You are in > Home > News & Events > News > SAC Strengthens Links with Malawi – Memorandum of Understanding to Lead to Mutual Benefits

SAC Strengthens Links with Malawi – Memorandum of Understanding to Lead to Mutual Benefits

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N28
Published: 07 Mar 2011

SAC’s links with Malawi have been reinforced through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bunda College, University of Malawi at the British High Commission in the capital Lilongwe, Malawi.

Bunda College/University of Malawi deals with issues of agriculture, rural development, environment and natural resources. Currently, Bunda College has 1300 students at both undergraduate and post graduate level. SAC has been working with staff at Bunda College and other research partners for over three years. The majority of the work is livestock related with staff from SAC’s Dairy Research Centre at Crichton Royal, Dumfries regularly travelling to the country to work with dairy farmers, technicians and researchers.  

The signing of the MoU took place during a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Malawi Mr Fergus Cochran-Dyet. It was signed by Bunda College Principal Professor Moses Kwapata and Professor Geoff Simm, SAC Academic Director and Vice-Principal (Research) to cement the growing relationship between Bunda and our other joint partners in Malawi. The aim is to expand beyond the current animal science projects and help address the grand challenges of global food security, climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources.
 
According to Professor Geoff Simm it is very much a two way agreement,

“Bunda College agricultural and rural research has a major role to play in helping tackle the immense challenges of improving global food security, living with global environmental change and making more sustainable use of our depleting natural resources. Working with Bunda and other partners on dairy projects over the last few years  has given us a much wider perspective on these issues”.

“Our next aim is to broaden the collaboration beyond dairying to other livestock or crop systems and wider rural sociological issues. The partnership is very definitely two way, we have much to learn from Malawi about truly sustainable systems, resilience and efficient use of resources. We face shared challenges  of identifying and reducing barriers to change. The Memorandum  gives us a strong platform on which to grow together”.

A week before the signing Alex Ferguson MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, who was making his own visit to Malawi, visited Bunda College and its farm where he saw the recently expanded dairy herd. He also met Ayr based, SAC Veterinary Investigation Officer, Helen Carty and Ainsley Bagnal from Dairy Research, Dumfries. They were training 35 farmers advisers and research technicians on aspects of dairy cattle health, husbandry and recording. This included cow condition scoring, calf management and disease control.

Helen Carty commented. “During the course we emphasised the need to have a consistent approach to animal health and recording. With a few important changes to management I am sure that milk yields and health of local dairy cows could be improved”.

Before returning to Scotland Dr. Dave Roberts and Dr Mizeck Chagunda, two of the SAC delegation from Dumfries, led an end of programme workshop on optimising smallholder dairying. Begun in 2008 and funded by Scottish Government the project involves University of Malawi (Bunda College), The Government of Malawi and local dairy farmers. Dairying is important for many poor families in Malawi, providing valuable food products, a regular income and work.

There are several other ongoing projects, including one aimed at establishing a sustainable dairy farming system in Mzimba District that improves dairy farming practices linked to sustainable land use, environmental protection and better livelihoods. This is in partnership with Mzuzu University, funded by DIFD through the DeIPHE programme. In addition a Dairy Diploma is under development, in conjunction with Bunda College and Barony College, Dumfries. A member of staff from University of Malawi is completing her PhD in Dumfries, funded by the Flanders Project.

For more information on these contact Senior Dairy Researcher Dr. Mizeck Chagunda of SAC Dairy Research, Dumfries. 01387 263961 mizeck.chagunda@sac.ac.uk.  Dr Chagunda is the current secretary of All Africa Society of Animal Production (AASAP). 

Photos available on Request.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Mizeck Chagunda
Dairy Systems Researcher
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Dairy Services Unit, SAC, Hestan House, The Crichton,
Dumfries
DG1 4TA
TelWork 01387 263961
Fax 01387 251789

Add to Address Book | Help

News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

Add to Address Book | Help