Ciara Varley, Angharad Johnston, Charles Spillane
The LEG4DEV project welcomed 13 postgraduate researchers from Tanzania universities to IITA-Tanzania to engage in planning for their legume-scaling research and innovation projects
The LEG4DEV project has partnered with Tanzanian universities to provide financial and scientific support to 13 short-term research projects for MSc and PhD researchers based in Tanzania. The postgraduate researchers and their supervisors are from Sokoine University of Agriculture, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and the University of Dar es Salaam.
In partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) university network, the LEG4DEV project issued a call to identify ongoing PhD and Masters level research projects (of relevance to legume scaling for development outcomes) underway in universities in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. The 13 projects selected for LEG4DEV partnership and support in Tanzania were selected from 39 expressions of interest received across the four countries.
The 13 selected legume-scaling projects that LEG4DEV and Tanzanian universities will partner on are:
- Integration of Bambara nuts into traditional farming systems: a gender focused consumer and market driven approach in Tanzania (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Bridging the Gap in Seed Systems for Agencies, Companies, and Institutions by Utilizing Improved Bean Varieties in Tanzania (University of Dar es Salaam).
- Identification of QTL associated with heat tolerance in common bean in Tanzania (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Yield and yield component of maize and cassava as influenced by intercropping with drought tolerance common bean varieties (The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology).
- Investigation of the effects of Hass avocado trees on soil characteristics and soybean productivity in a Hass avocado-soybean intercropping system (University of Dar es Salaam).
- Geospatial Characterization of Constraints and Opportunities in Legume Production within Smallholder Systems in Singida Region, Tanzania (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Seeds of change: Transforming Agribusiness through Bean-based Agro-ecological Intensification farming in Mbeya district Tanzania (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Economic implication of social network ties in the knowledge transfer of common bean related technologies and information in Tanzania communities (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Diversity of natural microbiome in cowpea and cowpea-underlying soil under different P levels (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Policy and institutional options for transformative scaling of lablab production in Tanzania (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Optimization of textural properties and shelf life stability of pigeonpea based noodles (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
- Empowering food processing sector for export market (The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology).
- Empowering smallholder farmers: Unlocking the potential of biofortified beans for healthier diets and micronutrient deficiency prevention (Sokoine University of Agriculture).
Following opening words from the IITA’s Dr. Leena Tripathi and Charity Simaundu, the LEG4DEV lead PI Prof. Charles Spillane provided incoming researchers with an overview of the LEG4DEV project’s mission and aims. After a range of informational and interactive sessions, researchers enjoyed a tour of the IITA-Tanzania facilities, including the virology and tissue culture labs.
A key goal of the partnership is to support the postgraduate researchers and their academic supervisors to generate more impactful outputs, outcomes and impacts arising from legume scaling in Tanzania.
The postgraduate students being supported by LEG4DEV in Tanzania are: Alison Salum Kabanda, Barnaba Douglas Mhagama, Boniface AnthonyMinja, Denis Athumani Mcharo, Escain Kiwonde, Kalai Simel Supira, Kazi Omari Nyumba, Kissa Mwaisob, Mustafa Bakari Mgula, Rajabu Mohamed Said, Shakira Rashid Dotto, Shida Nestory and Victoria Kariathi.
The associated supervisors are: Dr. Victoria F. Gowele, Dr. Constantine Busungu, Dr. Aloyce Hepelwa, Dr. Luseko Amos Chilagane, Prof. Susan N. Msolla, Dr. Philipo Mashamba, Dr. Stephen Nnunguh, Dr. Edwin Ngovi Elibariki Msuray, Dr. Hella P.A, F. Mishili, Dr. Amora Temu, Dr. Liberatus Lyimo, Dr. Justin Urassa, Dr. Majili Said Zahara. Dr.Davis Chaula, Dr. Neema Kassim and Dr. Hadihaj Mbwana.
Congratulations to the selected postgraduate students and their academic supervisors!