Darious Magara
26 November 2008
Kampala — SWEDEN plans to fund more scientific research to boost food security and the management of natural resources in East Africa.
"We have supported five research projects and the Lake Victoria Research Initiative (VicRes). A new agreement will be signed soon," the ambassador, Anders Johnson, said.
Johnson said the fund was meant to develop a critical mass of scientists as early as in primary school.
He called upon researchers to translate their output into development by integrating all actors into the system from the level of production to consumption.
Addressing participants at the first Bio-VicRes Scientific Conference at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo recently, the ambassador said Sweden had so far provided $15m to the region.
The conference was organised by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).
The IUCEA executive secretary, Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, said one of the projects, Bio Earn, was established in 1998 by Sweden, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Chacha said it was meant to develop human capital and infrastructure.
Prof. Ruth Oniang'o, a Kenyan food science and nutrition consultant, called for more local funding.
She said if Africa left financing to external donors, they would continue to dictate "our research agenda".
Current agricultural studies are focusing on propagating new varieties of cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum and virus-resistant bananas.
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