Mission Statement
SUA's mission as an institution of higher learning is based on the three major principles, namely to provide teaching, carry out research, and outreach (extension) - (SUA ACT 1984). To foster its mission into the 21st century, SUA has formulated a corporate strategic plan (SCSP), in which the strengthening of appropriate research, and advisory/consultancy services has been particularly emphasized. It is therefore considered most appropriate to amalgamate SUA pest research activities under one body, the SUA Pest Management Centre (SPMC), as a first move towards achieving at SUA, a strong and sustainable pest research and management in Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, and Public Health.
Analysis of Pest Problems
Pests are a major concern of the government and this has been addressed in the national policy as addressed in the “Plant and crop protection services policy”. The policy requires a highly organized research and extension service, which to be effective requires both national and international approach. Direct government intervention is required in some activities including research on pests which cause high losses in crops. With reference to research, the policy states that required technology for pest control must come from vigorous, aggressive and problem oriented research programme and must be accomplished through the efforts of dedicated and competent scientific personnel working under a sound, well planned and organized research system. Therefore, the SUA Pest Management Centre is addressing the research aspect of this policy, and the results are disseminated to the extension service for use by stakeholders. The research is generally problem oriented, addresses capacity building (manpower training, equipment, etc.). Among the pest problems which the SPMC has been very strong to address in research and extension, are rodents. These cause high losses of crops and are involved as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. Human diseases, particularly plague, cause both morbidity and mortality. Rodents have considerable economic impact and therefore there is need to gain more knowledge on their ecology, taxonomy, distribution and control.