st1:personname w:st="on">Stephen Machado</st1:personname>, Dr. <st1:personname w:st="on">Peter Jeranyama</st1:personname><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Joseph
Rusike, IITA Chitedze</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
We met Joseph Rusike almost by accident. Peter was well acquainted with Dr.
Rusike from their graduate student years at Michigan State University. Joseph is an agricultural economist working
on impact assessment with IITA in Malawi. We talked to Joseph about the role of
AAAPD and we asked him for his opinion on how he sees AAAPD. He was very blunt
to us and told us that he thought we would have limited impact since we had
left the continent and had become irrelevant to the African struggles. We
provided a counter argument to his thesis and he suggested that we should in
calculate an impact assessment in our programs to be able to measure actual
impact. He had been discouraged through his research because their impact had
been minimal. Joseph provided us a driver and a vehicle from his program for
our use for half a day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Kishombe</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, Assistant
Director of <st1:personname w:st="on">Department of Agricultural Research</st1:personname>
Services (DARS), Malawi. Dr. Kishombe
was our host at Chitedze Research Station.
We discussed issues of capacity building and resource mobilization. He
was excited to be associated with AAAPD and wanted to hear from us what role
his institution could play to make our program a success. Input subsidy program
was discussed with Dr. Kishombe and he felt that it has helped Malawi to become
food self reliant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr. Banda,
Director</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
of <st1:personname w:st="on">Department of Agricultural Research</st1:personname>
Services (DARS), Malawi. He was happy that we included Malawi as one of the
stops during our whistle tour. He also indicated the seriousness the current
government of Dr. Bingu wa Muthariki is emphasizing on agricultural production
and food security. He said things could not have been better because the
President is also the minister of agriculture and has a formal doctorate in
agricultural economics. We felt we had support from the very top and they made
it clear to us that we would get all the support we needed to execute AAAPD
programs in Malawi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Institutional Contacts<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chitedze
Research Station</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">,
DARS, Malawi. After initial institutional report of Chitedze Research Station
and the rest of DARS by Dr. Kishombe, <st1:personname w:st="on">Stephen Machado</st1:personname>
introduced the AAAPD team and our purpose for coming to Malawi. <st1:personname w:st="on">Edmund Mupondwa</st1:personname> gave a 30 minute power point
presentation on the vision, mission of AAAPD and the role of the Diaspora in
economic development, giving examples outside agriculture. Edmund also noted
how African leaders had started Diaspora desks at key institutions to catalyze
economic development. <st1:personname w:st="on">Peter Jeranyama</st1:personname>
gave a presentation after Edmund on the objectives of AAAPD within the 12
months of our planning grant and where we see ourselves going past the initial
planning phase. Question and answer section took most of the time and several
issues were raised which are summarized below. We had a rude awakening in
Malawi because of a miscommunication, our meeting that was supposed to take
place on Thursday ended up happening on Friday and this meant us changing
flights out of Lilongwe as well as extending our hotel stay. We joked among
ourselves as a team on how inconvenient this could have been to people from a
different culture. As for us we brushed aside the inconvenience, although it
came in form of a cost to see the bigger picture on why we were in Malawi in
the first place. We can safely say we accomplished our objectives on this trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Issues
Indentified<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Human
capacity development: Attrition due to
poor remuneration. They also felt that current issues of biotechnology,
biosafety, and intellectual property rights were not well understood and they
did not have the knowledge to deal with these issues and yet they were expected
to have scientific and policy positions on the issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Institutional
development: The need to develop markets
for inputs and for produce and regulatory mechanism that govern such institutions;
develop policy networks that help to lobby and inform policy makers. There are
very little public investments into agricultural institutions in both human and
capital goods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Resource
mobilization: Access to modern equipment and instruments. Fundamental tools
like computers are absent. They wondered if those in the Diaspora could
mobilize such resources even if they are second hand that would help immensely.
