The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa, which will become operational next week (23 August), will promote the creation and dissemination of new research and technology for improved food security in the region.
It was launched during a meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers in Gaborone last month (11–14 July). Specifically, the centre — which is housed at the Ministry of Agriculture's headquarters — will coordinate implementation of the SADC Multi-country Agricultural Productivity Programme (SADC MAPP) themes. One of the SADC MAPP's main goals is to strengthen links among agricultural institutions in the region.
The centre will provide competitive funds for research, identify research programmes, and help coordinate and share projects to avoid duplication. Mompati Merafhe, Botswana's vice president, said at the launch: "[The centre] must generate useful technologies to drive both smallholders' and commercial farming interests".
The centre will work under SADC, but will have autonomy on the management of its finances. Some US$40 million will be provided to it over the next five years by cooperating partners including the UK Department for International Development and the World Bank.
