All Countries
- The project needs to have inoculants quality control in place in each country (with attention paid to ensuring well – trained personnel are in place) and equipment needs to be in place in time. A progress report is required by the end of March 2011. If this proves not possible, then standardized quality control should take place in the interim using IITA and TSBF, so engage IITA/TSBF laboratories to give support to quality control activities.
- Below is what I believe is the most up to date information for each country. Please check your country and modify as need by April 20. This information is required by our steeriung committee.
Kenya – Quality control (QC)can be evaluated at both MIRCEN and TSBF
Rwanda – the lab in Rwanda cannot do the QC work at this time. Presently, Inoculum samples from Rwanda are refrigerated in Rwanda and then transported to MIRCEN for the QC test. Paul Woomer will visit Rwanda to evaluate the equipment, supplies and human resource needs by the end of May 2011
DRC - the lab in DRC cannot do the QC work at this time. Presently, Inoculum samples from DRC are refrigerated in DRC and then transported to MIRCEN for the QC test. Paul Woomer will visit DRC to evaluate the equipment, supplies and human resource needs by the end of May 2011. There is a new soils lab being built by TSBF on the new site of the University and this is where the new equipments and supplies will be located. This new soil microbiology lab should be operational by June 2011.
Nigeria – QC will be done at IITA, Ibadan.
Ghana – QC will be done at SRI, Nyankpala
Zimbabwe – The soil microbiology lab at SPRL should be able to handle the QC for Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique but I have not been able to get a confirmation on this from Mazvita.
Malawi – Over the last two months the soil microbiology lab has been renovated with repairs to roof, ceiling, windows and screens. The only outstanding work is installation of new light fixtures, resurfacing the benches and a serious cleaning. We expect that by October 2011 this lab might be able to do QC work. We can’t be sure about this as there will need to be a major effort on improving the capabilities of staff.
Mozambique - Here we are starting from almost zero. However the good news is the IIAM is building a new soils lab. When I visited Nampula in March the block work and roof were completed. I estimate the earliest we can do QC in Mozambique will be October 2012.