Research Focus
Biological and ecological research with emphasis on:
1. Identification of pests vs beneficial species found on various cultivated and fallow lands.
2. Study of the biology and ecology of the pests (morphology, life cycle, breeding behaviour, feeding habits, density and population dynamics.)
3. The determination of seasonal patterns of pest outbreaks, and of predisposing factors of outbreaks.
4. Establishing the optimal time during the life cycle for the management of pest species.
5. Developing biological agents appropriate for the management of specific pests, with reference also to traditional systems.
6. Survey of potential indigenous bio-control agents in forestry.
Management of pests
i. A better understanding of the biology, ecology, and population interactions of pests and hosts.
ii. Mnimizing the risks of pests’ potential to destroy crops, or transmitting diseases.
iii. Development of early warning systems in pest management
iv. Reducing the probabilities of secondary pest outbreaks and pest resurgence
v. Developing selective control methods which are less destructive to natural competitors or enemies of pests.
vi. Developing methodologies to manage pests, which do not harm the health of farm crops, animals, humans or the environment.
vii. Beneficial exploitation of pests
Short-term research activities
1. Taking an inventory of past and present (ongoing) pest research activities at SUA with respect to infrastructure, equipment and human resources
2. Charting out strategies for co-ordination of on going pest research activities, and setting out priorities for funding of future activities under the Centre. In short, the centre shall prepare its own "strategic plan" for a period of 10 years.
3. Preparation of a web page on the internet to promote the centre in and outside Tanzania.
4. Supporting on going pest research projects and to negotiate their extension where applicable.
5. Establishment of links with stakeholder institutions in Tanzania which are actively doing pest research, or which have carried out pest research in the past.
6. Establishment of a national/regional databank and information network system to facilitate interaction with national/regional pest research institutions. This information network system shall be in the form of a periodic Newsletter on the internet which shall contain contributions from in-country, regional and international researchers on matters of pest research.
7. Holding at least one Workshop in the first 5 years of SPMC existence, in collaboration with national, regional, and international pest research institutions.
8. Prepare a postgraduate curriculum to cater for MSc and PhD degree programmes in basic and applied pest research. Long-term research activities Strengthening the Centre’s infrastructure. This shall involve reviewing the existing infrastructure (buildings and equipment) and soliciting funds for expansion of the Centre with the goal to accommodate as much as possible of all Centre’s activities within one complex.
1. Review Centre’s organizational structure with the aim of expanding/refining its Sections.
2. Strengthen consultancy activities geared towards income generation in order to reduce dependency of the Centre on SUA (Government) budgets, and on donor funding.