YPARD Funding News Bulletin

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding News Bulletin This bulletin provides twice a month information about available funding opportunities which are posted on the www.ypard.net website. If you have any comment or question about this information service, please contact YPARD at info@ypard.net. Latest funding opportunities

University of Oxford: PhD Support in Crop Science, Biodiversity, and Conservation Deadline:  18 Jan 2013 With financial support provided by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, the University of Oxford invites PhD applicants from Africa, Asia, and South America for doctoral studies in food security (crop science, biodiversity, conservation).  Scholarships will cover tuition fees and living expenses for three years. The university posts the available projects, requesting interested candidates to directly contact the project supervisors. Read more U.S. National Science Foundation: Plant Genome Research Deadline:  13 Mar 2013 The National Science Foundation (USA) funds several areas of research to explore grand challenge questions in plants of economic importance on a genome-wide scale in itsPlant Genome Research Program. Read more USAID: Transfer of Agricultural Innovation from India to Africa Deadline:  20 Mar 2013 The U.S. Agency for International Development in India (USAID-Delhi) invites applications for the India-Africa Agricultural Innovation Bridge Program. The program will make grants to transfer proven Indian agriculture innovations to Liberia, Kenya, and Malawi. Eligibility for grants extends to Indian nonprofit organizations, as well as to Indian business organizations willing to forego profits.  Universities and research organizations in India are among the eligible groups. Read more Food Security Center and Kasetsart University: Short-Term Scholarships for Asians 2013 Deadline:  06 Jan 2013 The Food Security Center at the University of Hohenheim collaborates with strategic partners to promote higher education and research related to agriculture and food security. Among the partners is Kasetsart University, Thailand. Read more IIASA: Young Scientists Summer Program 2013 The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) invites applications from doctoral students worldwide to participate in its Young Scientists Summer Program to be held at IIASA's headquarters in Laxenburg, Austria. Read more Fondation Ensemble: Program Fund and Small Grants 2013 Deadline:  08 Feb 2013 Fondation Ensemble supports field projects in water, sanitation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, eco-habitat, and biodiversity conservation. Read more French Development Agency (L'AFD): Grants to NGOs for Agriculture and Climate Change Deadline:  14 Feb 2013 Through its program FISONG, the French Development Agency (AFD) makes grants to NGOs for field projects in selected thematic areas. Read more French Institute for Development Research (IRD): North/South Research Collaboration Deadline:  15 Feb 2013 The French Institute for Development Research (IRD) sponsors the program PEERS to reinforce research capacity in the global "South." Priority themes include agriculture, aquaculture, climate change, and energy (among others). Read more SICRISA 2013: Climate Research and Information Services in South Asia Deadline:  31 Jan 2013 The Institute of Development Studies contributes to the program SICRISA (Support to Improve Climate Research and Information Services in South Asia).  Read more Academy of Sciences for the Developing World: TWAS Prizes 2013 Deadline:  28 Feb 2013 Each year, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) awards prizes of US$15 thousand to individual scientists in each of eight fields: agricultural sciences; biology; chemistry; earth sciences; engineering sciences; mathematics; medical sciences; and physics. The basis of the awards are as follows: Read more International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: Grants for Research 2013 Deadline:  29 Apr 2013 The International Center for Genetic Engineering (ICGEB) offers research grants to support projects in agricultural biotechnology, environmental bio-remediation, and many other fields. Read more World Food Prize and Borlaug Field Award: Nominations 2013 Deadline:  30 Apr 2013 The World Food Prize Foundation invites nominations for the World Food Prize, and for the Borlaug Field Award. Read more

 Source: YPARD

GCARD: More than a mere conference!

October 2012 is going to mark an important event for those involved in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D). More than 600 people from all over the world will attend the Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2), organized by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), in association with CGIAR, the global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. We expect close to 1,000 people to participate to the conference remotely, through our webcasting and social reporting.

Development changes needed to achieve the Millennium and Development Goals (MDGs) are often complex and require actions and interactions of multiple stakeholders at national, regional and international levels. The GCARD process is about reshaping agricultural innovation and its significance in meeting key MDGs. It brings together all sectors involved in AR4D: The public sector, national and international policy makers, agricultural Institutions, agricultural research systems managers, leaders of farmer organizations and cooperatives, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, universities, private sector enterprises in agri-business and farming, investors, donors and philanthropic organizations etc..