Operational budgets to be able to visit research sites, to actually buy
research inputs, extension activities and teaching resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Internet
access: Poor access to internet electronic journals came up and wanted to find
out if AAAPD could enable them to have access to these resources through its
web portal to facilitate literature searches and to keep up with the state of
the science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Research
& Contact Leave: To facilitate information exchange and in building bridges
as well as formal training at graduate level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gender
issues to be looked at in an African context<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Engage
the politicians and lobby for increased investment in rural infrastructure
development. The face of many African parliamentarians is changing. They are
getting more and more educated and much easier to engage with and they
understand the urgent need to invest in Africa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Section
5 Summary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 16.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In summary,
AAAPD was very encouraged by the overwhelming endorsement and support that it
received throughout this mission. The issues that were identified were
identical across the region, reflections of the dire development situation.
Capacity building was a recurring theme in many discussions that we had. As a
matter of fact, it seems to capture many facades of the development problem
facing the region. A key output under this objective was to reach out to <b>3,000</b> Africans on the continent through
e-discussions and meetings to promote AAAPD and the cause of African
smallholder farmers and agribusiness. The SADC was one of the three teams
visiting Africa and we reached out on a face to face including meetings and
one-on-one meetings with <b>512</b> Agricultural
professionals in four countries (number does not include e-mail contacts). A
second team went to West Africa at the same time with the SADC team and they
will be reporting on their outreach efforts, and a team is yet to go to East
Africa. The East Africa is planning to travel between January and February
2010. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
AAAPDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114381621190702735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198316601883474715.post-14803811488067432872012-12-27T13:17:00.002-08:002012-12-27T13:31:29.771-08:00East Africa Trip in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxiEwdUrNrH3ifb-4oTlnRLX5E8PAvI5ycu5Fmc9gFOaNt_DQ91QWPOnjRZ8HGwn6fjv_q4GIlw9j2q3j3FJ9gBh4EG2ELG-26C16CgLQZMf97Zj9hQ1a37sYPxhIKGqXoi81wwHd_f0/s1600/ASARECA+dir.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxiEwdUrNrH3ifb-4oTlnRLX5E8PAvI5ycu5Fmc9gFOaNt_DQ91QWPOnjRZ8HGwn6fjv_q4GIlw9j2q3j3FJ9gBh4EG2ELG-26C16CgLQZMf97Zj9hQ1a37sYPxhIKGqXoi81wwHd_f0/s320/ASARECA+dir.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />AAAPDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114381621190702735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5198316601883474715.post-7837731964249910362012-12-26T15:39:00.004-08:002012-12-30T20:30:27.821-08:00West Africa Trip<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Trip Report to West Africa: Association of African
Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Introduction </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the
Diaspora (AAAPD) in an attempt to build a database of agricultural
professionals both in the diaspora and within the continent, embarked on
regional trips to Africa. Drs. Andrew Manu and Samuel Essah were charged to go
to West Africa. The purpose of this exploratory visit was to interact with
individuals, regional and local agricultural development organizations like the
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Forum for Agricultural Research
in Africa (FARA), ministries of agriculture, as well as tertiary and technical
institutions, farmers and other private sector organizations in Ghana and
Burkina Faso. At the end of this regional tour, we would like to have a good
appreciation of potential partners who will collaborate in the effort to
promote sustainable agricultural development for the benefit of the smallholder
producers in particular and for the population as a whole. This trip would also
lead to the establishment of effective linkages through networking and
information sharing with these entities. This trip was also used as a vehicle
to recruit and register interested agricultural professionals who in the vision
of AAAPD and want to join the agricultural revolution for Africa. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Period of Travel </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The itinerary for this trip is presented in Appendix A. The
team departed the United States from Des Moines, IA (Andrew Manu) on October 8,
and from Denver, CO, (Samuel Essah) on October 9. Both team members departed
Accra, Ghana on October 24, and arrived in the US on October 25, 2009. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Friday October 9, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Preparatory Visits to University of Ghana and Headquarters
