African Crop Science Journal African Crop Science Society ISSN: 1021-9730 EISSN: 2072-6589 Vol. 4, Num. 1, 1996, pp. i-iii

Summary report on the second african regional crop science conference 19-24 February 1995, Blantyre, Malawi

E. ADIPALA

President, African Crop Science Society,
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry,
Makerere Univesity, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

Code Number: CS96033

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The second Regional Crop Science Conference organised by the African Crop Science Society was held in Blantyre, Malawi (19-24 February 1995). The first Regional conference was held in Uganda in 1993. In planning the 1995 conference, it was again decided to adopt a wider approach that considered a whole range of biological and social issues that are key to promoting crop science and food security in the continent.

The local arrangements were handled by Dr. S.S. Chiotha and colleagues of the University of Malawi, with the support of the African Crop Science Society Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda, and a small international steering committee. The Rockefeller Foundation, New York, was the main financier of the conference, meeting not only the conference organisation costs and support to a number of scientists from various parts of Africa, but also funding through the Forum programme, a core of research scientists and students from Universities in Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Uganda. Additional support for the conference was obtained from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Commonwealth Science Council, The British Council, COSTED AFRICA, Governments of Malawi and Uganda, and various local institutions in Malawi. Many research organisations supported their scientists. We especially acknowledge the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Programme (INTSORMIL) and the International Potato Centre (CIP).

All the formal presentations made at the conference will appear in the second volume of African Crop. Science Conference Proceedings (ISSN 1023-070X) being edited by the local organising committee in Malawi. We are grateful to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) for providing funding for the publication of the Proceedings.

Papers presented included comprehensive original research articles and reviews of particular topics. Most articles focused on work done in Africa, a few share experiences from North America and Europe.

Some trends and features of the papers presented, and the ensuing discussion during the conference are highlighted below:

- There was general agreement on the importance of holding regular meetings that are multi-disciplinary and include policy makers.

- Many speakers referred to the dyanamic changing situation in Africa which has led to declining food per capita in the continent. Such changes have occurred in response to increased human population, crop pests and diseases, deforestation, decreased soil fertility, and socioeconomic factors. It was noted that the responses to these changes by scientists and governments have been slow, and have tended to treat "symptoms" rather than approaching the problems in a "hollistic" manner.

- Several speakers stressed the importance of local funding to support National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) rather than relying solely on donor support.

- Many speakers emphasised the need for multi-disciplinary studies and for an overall ecological approach. There was also a considerable emphasis on the need for integrated disease, pest and weed control measures that do not depend on the use of pesticides.

- Although participants appreciated the broad coverage of the conference, it was noted that subjects such as Integrated pest management, crop loss assessment, food storage, processing and marketing, biotechnology, management of important weeds especially striga and water hyacinth, farmer participartory research, and women role in agriculture, were either addressed briefly, or not at all. Participants also expressed the need for demostrations of some available technologies, including book display, etc. at the coming meetings.

- There was particular concern about lack of papers analysing food production trends in the continent, in addition to the lack of discussion on technology transfer.

- Several speakers stressed the need to involve graduate students in conferences with the objective of giving them opportunity to discuss and link with senior scientists in the continent.

- The General Meeting, by majority vote, agreed to hold the First All African Crop Science Congress in the Republic of S. Africa, in 1997. It was also agreed that the next regional meetings be held in North Africa (1999) and West Africa (2001).

ISSUES ARISING OUT OF THE 1995 REGIONAL CONFERENCE:

- There is need forearly and wider circulation of conference notices and guidelines, and for quick response to inquiries.

- Better conference hall and audio-facilities are needed for conferences.

- A definite conference programme be developed and strictly be adhered to. In this regard, organisers should stick to deadlines for receipt of abstracts/papers/titles.

- Although many participants had good data, the slides/transparencies were poorly prepared, and often too crowded. It was agreed that the issue of scientific presentations be addressed by the society, and National Programmes.

- Adequate accomodation should be arranged for participants.

- African governments and institutions arc urged to support their scientists to attend scientific meetings.

- Conference proceedings be circulated as widely as possible. and should have both English and French summaries.

- A number of scientists were given airtickets but did not turn up. Initial concensus was that this may have been due to short notice of funding and poor communication.

- Significant contributers to advancement of science in the continent including good presentations during conferences be recognised in future meetings, as was done in the 1993 Kampala Conference.

- First All Africa Crop Science Congress will be held 13-17 January 1997, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, S. Africa. It will cover all aspects of Crop Science. Deadline, for receipt of abstracts is 31 August 1996.

For more details aboat the First All Africa Congress. contact:

Dr. Adipala Ekwamu, Makerere Univcrsity. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Fax 256-41-531641 E-mail: acss@starcom.co.ug OR Dr. G.D.Joubert, Private bag X82075, RUSTENBURG 0300, S. Africa, Fax: 0142 993113.

Copyright 1996 The African Crop Science Society