The GCARD process also provides a unique mechanism to collectively examine the realities of achieving impacts at scale and what steps and changes will need to be put into place now to reap the benefits of agricultural research, knowledge and innovation in meeting national and international development needs.

• Collective focus on key priorities as determined & shaped by science and society

• True and effective partnerships between research and those it serves

• Increasing investments to meet the huge challenges ahead

• Enhancing  capacities to generate, share and use agricultural knowledge for development

• Effective linkages that embed research in wider development processes and commitments
• Better demonstration of impacts and returns from agricultural innovation

YPARD Funding News Bulletin - 3rd August 2012

Latest funding opportunities

Funding News Bulletin This bulletin provides twice a month information about available funding opportunities which are posted on the www.ypard.net website. If you have any comment or question about this information service, please contact the YPARD Team at info@ypard.net. Latest funding opportunities

Bioversity International -- Abdou-Salam Ouédraogo Fellowship 2012, Deadline extended Deadline:  05 Aug 2012 This fellowship offers up to US$10 thousand for research on conservation of genetic resources of forest tree species in two priority topics: Read more Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA): Calls for Proposals with Deadlines in August 2012 Deadline:  10 Aug 2012 ASARECA makes research grants to improve agricultural productivity in Eastern and Central Africa. It invites research in the following topics, all of which have August deadlines for concept notes: Read more International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie): Systematic Review Call 5 Deadline:  31 Aug 2012 3ie invites proposals for systematic reviews to strengthen evidence-based policy making related to development issues and strategies. Read more AWARD: African Women in Agricultural Research and Development 2012 Deadline:  07 Sep 2012 Read more African Union: Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award 2012 Deadline:  08 Sep 2012 The African Union (AU) honors outstanding African scientists through the Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards for fields that include agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, and energy innovation (among others). The program seeks to recognize outstanding science at the continental level. The Continental Scientific Award carries a prize value of US$100 thousand. Read more CRDF Global: GIST Technology Idea Competition Deadline:  24 Sep 2012 Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) supports innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs from eligible countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to participate in the GIST Tech-I Competition. GIST seeks innovative ideas that have potential to become technology solutions to critical problems in agriculture, energy, ICT, and related areas. Read more Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Post-Graduate Studies in Climate Change 2013-2014 Deadline:  30 Sep 2012 The IPCC Scholarship Program builds capacity in the understanding and management of climate change in developing countries. The program is open to PhD-level students at recognized educational institutions who are younger than age 30. Proposals should address: Read more Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Netherlands Fellowship Programs Deadline:  02 Oct 2012 The Netherlands Fellowship Programs (NFP) provide training and education in the Netherlands for mid-career professionals from 61 developing countries. Read more Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative: USA-India Science Collaboration Deadline:  01 Nov 2012 The United States - India Educational Foundation (USIEF) supports partnerships between U.S. and Indian institutions of higher education to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships. Proposals in the following fields are eligible: Read more EC Erasmus Mundus: PhD Research in Agricultural Development at European Universities, AGTRAIN 2013 Deadline:  01 Nov 2012 Six European universities collaborate to offer the program Agricultural Transformation by Innovation (AGTRAIN): Read more

Source: YPARD

Agro-industrie : insémination artificielle et production de canetons au centre d’expérimentation d’Albion

Que fait le centre d’expérimentation d’Albion ? Le dernier rapport de l’Audit a recommandé sa fermeture ou sa privatisation. Le ministre de l’Agro-industrie et de la sécurité alimentaire Satish Faugoo a effectué une visite à Belle-Vue Experiment Station, à Albion, pour un état des lieux et prendre connaissance des travaux de recherche et de développement entrepris conjointement par une équipe comprenant des techniciens chinois et mauriciens.
Les projets et les activités du centre d’expérimentation d’Albion portent sur la production de canetons destinés aux éleveurs, l’insémination artificielle (porc et chèvre), la culture de légumes hydroponiques ainsi que la production de semences. Ces projets font partie du programme de coopération Maurice-Chine qui remonte à plus de quatre décennies.

Intervenant lors d’un point de presse précédant la visite guidée, Satish Faugoo, tout en faisant référence au dernier rapport de l’Audit, a rappelé que “malgré les coûts, il est dans l’intérêt de l’industrie locale de préserver les intérêts des petits éleveurs”.

