The WAVE team began work on the new Centre following the project’s launch in March 2015. The passion and determination displayed by WAVE Project Lead, Dr Justin Pita, when explaining his vision for the WAVE Centre last March indicated at the outset that the Centre would be successfully built.

Since then, an empty shell has been transformed to a well-equipped Centre containing a molecular biology lab, a tissue culture lab, a lecture theatre, offices and an outdoor break-out area. The fact that the Centre was built so rapidly is testament to the energy and commitment of the project team. The renovation was not without its challenges – including procurement of the right equipment to Abidjan. Such challenges were, however, overcome by using existing WAVE networks and working in collaboration with other institutions.

The WAVE Centre launch event on 23 July was attended by government ministers, international ambassadors, donors and representatives from the scientific community.

The post New WAVE Centre now open first appeared on AgShare.Today.

Dr Ndunguru explains the importance of training local farmers in diagnosing diseases affecting cassava. The scientists benefit from the farmers’ improved knowledge as they can then gather information on disease-resistant crops and the location of specific strains of the viruses, which increases the prospect for quick and accurate diagnosis.

By improving the knowledge base on cassava diseases in the region, scientists have been able to provide disease-resistant planting material. With this material, farmers have been able to increase their yield from less than five tons per hectare to forty to forty five tons per hectare. Dr Ndunguru uses this as just one example of how scientists can improve the standard of living for countless people and urges other scientists to question how they can link upstream science to smallholder farmers.

To find out more about the Cassava Diagnostic Project, click here.

The post Bridging the Divide – Joseph Ndunguru talks to AgShare.Today about the importance of linking upstream science to smallholder farmers. first appeared on AgShare.Today.