MARI CONDUCTING TRAINING ON CASSAVA DISEASE SURVEY AND DIAGNOSTIC FOR PROJECT RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND LAB TECHNICIANS

MARI is conducting a training on cassava disease survey and diagnostic for project research assistants and laboratory technicians (from 18 - 22 August), the aim of this training is to train lab technician and research assistants on the latest techniques for tracking different viruses in plant tissues as the infections unfold.The trainees are coming from DRC,Kenya,Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania as a host.


Participants group photo



Deo showing the trainees how mistake can be done after one of the trainee added a wrong chemical and separation of phases was not occur.

A student from UDSM removing the supernatant from the organic  phase during DNA and RNA extraction.

Miriam Goma a research assistant from Zambia and other scientists isolating nucleic acid (RNA & DNA) at molecular lab at MARI.

Deo Mark showing and explaining to trainees how to preserve cassava leaf samples in her barium sheets to avoid degradation

Dr. Peter explaining and showing to trainees how to identify and score (1 - 5 scale) of CMD and CBSD symptoms

Deo is showing a trainee from Zambia how CBSD look like on a cassava stem, this was during the symptoms identification.

Dr. Joesph Ndunguru showing a research assistant from Zambia (Miriam Goma) how to identify the symptoms of CBSD and CMD

Dr. Ndunguru explains to trainees how to identify the symptoms of CBSD and CMD

Christina Kidulile a research assistant giving a lecture on introduction to cassava transformation.

Dr. Fred Tairo showing trainees results from whitefly PCR and discussions

Training going on

Deogratius Mark presenting to trainee on standard operating procedures for detection of (CMB) and (CBSD)

Dr. Peter Sseruwagi showing trainees how to enter Data interpretation and presentation of results from whitefly PCR and discussions

MARI PARTICIPATED IN AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT MWL.NYERERE SHOW GROUNDS IN MOROGORO - TANZANIA

Each year MARI team participated in agricultural shows to disseminate research results to stakeholders.This year 2014 MARI participating in agricultural show at Mwl. Julius Kambarage Nyerere in Morogoro region. The technologies disseminated include diagnostic tools, tissue culture,IPM and post harvest. Stakeholders targeted includes farmers, researchers, policy makers, media, student and general public.

Happiness Gabriel showing a farmer from Mwanza techniques used to maintain or grow plant cells tissues or organ under sterile condition on a nutrient culture medium of known composition.

Happiness Gabriel explaining to journalist how the PCR machine works

MARI PARTICIPATES SCIENCE MEETING IN ARUSHA CITY - TANZANIA

It is a three days meeting from 5 - 8 August, 2014 taking place at the Nelson Mandela Africa Institution of Science and Technology in Arusha which brings together world class scientists inside and outside Africa region.MARI is represented by its officer in charge Dr. Joseph Ndunguru and assistant project coordinator ( Cassava virus disease diagnostic project) Dr. Peter Ssseruwagi.

Vice President (Tanzania) Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilali (centre) having a group photo with participants

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CONNECTIONS (ARC) MEETING IN NAIROBI - KENYA

From 15 - 20 June, 2014, agricultural research connections meeting was organized by BeCA - ILRI (Nairobi - Kenya) and Bill and Melinda gates foundation, the aim of this meeting was to bring together scientists within and outside Africa to foster scientific collaboration and to discuss on research BIO DATA issues.

Dr. Rogers and Laura during presentation at Jommo Kenyatta University of Agricultural and Technology.

Cassava team discussion during the meeting.

Meeting participants at KARI Muguga

Meeting participants at KARI - Muguga maize research field

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM VISIT LILONGWE - MALAWI FOR PROJECT OUTREACH,MONITORING & EVALUATION ACTIVITIES.

The cassava disease diagnostics project team members recently conducted a series of outreach, monitoring and evaluation activities at department of agricultural research services (DARS) at chitedze research station in Lilongwe - Malawi.

Project management team talking to Chambowo village farmers in Kalonga district, this was during the M&E visit in Lilongwe - Malawi.

Project management team listening to farmers at Chambowo village, Kalonga district in Lilongwe - Malawi

Project team members having a discussion with Dr. Clodina. C.Chuwa (extension methodologies  system) from Department of agricultural extension services in Lilongwe - Malawi.