of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) </b><o:p></o:p></div>
A team member arrived in Accra at 8:30 a.m. He went directly to
the University of Ghana, Legon where he met with Professor Ben K. Ahunu,
Provost of the University and Dr. Thomas Adjadeh, professor of soil science who
also served as AAAPD’s contact person at the University. At this meeting,
Andrew Manu explained the purpose and expected outcomes of AAAPD’s visit to the
sub-region. We also discussed the logistics and format for the planned meeting
with faculty, staff and students of the College of Agriculture and Consumer
Sciences. We visited the venue for the meeting and checked out the audio visual
equipment. We also inspected the site for the poster presentation on AAAPD. We
spent two hours posting flyers that were used to advertise the meeting and
distributed AAAPD brochures among faculty, staff and students. Copies of the
flyers and brochures are attached as Appendices B and C, respectively. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
From the University, the team member went to the headquarters
of AGRA where he met Dr. André Bationo, Director of AGRA, West Africa and
Senior Program Officer, Soil Health Program. This meeting was used to introduce
AAAPD to AGRA and to work out the details for a subsequent meeting. Dr. Bationo
expressed excitement on the formation of AAAPD. He however cautioned that we
should try to make this a functional and effective association and not become
like earlier “diaspora” associations that fizzled out after a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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</div>
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</div>
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<b>Monday, October 12, 2009:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Ghana Oil Palm Development Company, Kwae, Eastern Region </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Ghana Oil Palm Development Company was initiated in 1975
by the government of Ghana but was privatized in 1995. The objective of the
company is to diversify agricultural production through the introduction of oil
palm as alternative to the production of cocoa and tropical woods. In addition
to industrial plantations maintained by the company, 14,000 ha of land are
maintained by outgrower smallholder farmers whose sustainable livelihoods are
of interest to the AAAPD. The association’s collaboration with this company in
research and extension to the benefit of the resource poor farmer will
therefore be a useful AAAPD-private sector partnership. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A team member of AAAPD visited with 20 staff and research
scientists (Fig. 1) at the Ghana Oil Palm of the company where he shared the
vision and goals of the association and stressed the need for effective and
sustainable partnerships to improve the lives of farmers through the
identification and extension of improved agricultural practices. We thought it
is important to stress this point with a private enterprise that is often profit
driven and tends to marginalize the farmers. During the discussion session,
participants suggested that we form regional chapters of the Association within
the African continent. This, they suggested, will promote decentralization and
lead to an effective association. At the end of the discussion session,
participants had a tour of the seed nursery and plantation sections of the
company (Fig. 2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32HwDCLYg_2DiQxE-5CZpBTy9K0NcJ494R_rz24sTsU4MlpgPiRLQX3nTt5DQEjuwUDFd7M5NFRQ4Tu9xnzIoWHUpyxUxtA47h0c8BXyTKkvOwH3i-hKaAXCx5C7M8lRgQoPGta9GCJ8/s1600/Fig1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32HwDCLYg_2DiQxE-5CZpBTy9K0NcJ494R_rz24sTsU4MlpgPiRLQX3nTt5DQEjuwUDFd7M5NFRQ4Tu9xnzIoWHUpyxUxtA47h0c8BXyTKkvOwH3i-hKaAXCx5C7M8lRgQoPGta9GCJ8/s320/Fig1.bmp" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span>Fig. 1. Dr. Samuel Essah with Researchers<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>and Staff of Ghana Oil
Palm Development Company <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZiQDjLW66WmXDuk0WLVhnaHAG0U0r3o_F5Jw6EUwK-AAYDCVkln3gAWY-CJivjqpt0d7r4e3djgvKTolzyahFFU5tgA1xgrzGcp4T60-M4P5O2rEcCYww5aoL2nAWk3yjmoZnIaBYNs/s1600/Fig.+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZiQDjLW66WmXDuk0WLVhnaHAG0U0r3o_F5Jw6EUwK-AAYDCVkln3gAWY-CJivjqpt0d7r4e3djgvKTolzyahFFU5tgA1xgrzGcp4T60-M4P5O2rEcCYww5aoL2nAWk3yjmoZnIaBYNs/s320/Fig.+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p><br /></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>Fig. 2. Dr. Essah touring seed nursery of Oil Palm Development
Company<br />
<div class="Default">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Tuesday, October 13, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Institute, Ghana
Atomic Energy Commission </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute
(BNARI) has the mission to carry out research and development activities on
safe biotechnology and nuclear technology and transfer these technologies to
end users in order to enhance agricultural productivity, industrialization and
health delivery. Two of the strategic objectives of the institute are; (1) to
promote and strengthen partnerships with potential relevant national and
international institutions in order to accelerate the identification of
