Regional conference launches African crop science journal

Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation

Authors

Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation

Date

1993

Language

Type

News Item

Accessibility

Open Access

Metadata

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Citation

CTA. 1993. Regional conference launches African crop science journal . Spore 48. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49263

External link to download this item: http://collections.infocollections.org/ukedu/en/d/Jcta48e/

Abstract/Description

African journal of crop science

Notes

A conference on the scientific challenges to sustaining crop production in Eastern and Southern Africa held in Kampala, Uganda, from 14-18 June 1993 was used to launch the first issue of a new journal, the African journal of crop science. An African Society of Crop Science will also be established. Some 300 participants from Africa and elsewhere attended the meeting, which received support from USAID/MFAD and CTA, as well as Makerere University and the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries. Besides enabling the participants to exchange technical information and ideas, the conference sought to identify and prioritize the objectives which would ensure food security through sustainable crop production in Africa; to encourage collaborative research between countries in the region; and to facilitate post-graduate training opportunities among the region's universities. Participants were able to witness the progress that has been made in rehabilitating the soil and plant laboratory analytical facilities at Makerere University; and they were impressed by the overall achievements in rehabilitating the Uganda research infrastructure. During a field tour there were opportunities to see seed multiplication programmes for maize, rice, beans and soybean. There was also a chance to see an active banana research programme, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Participants were particular!, impressed by the work of the cassava programme and the rapid multiplication of cassava varieties resistant to African Cassava Mosaic Disease. Massive distribution of these improved cassava varieties is being spearheaded by the Ugandan Government USAID, IDRC, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation of the UK and other non-governmental organizations. For information concerning the new journal and the availability of the conference proceedings, contact: Dr Adipala Ekwamu Department of Crop Science Makerere University PO Box 7062 Kampala UGANDA Fax: 256 41 531641