NEWS:

30 Mar, 2016


Participants pose for a group photo soon after the official opening
Fish is a critical source of dietary protein in sub-Saharan Africa, providing an estimated 70% of protein intake. But with marine fisheries over-exploited, African fish production is failing to keep up with rising populations.

Per capita fish supplies in Africa are dwindling. In Malawi alone , they fell from 10kg to 6kg per person between 1986 and 2006. However aquaculture has the potential to increase supplies of this affordable nutritious food for poor and vulnerable consumers."

In response to a general decline in capture fisheries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the governments in this region have encouraged investments into the aquaculture sector, both at smallholder and commercial levels, as an alternative.

The aquaculture sector, however, needs technologically skilled human resources to guide it, but the region lacked a vibrant regional “fit-for-purpose” training program that holistically contributes to a lasting solution to this enduring food security challenge. Strengthening the links between the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the region and a sharing of teaching and research capacity, modern technologies and research into the demands of the fisheries and aquaculture sector are integral to increasing fish production and the sustainable management of resources.

This is why the Regional PhD programme in aquaculture and fisheries science being implemented by LUANAR with financial support from the European Union, through Edu Link II project is crucial to the improvement of fish production in the region as well as in Malawi.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with University of Eldoret In Kenya, Makerere University in Uganda and Rhodes University in South Africa, and recently organized a regional planning meeting at Golden Peacock hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi which saw representatives from all the four partner universities in attendance.

According to Professor Jeremiah Kang’ombe who officially opened the meeting, the project aims at improving food security through increased fish production and sustainable resource management.
“The project is focusing on capacity building and imparting knowledge to students who would work with communities,” said Professor Kang’ombe.
He said LUANAR is getting students in the SADC region and beyond who are studying this PhD programme.

Complimenting Professor Kang’ombe, Edu Link Project Manager, Dr Daniel Sikawa said the programme is geared to strengthen the PhD training program in aquaculture and fisheries so that it produces graduates and staff that are fit-for-the purpose.
He said the objectives of the project are to review the capacity and teaching facilities at the partner institutions, visit a lead aquaculture/fisheries science teaching institution in Africa and in Europe, develop PhD curricula in aquaculture and fisheries science, constitute an academic advisory board and to start implementing the curricula.
Dr Sikawa further said the four universities decided to hold this regional planning meeting in order to map the way forward in terms of implementation of the programme.
“So far the project has achieved a lot. For instance it has enhanced LUANAR’s capacity for hosting regional collaborative graduate training as well as reviewing of curriculum of the PhD program in aquaculture and fisheries science, hence course modules will be updated or created,” he said.
This project is one of a number of projects that form part of the Edulink II Program that is funded by the European Union and implemented by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States -Secretariat (ACP-EU).

Written By: Patricia Nkhoma