“Au fait, nous sommes confrontés à deux écoles de pensée : l’une affichée par l’Audit préconisant la fermeture et la privatisation de la station d’Albion ; l’autre veut la survie de celle-ci. Or, la fermeture ou la privatisation aura des répercussions sur les petits éleveurs. Les intrants qui coûtent cher mettront les petits éleveurs hors-jeu. Cet aspect surpasse l’aspect économique”, a précisé Satish Faugoo. Il avance l’argumentation qu’en dépit des coûts, il est nécessaire pour l’industrie locale de préserver les intérêts des petits éleveurs. “Leurs intérêts  doivent primer devant une éventuelle privatisation.”

Le ministre a remercié le gouvernement chinois qui a aidé Maurice à faire face à l’épizootie de la fièvre porcine africaine qui a sévi dans le pays en 2007. Rappelant que deux experts chinois étaient dépêchés à Maurice pendant une période de deux ans, il souligne que “le cheptel porcin qui était de 18 000 était réduit à 4 000 suite à cette épidémie. Aujourd’hui, compte tenu de l’aide et du soutien gouvernemental apportés aux éleveurs, le cheptel est repassé à 25 000. C’est un succès total”.

En revanche, le ministre de l’Agro-industrie affirme que les semences constituent un des problèmes majeurs. Il se réjouit que la production de lait à Maurice, qui était de 2 % en 2008, a augmenté à 11 % en 2012 ; la production de viande qui était de 5 % est passée à 10 %, soit le double en 3 à 4 ans.

“Au bout du compte, les petits planteurs et petits éleveurs peuvent sortir gagnants”, maintient Satish Faugoo. S’agissant de Belle-Vue Experiment Station d’Albion, le Chief Agricultural Officer Raj Punchoo rappelle qu’elle a été mise en place à la fin des années 70. “S’agissant de la coopération Maurice-Chine, l’expertise chinoise a été apportée pour la production de riz, des fleurs, de la viande”, précise Raj Punchoo.

Citant l’exemple des canards, il fait remarquer qu’en dix ans, la production de canetons est passée de 3 000 à 25 000. Et le Divisional Scientific Officer Jean-Pierre Yee Tong Wah de préciser que quelque 300 à 400 canetons sont produits chaque semaine.

“Nous avons commencé la reproduction de Peking Duck en 2002. Le rapport est d’un mâle pour 10 femelles. Notre objectif est de recueillir le maximum d’œufs pour les expédier à Réduit. Contrairement aux œufs de poule qui prennent 24 jours pour éclore, ceux de cane le sont en 30 jours”, explique Jean-Pierre Yee Tong Wah. “En sus de la production de canetons, nous faisons de l’insémination artificielle avec des porcs. L’expérience est étendue avec les chèvres en vue d’augmenter la production animale”, souligne Raj Punchoo.

Trois techniciens chinois sont en poste à  Belle-Vue Experiment Station, en tant qu’Agricultural Technicians Team (CATT), et collaborent avec des techniciens et des scientifiques du ministère de l’Agro-Industrie pour travailler sur certains projets, à savoir l’insémination artificielle, la culture hydroponique, la production de canetons. Y sont aussi entreprises la recherche et la formation s’agissant de la culture des fruits et des légumes. Les techniciens chinois apportent leur collaboration également à la transformation agro-alimentaire et la technologie de compostage.

Dans ce contexte, le Senior Technical Adviser, le Dr Dan Dumur, rappelle que Maurice et la Chine sont les premiers pays à avoir signé ce protocole. “Dans le passé, l’équipe chinoise nous avait apporté son aide pour une variété de champignon, le Volvaveria, mais les Mauriciens n’ont pas trop apprécié. Cependant, grâce à la technique utilisée pour le bambou, on a pu produire des voehms, des margozes…”, dit le Dr Dumur.