solutions to challenges in research, development and technology transfer; and
(2) To build national capacity in biotechnology, biosafety and radiation
processing to enhance agricultural productivity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
AAAPD’s vision for sustainable agricultural productivity and
biosafety in Africa through research , extension and education is in line with
the objectives of BNARI. We therefore made BNARI one of the strategic
institutes to visit and we met with 10 of the researchers and administrators of
the institute. The institute personnel expressed interest to partner with AAAPD
to achieve the ultimate goal of promoting sustainable livelihoods of the
smallholder farmers in Africa as a whole. Participants at the meeting wanted to
see the AAAPD website up and running as soon as possible so that they could
register on-line. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
We had the opportunity to tour some of the facilities of the
institute (Fig. 3) that included the plant propagation laboratories and food
irradiation facilities.</div>
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<div class="Default">
Fig. 3 Plant Propagation section of the Biotechnology and
Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="Default">
<b>Tuesday, October 13, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
The AAAPD team was pleased by the acceptance of Ghana’s
Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi, to meet with us
on short notice. What was remarkable is the fact that he had just returned from
a two-week international assignment. He also summoned several of his Deputy
Ministers and Divisional Heads to this meeting. He was very gracious to listen
to our presentation on AAAPD where we stressed how important it is for his
ministry to join hands with the association to find solution to some of the
agricultural problems we have in the country in particular and in Africa as a
whole. We talked about AAAPD as a continental initiative and that we had
colleagues who were carrying out similar mission in Southern Africa. The
Minister applauded the vision to initiate the formation of AAAPD and expressed
his gratitude to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for making this
possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
In the past, he said, he was totally appalled by the mass
exodus of professionals to countries outside Africa neglecting their duty to
develop Ghana. But after our presentation in which we pledged, as a matter of
moral obligation, to give back to our nations, he encouraged us to do the best
we can for the benefit of the continent. He pledged his ministry’s support to
AAAPD and he went as far as to detail
one of his deputy ministers to circulate information about the formation of
AAAPD, and to encourage as many professionals in the MOFA to register as
partners of AAAPD. We promised him and his staff that we will communicate the
progress of the website development to him and requested audience for further
discussions in the near future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tuesday, October 13, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
As a follow up to our previous visit to AGRA, the AAAPD team
went to the headquarters of the organization where we met with Dr. Bationo and
seven other Directors of the Alliance.
Dr. Bationo started the meeting by giving us a comprehensive
presentation on the goals, mission, the structure and the current activities of
AGRA in West Africa. AAAPD also made a presentation to introduce the
association and to solicit effective partnership with AGRA. A lengthy
discussion followed after the presentations. The discussion focused mainly on
how AAAPD could partner with AGRA in future projects in soil rehabilitation and
maintenance, development of appropriate and suitable curriculum for instruction
in soil science, and establishment of functional soil laboratories to support
agricultural research. He further told us that after our first earlier in the
week he sent the information on AAAPD to scientists at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center
in Niamey, Niger, and he also promised to follow up to encourage agricultural
professionals not only to register but to become active participants in the
activities of the association. He
further linked us with some University professionals who received funding from
AGRA and also urged us to collaborate with them to educate young African
agricultural scientists. As a result of this emphasis on effective training of
students in agriculture, Andrew Manu is applying for a travel grant through the
Iowa State University Foreign Travel Grant program to visit agricultural
institutions in Ghana and develop well integrated soil science courses for
undergraduates. This travel is planned for May of 2010. The other Directors
would like see AAAPD support activities in plant breeding and food
preservation. We promised to keep him up to date on the activities of the
association. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Wednesday, October 14, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of
Ghana, Legon </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
The AAAPD team engaged
students, faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences
at the University of Ghana, Legon in a very effective meeting. . The Academic
