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23 March 2009
Honorable Peter Daka, Minister of Science,
Technology and Vocational Training today officially launched the NEPAD/SANBio
Node on Livestock Research and Development (R&D) in Southern Africa.
The launch of the Livestock node which is one of three Biosciences nodes in Southern
Africa marks the beginning of a process that will see improvement of livestock
productivity in the sub Saharan African Countries that are severely constrained by vector
borne parasites and the diseases they cause.
The node is jointly hosted by the University of Zambia, Samora Machel School of
Veterinary Medicine and the Livestock and Pest Research Center (LPRC) at the National
Institute for Scientific Research (NSIR).
“It is gratifying to note that the governments of this region have realized that a
sustainable livestock industry development can only be achieved through a strong, well
co-ordinated and monitored, research and development system,’’ said the Minister. He
also commended African scientists for their commitment in finding alternative solutions
for Africa’s development.
It is estimated that 85% of the rural resource poor populations in the sub-Saharan
countries from food insecurity and poverty parity due to the effects trypanosomoses and
Tick-borne Diseases (TBDs).
The Director of SANBio, Prof. Luke Mumba regards the occasion as being a step in the
right direction to improving the livelihoods of the poor in Africa.
The cost of keeping controlled areas free of tsetse re-invasion is estimated to be not less
than US$ 283,000 annually for Sioma-ngwezi area alone in Western Zambia.
The Livestock Development Node will initiate and coordinate R&D in Applied Research
aimed at, ‘Reducing the negative impact of Tick Borne Diseases (TBDs),
Trypanosomoses (Tryps) and their Vectors on Livestock Production in Southern African.
The Node is one of three nodes established by SANBio to build and strengthen capacity
in biosciences through networking, promotion of scientific excellence in biodiversity
research, biotechnology, securing and using Africa’s indigenous knowledge base, and
creating wealth for the people of Southern Africa.
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