S’agissant de l’insémination artificielle, il existe deux verrats, lesquels constituent un outil pour améliorer la génétique. “Les résultats en laboratoire se font progressivement. Il est impérieux que l’autre moitié du travail soit accomplie par des éleveurs”, affirme Jean-Pierre Yee Tong Wah. 
Source: Le Matinal - 10.07.12

YPARD Funding News Bulletin

Latest funding opportunities

Funding News Bulletin This bulletin provides twice a month information about available funding opportunities which are posted on the www.ypard.net website. If you have any comment or question about this information service, please contact the YPARD team at info@ypard.net. Latest funding opportunities

Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA): Research in Bananas and Potatoes Deadline:  31 Jul 2012 The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) has issued two calls for research concept notes: Read more Research on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock: Round 2 Deadline:  27 Aug 2012 The New Zealand Fund for Global Partnerships in Livestock Emissions Research is an international research fund set up by New Zealand to support the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Gases. Read more Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM): Awards for Agricultural Research and Science in Africa Deadline:  29 Aug 2012 The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) announces the 2012 competition for the Impact Research and Science in Africa (IMPRESSA) Awards. IMPRESSA recognizes outstanding researchers and scientists who have made significant contributions in the field of agricultural research and science for development in Africa, including human and institutional development. Read more Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA): Research on Land Grabs and Food Sovereignty in Africa Deadline:  31 Aug 2012 The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites proposals on the topic of the acquisition of fertile lands in Africa for outsourced food and fuel production, i.e., "land grabbing." Read more International Development Research Center: IDRC Research Awards 2013 Deadline:  12 Sep 2012 The International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada offers research awards to Canadian nationals, permanent residents of Canada, and nationals of developing countries who are pursuing masters or doctoral studies. Read more Swiss Program for Research on Global Issues for Development: Calls for Proposals Deadline:  08 Oct 2012 The Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development is jointly implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Read more Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology, and Society: Fellowships 2013-2014 Deadline:  31 Dec 2012 The Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology, and Society (IAS-STS) in Graz, Austria, promotes interdisciplinary research on interactions among science, technology, and society. The IAS-STS sponsors an annual fellowship program that supports international research fellows for up to nine months of research at the Institute, and visiting scholars for shorter periods.  Themes include: Read more EC FP7 Research Cooperation: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (KBBE 2013) Deadline:  05 Feb 2013 The European Commission's FP7 research program invites research proposals in the theme of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (KBBE) for 2013.  Read more

Source: Young Professionals' Platform for Agricultural Research for Development (YPARD)

Cannes à sucre : Le Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute fait sa propre évaluation

Un exercice d’évaluation permettra de mieux juger du succès des recherches du MSIRI sur la canne à sucre.L’industrie sucrière a-t-elle eu raison depuis 1953 d’investir dans la recherche et le développement par le biais du Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI), organisme dont le principal objectif est de promouvoir le progrès de ce secteur par ses recherches et ses investigations ?

La réponse est Oui, selon les résultats d’une évaluation économique de sa mission que vient d’effectuer le MSIRI.

L’évaluation économique est une pratique courante pour ne pas dire obligée des instituts de recherche à travers le monde. Elle leur permet de faire la démonstration auprès de leur bailleur de fonds que l’investissement dans les recherches et le développement est intimement lié à leur rentabilité.

Depuis sa création en 1953, c’est la toute première fois que le MSIRI a recours à un tel exercice. Cette initiative a été, dans une grande mesure, motivée par un débat autour de la rentabilité ou non des investissements dans la recherche et le développement.

Le MSIRI a eu recours à deux facteurs émanant de l’étude elle-même et qui lui servent de baromètres d’évaluation. Dans le premier cas, il s’agissait de se référer au taux de retour sur les investissements pour une période donnée. Dans le second cas, il fallait déterminer le taux de référence à partir duquel la rentabilité des programmes de recherche et de développement. Ce taux est de 10 %.

Ainsi, les programmes de recherche et de développements sont considérés rentables si le retour sur l’investissement est de plus de 10 %. C’est l’équivalent du taux d’intérêt moyen pour les dépôts fixes à long terme et des obligations d’Etat sur la période entre 1961 et 2010. L’objectif est de démontrer si un opérateur de l’industrie sucrière aurait mieux fait de déposer son argent à la banque plutôt que de l’investir dans les recherches et le développement dont, comme c’est le cas pour un dépôt fixe, les bénéfices ne peuvent être atteints que sur le long terme.

Le calcul du taux de rendement sur les investissements dans l’industrie sucrière a été effectué sur trois périodes, à savoir de 1961 à 1990, de 1990 à 2005 et de 2006 à 2015. Pour les deux premières périodes, ce taux était de 26/42 % et de 11/19 % respectivement. Pour la période 2006/2015, ce taux oscillerait entre 8 et 11 %.