Departments that were represented at the meeting included; Soil Science, Crop
Science, Horticulture, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural
Extension. Although most of the attendees had prior knowledge of the
association, through e-mail blasts from Prof. Adjadeh, AAAPD brochures, and
flyers, we proceeded to set up a poster presentation in the auditorium ahead of
time to give them detailed information on the background and of the
association. Again, we did a powerpoint presentation and this was followed by
very engaging question and answer session. Two major issues that we needed to
address are the following: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->(1)<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span>AAAPD Membership <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
With the name AAAPD, some of the participants felt that
membership could only be limited to individuals living outside the continent of
Africa. They questioned how people living and working on the continent could be
considered members of the association <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->(2)<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span>Professional development <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Being in an academic profession, a criterion for evaluation
and promotion is journal publications. There seems to be frustration among the
ranks because they have been inefficient in this area for varied reasons and
they wanted to know what the association could do help. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
We tried to address these issues as best as we could but we
suggested that this could be some of the items that could be tackled on a
discussion forum of the association as we get our website created and
functional. This generated some interest in the website and participants
encouraged us to speed up the website development process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Thursday, October 15 to Friday, October 16, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>International Workshop on Capacity Building for Global
Competitiveness in Developing Economies: The Nexus of Technology Development
and Transfer, Education, and Culture. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Some of the major platforms envisaged for effective launching
of the association on the continent are international workshops and
conferences. The AAAPD took advantage of one such workshops in Ghana. This was
organized by the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. AAAPD sponsored a half
day session of the workshop that was entitled “ Brain Drain/Brain Gain:
Opportunities for Development". This session had six papers that dealt
with reversing brain drain and exploiting African intellectual resources in the
diaspora for economic development on the continent. AAAPD presented the lead
paper of the session entitled “Using Brain Gain to Support Sustainable
Agricultural Development in Africa: The Case of the Association of African
Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD)". There was a group
discussion after the presentations and we identified three initiatives in this
area that was shared with the general conference. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
In the evening of October 15, 2009, AAAPD hosted a networking
session in an effort to recruit membership into the association. This was
attended by about 75 people (Fig. 4) The introductory poster was displayed
(Fig. 5) and here again we gave attendees the opportunity to read the poster
for about 30 minutes. The AAAPD team made a formal presentation as we have done
at previous locations after which we had an informal discussion and gave
attendees the opportunity to register (fig. 6). There was a lot of excitement
among the group for the formation of the association but at the same time we
could feel that there are a lot of expectations from the association. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6H8AvgTsVFacOoaR6QaQf9_xFGVNzZY8tQEwUgG1BoCI3HFF2uGsafwuJ_nrtwGrpisfl81R8g3g3Qlfrwy-I9pKqVLdKwZK7TvBPntUWlYXcq16WIYg-cFZ4CloYWeSHCW5YNOLefo/s1600/Fig+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6H8AvgTsVFacOoaR6QaQf9_xFGVNzZY8tQEwUgG1BoCI3HFF2uGsafwuJ_nrtwGrpisfl81R8g3g3Qlfrwy-I9pKqVLdKwZK7TvBPntUWlYXcq16WIYg-cFZ4CloYWeSHCW5YNOLefo/s320/Fig+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fig.
4. AAAPD Board members with some of the attendees at the networking session</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiKDLcJoYUXpDxR6ODYOSd11R87c8DTUZZazjMOlkr3B5UOdWJ2rXxtHWmb85gGdmcRy54e8FtUjZEYVIRU2GkUrG1ITPXKzsvoVbJdn1XtlV7uCCPb2BkJ4ET1RrOar65BZtl-Y7Z3A/s1600/Fig+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiKDLcJoYUXpDxR6ODYOSd11R87c8DTUZZazjMOlkr3B5UOdWJ2rXxtHWmb85gGdmcRy54e8FtUjZEYVIRU2GkUrG1ITPXKzsvoVbJdn1XtlV7uCCPb2BkJ4ET1RrOar65BZtl-Y7Z3A/s320/Fig+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="Default">
Fig 5. Attendees at the networking session reading the AAAPD
poster <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQu0XbCFkgRf1AAW79bnJ13geR-BRqNio8GX5Wj3jp3k9rTvUcqd3hF1b_f8Y6xiVZrFqWXuBQH02OKrJzWi0FyKi3R4C5rF-KDTGSckKDgo9KaVDIV5dgumxVMN-nQrb2VvC328aq2o/s1600/Fig+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQu0XbCFkgRf1AAW79bnJ13geR-BRqNio8GX5Wj3jp3k9rTvUcqd3hF1b_f8Y6xiVZrFqWXuBQH02OKrJzWi0FyKi3R4C5rF-KDTGSckKDgo9KaVDIV5dgumxVMN-nQrb2VvC328aq2o/s320/Fig+6.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="Default">
