Egerton and China in research and technology collaboration
By ERIC SINDABI
A stakeholders’ series on quality and safety of agro-products sponsored by the government of China in collaboration with Egerton University seeks to provide skills and knowledge in using new technologies and research in agricultural production to provide food safety in Africa continent.
The second in sequence of the programme that was held recently at the Crop Research and Technology Management Centre(CMRT) at Egerton University Njoro main campus drew stakeholders across the country and the continent.These include;Kenya,Uganda,Tanzania,
The coordinator of the course Dr.Arnold Opiyo said that the course aimed at addressing issues of food security and safety through cutting down on post harvest loses by use of research and agricultural production research.
The senior lecturer at the department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils Sciences at the faculty of Agriculture observed that the issue of food safety has not been addressed properly in most African countries. Though we tend to move forward in food quality production, the issues of food safety and quality fit for human and animal consumption are sidelined “said the don. He said that the course analyzed aspects like the use of pesticides, fertilizers, food stora ge and simple food handling hygiene measures.
The course dabbed;Quallty and Safety of Ago-Products is sponsored by the ministry of education of the Peoples Republic of China through the Nanjing University of Agriculture that has a Memorandum of Understanding with Egerton University.Throgh the M.O.U the two universities facilitate research and teaching exchange programmes not only in Kenya but across the continent.
Prof.Qinsheng Wu one of the organizers of the programme says that the problem of the course lies in the reality of changes in environment and climates that course reduced production of agricultural products due to droughts,floods,chemicals and diseases. The phenomenon, he said lead to reduced food security and safety because of low production and quality.
“Governments in Africa should therefore take measures on how to increase peoples health and food supply through the agricultural research and immerging technologies’’ He said.Prof.Wu added that the task of scientists and University researchers was to know how new techniques in agricultural production could help improve peoples lives. He noted that the government of China puts a lot of priority to agricultural production research and technology.
Prof.Wu has been stationed at the department of Horticulture of Egerton University under the M.O.U for over ten years teaching and conducting research. He is a specialist in Plant Tissue Culture a technological field that promotes the production of disease and virus free and variety breeding in agricultural production.
The course was held between November 10 and 26 2010 and was facilitated by researchers from both the Universities while participants involved agricultural production specialists and other stakeholders.
Topics that were covered in the course included;
- Agro-food quality and safety control,
- Agro-products storage and quality testing technology, plant tissue and modern agricultural technology
- Plant chromosome engineering and its application in agriculture
- Production and status of organic agro-products
- Agricultural development in Kenya
- Chinese language and culture
- Post harvest technology of agro-products, pest and disease control and
- Plant bio-technology in agricultural production among others.
The training also involved field visits and laboratory experiments in several agricultural research centers and companies in Kenya.Participants from Kenya included personnel from; Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA), The Ministry of Agriculture and a number of private flower companies.
A similar course was held at the university in 2008 based on quality and safety of horticultural crops. According to the organizers; this year’s course attracted more participants and drew a closer attention to the issue of food safety in the continent.
A representative from Nanjing University of Agriculture Prof. Li Yuan said that the series is also supported by the China Africa Corporation (CAC).The corporation, said the professor, seeks to promote human resources development in Africa through the dissemination of agricultural production and management information.”Through the cooperation, the people of china also learn about the experience of Africa in agriculture’’. He added.
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