Source: L'Express 1.02.12

Seychelles: On Farm Trials Workshop

Courtesy of Seychelles Nation

On Thursday 10^th March 2011, the Agricultural Extension Services Section and the Crop Research and Development Section of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) jointly organised a workshop for farmers at the Anse Royale Community Centre in which the preliminary results of on-farm trials carried out in 2010 were presented and discussed. Also present were Minister Peter Sinon, Mr. Antoine Marie Moustache, the Chief Executive Officer of the SAA, Mr. Gilbert Port-Louis, the Principal Officer of the Agricultural Extension Services Section, Mr. Georgie Belmont, the Head of the Seychelles Agricultural Horticultural Training Centre and the farmers’ association representatives. The event was covered by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation and the Seychelles’ Nation.

The presentations were given by officers from the Research and Development, and the Agricultural Extension Services Sections.

Topics covered included:

-Evaluation of layer and broiler chicken manure and cattle manure in Chinese cabbage in red soil under open field condition (Val D’endore ‘West’ Mahe);

Extension, Research & Farmers collaboration

Transplanting on the farmers field

- Evaluation of four different modes of bio-pesticides for the control of leaf miner in tomato (Port-Glaud ‘North West’ Mahe);

- Evaluation of four different types of bio-pesticides for the control of leaf miner in Chinese cabbage (Anse Royale ‘South’ Mahe);

-Evaluation of different rates of broiler chicken manure in banana on red soil (Barbarons ‘West’ Mahe);

-Evaluation of Lucin-lure and Wota to control eggplant shoot and fruit borer under open field condition (Grand-Anse, Praslin & La Digue);

Issues/ topics of concern except for the pheromone trap (Lucin-Lure) trial were identified during a series of workshops carried out by the Agricultural Extension Services Section’s staff with small groups of farmers to get them to identify and prioritise the problems they were encountering on their farms. Following that, the Agricultural Extension Services Section and the Research and Development Section’s personnel got together and transformed the farmers’ problems into these above mentioned on-farm research trials.

Farmers prioritizing their needs

It is good to note, that the idea of grouping the farmers to identify and prioritise their needs is in response to their demands during the Stakeholders Information Needs Assessment during which they wanted their actual problems be researched into and under the conditions and environment in which the farmers themselves are working under, hence the on-farm research.

Meetings were organised during which Agricultural Extension Services Section and Research and Development Section’s officers and farmers discussed the protocols for the trials and agreed on everyone’s responsibilities while the trials were in progress.

Farmers involvement from the start

At different development stages of the trials, farmers themselves were brought on site to see the progress and at the same time media were invited for wider coverage, hence whoever could not make it to the field visit, could be kept informed.

Farmers visiting on field trial

The results of trials carried out were communicated through the workshop. This was also a request by the stakeholders themselves who wanted the results to be given in meetings by research and agricultural extension or on television or radio.

Presentation of trial results

The meeting has been a fruitful one and was also well appreciated by the stakeholders present. Minister Peter Sinon stressed on the importance of such workshop/ meeting which promotes interaction between research personnel and the farmers which also encourages the farmers to as much as possible to apply the research findings in their daily production undertakings on the farm.

Mr. Moustache addressing workshop participants

On the other hand, Mr. Moustache urged the farmers to continue the collaboration especially to offer space on their land and their time for the on-farm trials. He also supported the proposal of the Principal Officer of the Agricultural Extension Services Section that the event becomes an annual one.

A farmer contributes in the discussion

The farmers themselves showed lots of interests and participated actively in the discussions. It was good to note, that the farmers on whose farms the trials were carried out, were eager to promote the most effective treatment used. Some also proposed amendments to the protocols to achieve better results as well as lay out more plots on their land. The meeting also served as a platform on which the farmers started to exchange indigenous knowledge among themselves as well as on better ways to get good yields all year round.

For a first, the meeting has been a successful one. It was a small step towards responding to the real need of the stakeholders, with the aim of achieving a higher national food security.

Rendez-vous is for March 2012, when research trials being carried out at the research station will also be presented along with the final results.

Contributed by:

Gilbert Port-Louis (Principal Officer Extension)

Sandra Sinon (Research Assistant, Research & Development)

Agriculture Research and Development: Questions for a better future!

We begin a food for thought series of 100 questions as published in a paper on "The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture". You will find all questions to be relevant to food production and food security.

The questions are intended for all .. from the Planter to Extension Officers / Researchers, Directors of Public and Private Institutions, Policy Makers and Households.

