African scientists visit UAS, Dharwad

A five-member scientific delegation from Bunda College Malawi, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Africa visited the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad and held discussion with the experts here on wide range of topics related to agricultural research and operations.

The team comprising of agronomist Vernon Kabambe, plant breeder Moses Maliro, soil chemist Patson Nalivata, agricultural entomologist Trust Kasambala and agricultural economist Josef Djanza were in UAS Dharwad for four days from July 20 as part of the Obama Singh Initiative as tripartite arrangement between Cornell University, USA, Bunda College, Malawi and Sathguru Consultants, Hyderabad.

The main objective of the visit was to revamp the seed industry in Malawi. The team visited the departments of agronomy, soil science, agribusiness management, agricultural economics and agricultural marketing and coope- ration, seed processing unit, Institute of Agricultural Bio-Technology, Institute of Organic Farming, Kissan Call Centre, Krishi Community Radio Station, University Library and College of Rural Home Science.

The team was interested in knowing the latest advances in seed science, technology, development and implementation of curriculum.

The visiting team discussed with UAS Dharwad faculty in detail about teaching and evaluation methodology for Bachelor and Post Graduate programs and extension metho- dologies in technology transfer especially in seeds.

UAS vice chancellor D P Biradar assured full support for such academic exchanges in coming days.

He said that it was a welcome sign that African countries were showing more interest in learning from UAS Dharwad, especially the nationally well recognized model on crops seed production and processing technology and supply chain system based on Seed Village concept. The V-C invited the Malawian team to send more students for Post Graduate studies at UAS Dharwad to add to the already existing students from Malawi.

He emphasized that the south-south academic collaborations among Asia, Africa and South American countries was as important as those with the western countries as there are more commonalities among these countries and possibilities for learning from each other.