Operating from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Eastern Africa hub covers eight countries with a population of about 250 million people most of who are engaged in agriculture in one way or another. The sector, therefore, has immense potential for reducing poverty and improving food security.
Our key achievements which would not have been possible without the support of our donors and partners, include:
Researchers based at the Hub produced a total of 74 publications including 53 in peer-reviewed journals.
- We are currently supporting 19 PhD students and 26 MSc students who are carrying out their research projects. Over 160 participants took part in various group trainings organized by the institute.
- Four improved varieties of cassava were officially released; these have dual tolerance to Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and were developed with our national partners in Tanzania.
- We have developed a market brand for cassava flour which was launched in early 2013 and persuaded a major wheat flour milling plant, Coast Millers, to invest in its distribution.
- Three new major grants were funded that will bring in nearly US$20 million over the next four years.
- Internationally recruited staff (IRS) based in the region grew from 16 in 2011 to 20 in 2012 and our nationally recruited staff (NRS) have also increased to 104, with 63 in research and 41 in administration.
- Science Building: Our state-of-the-art science building was inaugurated in May this year.
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