UNZA, Govt partner to further agriculture research

 

By GLORIA SIWISHA

Lusaka, November 18, NAIS…………………THE University of Zambia (UNZA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock that would enable all three institutions collaborate, to further research in agriculture; ensure policy and programme development, training of students, and conduct outreach to farmers among other benefits.

During the signing ceremony in Lusaka, Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary Benson Mwenya expressed confidence that the partnership would yield positive results to increase agricultural production and productivity and enhance research and development in the fisheries and livestock disciplines.

Dr Mwenya emphasized that institutions today need not work in silos if they were to realize meaningful results.

“In the field of research, we entirely depend on academia…We have the infrastructure in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; a lot of infrastructure which is under-utilized such as breeding centres which are dotted across the country. I think we need to team up with UNZA so that we are able to actualize research in our breeding centres,” Dr Mwenya said.

The acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Cecilia Kamanga said the partnership was important as both ministries and the University of Zambia – School of Agricultural Sciences, have a mandate to enhance the contribution of the agricultural sector towards the national goals of food and nutrition security; employment creation, economic diversification, and economic growth as outlined in the Vision 2030, 7^th National Development Plan (7NDP), and the National Agricultural Policy.

She further urged the University of Zambia to produce graduates who would be ready to launch their own agricultural enterprises, as this would fit well into the new Government’s agenda of heading into small and medium enterprises, a green economy, and wishing to safeguard the environment.

“As a ministry, being one of the largest employers of graduates from UNZA, we feel honored to partner with UNZA in this manner as this will enable us have some say in the curriculum offered to students at the institution. However, we also urge UNZA to produce graduates who would be ready-made to start their own enterprises,” Ms Kamanga said.

And University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba hailed the event stating that it would enable improved delivery of services such as research for development, and policy and programme development support among others.

Professor Mumba hopes that the formalized relationship will lead to a budget line within the two ministries to support research for development activities that will jointly be undertaken with the School of Agricultural Sciences.

Professor Mumba said the university stands ready to strengthen its linkage between academia and industry noting that the MoU signing actually resonates with its strategic plan for 2018 – 2022 which among other things, has a dedicated strategic direction to promote community outreach and beneficial partnerships.

“As you are aware, the University of Zambia has invested in maintaining a cadre of highly trained and experienced staff who are ready to be put to the best use by the country. Therefore, I call upon the whole agricultural sector to partner with us through the School of Agricultural Sciences,” he said.

While there has been enhanced collaboration between UNZA and the two government ministries in implementing various programmes of interest, it was learned during the event that there had been no formal partnership nor formal agreement to refer to, thus the resolve to sign the MoU.

The MoU will promote cooperation in agriculture through joint research and intervention studies, projects and programmes; collaboration in the training of students through attachments and joint supervision of students’ research projects in agriculture, collaboration in outreach to farmers to better understand their problems, as well as, joint development of short training courses for farmers tailored towards farming as  a business.

The MoU will also enable exchange of scientific material, publications and information, and promote other related areas of cooperation that maybe agreed upon by the two parties.