Each post will cover a particular area, with its own set of questions. We invite our readers to interact on this blog and leave their valuable comments. At the end of the 100 questions, we will try to compile the comments and publish them on this blog as an article.

Please LOGIN BEFORE LEAVING COMMENTS. Otherwise, you will not receive follow-up reactions.

SERIES 1

Natural resource inputs: Climate, watersheds, water resources and aquatic ecosystems

1. What are the predicted critical impacts of climate change (e.g. changes in temperature, wind speed,humidity and water availability, storm intensity, crop water requirements, snowmelt and seasonal runoff, pests, waterlogging, agroecosystem shifts, human migration) on agricultural yields, cropping practices, crop disease spread, disease resistance and irrigation development?

2. What would be the global cost of capping agricultural water withdrawals if environmental reserves were to be maintained?

3. What is the effect of increased rainwater harvesting on local hydrological fluxes, and how do local changes combine and alter water resource availability at larger geographic scales?

4. How can aquaculture and open water farming be developed so that impacts on wild fish stocks and coastal and aquatic habitats are minimized?

5. What approaches (operational, agronomic, genetic, supplemental irrigation schemes, fertility management, winter rainfall storage) can be developed to increase water use efficiency in agriculture and what is the cost-effectiveness of these approaches?

6. What combinations of forestry, agroforestry, grass cover, water-collecting systems and storage facilities, drought-resistant crops and water-saving technology are needed in arid and semi-arid areas to increase food production, and to what extent can they become cost-effective?

7. How can the allocation of water be optimized between irrigated agriculture and environmental functions, and what innovative policies and technologies can minimize trade-offs between irrigation and healthy functions of natural ecosystems?

Southern Africa failing to innovate, says study

Blog admin note: My opinion on this is that we are doing research but the outputs are not visible because the works are not published / shared. 

I will create another post later on how we can publish materials. For the time being I would like you people to react to the article.

[OUDTSHOORN, SOUTH AFRICA] Countries in southern Africa are producing so few scientific publications and patents that the region's social and economic progress is threatened, and it could fail to meet its Millennium Development Goals, says a study.

The South African Development Community (SADC), comprising 15 countries, produced only around 0.7 per cent of the world's share of scientific publications between 2004 and 2008. In comparison, India produced 2.9 per cent and Latin American countries 4.1 per cent of the world's output in the same period.
About 79 per cent of SADC's publications came from South Africa but the country spent less than 1 per cent of its GDP on research and development compared with 3–4 per cent by more developed countries.
The next most productive country, although 14 times less productive than South Africa, was Tanzania, but Mozambique and the Seychelles showed the highest growth at almost 80 per cent, while output from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe has declined since 1998.  
"There is still a view in South Africa, and other African countries, that research is a luxury that only the West can afford," Anastassios Pouris, author of the study and director of the Institute for Technological Innovation at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, told SciDev.Net. "One only has to look at countries like China or Singapore to know this is not the case."
A focus on traditional disciplines in southern Africa — agriculture and animal and plant sciences — also hampers innovation, which is more likely in fields such as engineering and molecular biology, reports the study, published in the August issue of Scientometrics.
While science and technology are recognised in SADC's regional development plan as key drivers of socio-economic development, not enough is being done to implement these plans, Pouris said. "Real, sustainable growth comes from innovation," he added.
"Every government department in every country in Africa should be committing a percentage of its budget to innovation and research," said Pouris. "One minister in one government department is not going to help much."
Roseanne Diab, executive officer of the Academy of Science of South Africa, said that such comparative statistics provide an important benchmark and a reality check.
"While South Africa is a 'giant' in the SADC region, there is room for much improvement," she told SciDev.Net .

Johann Groenewald, a sociologist at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, said his country's poor showing is "not surprising". He blamed it on following the World Bank's recommendations to prioritise schools at the expense of higher education, which have been dropped two years ago.
But he added the study might not have accounted fully for social sciences. UNESCO's 2010 'World Social Science Report' found a 112 per cent increase in publications in social studies and humanities between 1987 and 2007 in Sub-Saharan Africa, with about half of all output coming from South Africa.