Fig.6. Interested participants at network session registering
to become members of AAAPD</div>
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</div>
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<b>Friday, October 16, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The mission of FARA is to create broad-based improvements in
agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets, by supplying Africa’s
sub-regional organization in strengthening capacity for agricultural
innovation. FARA aims to provide a strategic platform to foster continental as
well as global networking that reinforces the capacities of Africa’s NARS and
sub-regional organizations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default">
AAAPD’s long-term mission and expected impacts on the
continent’s sustainable agricultural growth actually mirror those of FARA. It
is therefore appropriate that AAAPD becomes part of this continental network
for change. The AAAPD team visited FARA headquarters in Accra, Ghana, and had a
very fruitful meeting with 10 of their staff members (Fig. 7).Our contact
person was Dr. Annor-Irene Frempong, Director of Capacity Building. The meeting
was started with a very detailed presentation by Dr. Wale Adekunle, FARA’s
Director of Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, on the rationale behind the
establishment of FARA, the structure and the role of the forum as lead
institution of Pillar 4 of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development
Programme (CAADP). In turn the AAAPD shared our mission and goals and our
raison d’etre with the group and most importantly the effort to enter into
strategic partnerships with FARA. It was generally agreed that AAAPD’s involvement
in the activities of FARA could be through activities such as (1) Regional
Agricultural Information and Learning Systems (RAILS); (2) Dissemination of New
Agricultural Technologies in Africa (DONATA); and (3) Strengthening Capacity
for Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA). The staff
expressed their sincere interest in any collaborative endeavors with AAAPD for
African agricultural development and we also promised to keep them updated on
the evolution and specific activities of the association through our website,
e-mails, and personal visits. </div>
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Fig. 7. AAAPD Board members with staff, administrators and agricultural researchers of FARA </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tuesday, October 20, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the
Sahel (CILSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
We could not travel to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the 18<span style="font-size: 8.0pt;">th</span> of October as planned in the original
itinerary because flights were canceled. We eventually arrived at Ouagadougou
on the evening of October 19 and we were warmly received by the staff of the
Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). </div>
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Fig. 8. AAAPD Board Members with Dr. Issa Bikienga, Deputy
Executive Secretary of CILLS at CILSS headquarters</div>
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<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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The following day, we went to the headquarters of CILSS where
we met with Dr. Issa Bikienga, the Deputy Executive Secretary. (Fig. 8).He gave
us a brief background of CILSS and the mandate of the organization to ensure
food security in Africa. In effect CILSS operates in following three areas: (1)
Food security, desertification control, and population and development; (2)
Promotion of agricultural and food commodities; and (3) Water Management. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
We discussed the role AAAPD could play in these three areas and
he advised us to get in touch with the other two organs of CILSS, namely; the
Sahel Institute (INSAH) which is headquartered in Bamako, Mali, and the
AGRHYMET Regional Center that is sited in Niamey, Niger. One AAAPD Board member
has since contacted Dr. Moustapha Amadou, Director of INSAH. We stressed the
importance of getting effective representation from the francophone West
African countries in AAAPD and he promised to promote our cause. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>October 22, 2009 </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Crop Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
This was an extremely busy day when we visited three major
institutions and the first one was the Crops Research Institute of Ghana. At
this institute, the Director Hans Adu Dappah mobilized his researchers and support
staff to meet with us on a day they were having a regional meeting (Fig.
9). Participants were eager to partner
with AAAPD, and to collaborate in future projects in the areas of research and
agricultural extension. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
One of the major developments was the recognition of the role
female agricultural professionals could play in the association. It was agreed
that those professionals could serve as role models for the future generation.
