 This is yet another opportunity to update our stakeholders on what is happening in the AR4D arena in the ASARECA region. Last week, precisely from July 17 to 19, there was a bee-hive of activity across the Continent . Three of the five Regional Multi-Purpose Animal Genetics Banks recently established in Africa were simultaneously launched on July 19 across Africa.
Those launched on Friday were for: Eastern Africa, situated at the National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) Entebbe, Uganda; Northern Africa, located at the National Gene Bank of Tunis (BNG), Tunisia; Western Africa, based at Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Elevageen zone Subhumide (CIRDES) Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
The other two Gene Banks for Southern Africa situated at the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) Gaberone, Botwana; and Central Africa, housed at the University of Dschang, Cameroon were launched a week earlier. In Eastern Africa, the Prime Minister of Uganda, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda on behalf of the Head of State, HE. Yoweri Museveni presided over the official launch of the Animal Genetic Resources Bank at the Livestock Experimentation Station of the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC&DB) in Entebbe. The launch was preceded by the General Assembly of member States held from July 17 to 18. The States charged ASARECA with the responsibility of coordinating effective collection and sharing of the genetic resources. The member countries to the regional Gene Bank are Uganda: (host), Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
This issue of the ASARECA Newsletter brings you to speed on this and other happenings in the Region. Enjoy the news.
Prof. Jean Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda
Executive Secretary—ASARECA |