THE VISIT OF DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND COOPERATIVES AT MARI

The deputy minister has call for change of negative mindset on the adoption of Genetically modified organism (GMOs) technology in the country. The deputy minister however, challenged scientists at MARI to establish the practically technology to enable the government to act accordingly.He said as long as there are no proven major negative impacts, he saw no logic in opposing the application of the technology as the government embarks on various plans to modernize agriculture and farming methods.

Charles Kayuki Laboratory Manager, explaining to Deputy minister (MAFC) Hon. Godfrey Zambia  how the transformation lab works, looking on is Director of research and development Dr.Fidelis Miyaka.

Staff listening to Director of research and development Dr. Fidelis Miyaka, this was during the visit of Deputy minister Hon. Godfrey Zambi at MARI.

Deputy minister signing the visitors book at MARI.

The acting officer in charge Dr. Fred Tairo (right) welcoming the Deputy minister Agriculture, food, security and cooperatives Godfrey Zambi at MARI on left is Dr. Fidelis Miyaka Director of research and development.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM VISIT MOZAMBIQUE FOR PROJECT OUTREACH, MONITORING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES

The cassava disease diagnostics project team members recently conducted a series of outreach and monitoring and evaluation activities at Research Institute of Agricultural in Maputo - Mozambique (IIAM) and also visited farmers in Boanne district Maputo province for outreach activities.

    Dr. Peter Sseruwagi (technical coordinator) showing farmers cassava leaf affected by cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). This was taken during the M&E visit in Boanne district Maputo province.

Fransisca Mwanda M&E expert interviewing farmers in Saldanha village, boanne district - Maputo province.Looking on is Dr. Fred Tairo outreach coordinator and research assistants from Mozambique.

Marta da Graca Eugenio Solemanegy and Azvedo dos santos Monteiro Suege (research assistant) observed the results of PCR in Agarose gel of positive sample.

 Project management team having a discussion with a vilogist Amandio Miguel Nuthambe (black shirt) from Mondlane University in Maputo - Mozambique

DEMONSTRATION OF BENEFITS OF USING CLEAN CASSAVA PLANTING MATERIALS AND FARMER TRAININGS IN LIRA AND NAKASEKE - UGANDA

85 farmers; 54 males and 31 females were trained on cassava agronomy and cassava pests and diseases at the demonstration sites in Lira and Nakaseke on 20^th May 2014 and 21^st May 2014, respectively. The number of planting materials produced will be recorded and farmer responses will be collected. This will help to bring to the farmers’ awareness the benefits of using virus-indexed planting materials as a way of ensuring sustainable management of cassava mosaic and brown streak virus diseases for improved cassava productivity.

Shamba darasa going on!!

Training activities going on!!!!!!

Cleaning planting materials.

Training going on.

Geofrey Okao assistant country team leader in Uganda, showing Lira farmers the infected cassava plant.

Demo planting at Nakaseke in Uganda

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM VISIT ZAMBIA FOR PROJECT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

The cassava disease diagnostics project team members, recently conducted a series of outreach activities and Monitoring and evaluation at Mount makulu central research station in Zambia agricultural research institute. (ZARI).

Project management team listening to Mr. John kimani a director at Arulusa farm in chiwombo district central province in Zambia.

Project management team having a group photo with Kalundu village farmers in Lufunsa district Lusaka province Zambia.

Miriam Goma a research assistant in Zambia interviewing Kalundu village farmers, this was during the M& E and outreach activities.

Mathew Matimelo assistant country team leader in Zambia explain to kalundu farmers how to manage the Cassava brown streak disease.

Country team leader Dr. Patrick Chikoti (Zambia) explaining to farmers how to observe the infected cassava leaf, looking on (blue shirt) is Dr. Joseph Ndunguru coordinator of the project.

Kalundu farmers listening to Dr. Patrick Chikoti country team leader (Zambia).

Project management team having a discussion with a director of Zambia agricultural research institute (ZARI).

Dr. Richard Chanda Principal seeds officer at seed control & certification institute in Chilanga - Zambia (SCCI) showing project management team  a genetic analyzer, this was during the M&E activities

Dr. Richard Chanda welcome the project management team to his office in Chilanga - Zambia

Dr. Peter Sseruwagi introducing the project management team to Dr. Richard Chanda a principal seeds officer (SCCI).

ZARI staff listening to project ccordinator.

Staff at Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) listening to Project coordinator Dr. Joseph Ndunguru, this was during the M& E activities.