Recognizing the importance of gender in agriculture whether at the local
professional level and more importantly at the research and extension levels,
the Director appointed one of the few lady researchers to serve as liaison
between the institute and AAAPD. She is currently coordinating the recruitment
and registration of members for AAAPD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Researchers here also complained about constraints they have
to publishing their research findings. They cited lack of effective peer review
process as well as excessive page charges which they cannot afford to pay
themselves and they do not have any institutional support. They feel their
professional development is serious hampered and they wanted to know how AAAPD
could help in this area. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="Default">
Fig. 9 AAAPD Board members with researchers of the Crops
Research Institute of Ghana</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
Ghana </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
AAAPD visited with the faculty, staff, and students of the
college of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Departments that attended
the Town Hall type meeting included, Soil Science, Crop Science, Horticulture,
Animal Science, Agriculture Economics and Extension, Agriculture Engineering,
and Renewable Natural Resources (Fig. 10). The participants were so
enthusiastic to partner with AAAPD to effect positive change in agricultural
production. During the questions and answer time, participants could not wait
but started completing the registration forms available (Fig. 11). They
promised to supply copies of the forms to individuals who could not attend the
meeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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An issue that was raised at this meeting is the formal
structure of the association and how there could be effective coordination of
our activities at the continental level. We assured them that we are working on
a governance document and we expect to solicit input from all members. People
were happy that everybody’s voice will be heard. One important suggestion that
was made at this particular meeting is to find the means to get young agricultural
graduates from tertiary institutions involved in field of agriculture either as
field agronomists or extension agents.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69M5Z9QGwdav1nR2Ac7dx_3tyCThwjhaCLfukdvxKR5lUAghdErjtIFyf1u4Z48yNMQqX6GwAbxwb8MkPV6yOlGx3r8_xb8OXK5Mz20m4Uu9fPYNJ_MuuOlKQApzLhhUwUSrDlJu-EjU/s1600/Fig+10a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69M5Z9QGwdav1nR2Ac7dx_3tyCThwjhaCLfukdvxKR5lUAghdErjtIFyf1u4Z48yNMQqX6GwAbxwb8MkPV6yOlGx3r8_xb8OXK5Mz20m4Uu9fPYNJ_MuuOlKQApzLhhUwUSrDlJu-EjU/s320/Fig+10a.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mnudmD9GM_40yT_aAllSsgQQ25_uGZjNcoY6tTQGVOqjL9AQUKI5i1i7z4yiGl30YQeI7fT9_DFtxvGly-zvwyxx8cLJdnnd2H9p8opP0CPgyjW04po-35Cgeuj_MjH6xBYZGGel5fQ/s1600/Fig+10b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mnudmD9GM_40yT_aAllSsgQQ25_uGZjNcoY6tTQGVOqjL9AQUKI5i1i7z4yiGl30YQeI7fT9_DFtxvGly-zvwyxx8cLJdnnd2H9p8opP0CPgyjW04po-35Cgeuj_MjH6xBYZGGel5fQ/s320/Fig+10b.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fig. 10. AAAPD Board members in a town hall type meeting at
the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnP0ix86AmTjSkK11XZxrzSccmdPD-1ci_8_0jWV55jwVH2lismpd5th76CNKcWlh2BeLVnimfAiPoLDyPYpR6km6HS1fIEUcZL4ASfMOBzjSTN-N5fA1DmoyFqjIItiUfgwktzRiiGI/s1600/Fig+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnP0ix86AmTjSkK11XZxrzSccmdPD-1ci_8_0jWV55jwVH2lismpd5th76CNKcWlh2BeLVnimfAiPoLDyPYpR6km6HS1fIEUcZL4ASfMOBzjSTN-N5fA1DmoyFqjIItiUfgwktzRiiGI/s320/Fig+11.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fig. 11. Enthusiastic faculty, staff and students filling out
AAAPD registration forms at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso, Nyankpala, and Ohao
Agricultural College, Kumasi, Ghana </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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As a result of the networking session at the international
conference in Accra, we were able to attract faculty, staff, and students of
the Soil Research Institute, and the Kwadaso, Nyankpala, and Ohao Agriculture
Colleges to converge at the auditorium of the Soil Research Institute, Kumasi ,
for a very big meeting with representatives of AAAPD. A presentation was made
by AAAPD to introduce the association and to recruit members to be partners of
the association. This meeting was one of the largest during the West African
trip (Fig. 12). This group showed so much enthusiasm because as people who will
be working directly with farmers in the fields, they thought the association
could be of immense help to prepare them for their professional careers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The question of forming regional chapter of the association
within the African continent came up again during discussion session. Over 100
participants registered at this meeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fig. 12. Participants in meeting at the Soil Research
Institute, Kumasi <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Summary </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The West Africa trip was very eventful and fruitful. The trip
covered one Anglophone and one Francophone country in the West African Region.
Twelve agriculture based institutions and ministries were visited. AAAPD was
introduced to Faculty, Staff, and/or students of these institutions through a
series of presentations. Almost three hundred Agricultural Professionals were
recruited on site and the list is attached as Appendix D and the majority is
waiting to register on-line to partner with AAAPD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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