 :: Blog Admin Note :: Article reproduced from scidev.net of 13.08.10 ::    

Lalini Unmole et Aneeza Soobadar primées au Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Deux jeunes chercheuses mauriciennes viennent de faire la fierté de l’ile au Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

Deux Mauriciennes ont reçu des distinctions du Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Elles sont Lalini Unmole, 4è dans la catégorie des Femmes en Science et Aneeza Soobadar,  3e dans la catégorie Jeunes professionnelles en Science.
Lors de la 5e  édition du FARA, deux mauriciennes ont fait honneur au pays. Ces jeunes femmes, toutes deux professionnellement qui font de  la recherche dans l’industrie sucrière, ont démontré qu’à Maurice les technologies ont  beaucoup évolué.

Employée à la Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI), Aneeza Soobadar, se dit fière d’avoir été parmi les 17 finalistes sur plus d’une centaine de candidates. A la troisième position dans la catégorie Jeunes professionnelles en Science, Aneeza Soobadar a consacré quatre ans et demi à sa recherche sur la gestion des déchets dans l’industrie sucrière. Elle a reçu un chèque de 1 500 dollars, une caméra digitale ainsi qu’un droit de publication dans les revues du Centre Technique d’ Agriculture (CTA).

Lalini Unmole a aussi fait de la recherche son métier. Chercheuse à l’Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) depuis 13 ans, elle aussi a travaillé pendant quatre ans sur son projet d’Approche durable pour la gestion du vers Maruca vitrata Fabricius sur le haricot. Elle s’est classée 4e dans sa catégorie et a remporté un chèque de 1 500 dollars et une publication dans les revues du CTA.

Intéressée par la sécurité alimentaire, Lalini Unmole se dit toute aussi fière d’avoir pu prouver que les efforts des scientifiques peuvent être récompensés. « Le niveau de la compétition était bien élevé, mais j’ai pu me prouver à moi-même que je pouvais réussir et je voulais aussi être un encouragement pour les jeunes », souligne la scientifique.

Et des projets dans le domaine de la recherche scientifique, ces deux jeunes femmes en ont encore! Lalini Unmole projette de faire des recherches sur la chenille dévoreuse de tomate tandis qu’Aneeza Soobadar  travaille actuellement sur l’utilisation efficiente des engrais pour augmenter le rendement de la canne.

:: Blog Admin Note :: Article reproduced from lexpress.mu of 05.08.10 ::

Watch Lalini Unmole: A Sustainable Approach for the Management of the Legume Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius on Bean in Mauritius

Lalini Unmole est une jeune chercheuse mauricienne. Elle a pris part à la finale de la compétition Jeunes Professionnels et Femmes scientifiques organisé par le CTA et ses partenaires.

En compétition dans la catégorie Femme en Science , son étude a porté sur le thème: Approche durable pour la gestion du vers Maruca vitrata Fabricius sur le haricot en Ile Maurice. Elle a remporte le 4ème prix de cette compétition dans la catégorie Femme en science.

Abstract
A Sustainable Approach for the Management of the Legume Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius on Bean in Mauritius
The French bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., is a strategic crop grown on about 360 hectares in Mauritius. Maruca vitrata F., Etiella zinckenella Tr. and Lampides boeticus L. are reported as major pod borers damaging floral parts and pods of bean without any investigation on their economic importance. Previously, insecticides were only screened at field level to update control recommendations. However, chemical control had not always been effective and farmers resorted to indiscriminate use of insecticides. Such practice has eventually raised health, economic and environment concerns. This 4-year study has addressed the pod borer complex in bean cultivation for the development of a sustainable pod borer management strategy. Maruca vitrata was found to be the only pod borer of economic importance causing up to 42% pod damage in untreated bean plots. Three existing plant species (Phaseolus lunatus L., Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth. and Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.) were recorded to host M. vitrata for the first time in Mauritius. Mung bean sprouts is a new and cheap larval diet for rearing of M. vitrata in laboratory. Three types of natural enemies (egg parasitoid, entomopathogenic fungus and nematode) were detected on M. vitrata for the first time in Mauritius. Laboratory tests showed that the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, has attributes of an effective bio-control agent of M. vitrata. Biopesticides and IPM compatible products (Bacillus thuringiensis, azadirachtin, chlorantraniliprole, indoxacarb and spinosad) were identified as suitable alternatives to broad spectrum insecticides. Tested pheromone lures were not effective in luring males of M. vitrata and this indicates that the Mauritian M. vitrata could be a geographically distinct population.
Keywords: Trichogramma chilonis, Bacillus thuringiensis, chlorantraniliprole, indoxacarb, spinosad, azadirachtin


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