Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Research Community and Organizational Development Assocoates (RECODA) are implementing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) since June 2014 to June 2019. The areas of collaboration include: (i) Joint Field Practical Training (FPT) and supervision for SUA undergraduate students (ii) Joint organization of seminars for staff and students on Rural Development approaches and related topics (iii) Exchange of staff for sharing experience on Rural Development (iv) Joint research and outreach activities (v) Joint short term training programmes for field extension workers and other stakeholders on the Rural Initiative Participatory Agricultural Transformation (RIPAT) approach (vi) Joint advocacy of RIPAT approach, and (vii) Joint publication of research findings and extension materials. On 14th June 2019, the Streering Committee for the MoU between SUA and Research RECODA met to evaluate the MoU and agreed on the way forward. It was agreed that the implementation of the MoU whose 5 Year period expires in June 2019 was successful and therefore be renewed for another five years. One of the activities for the next five years is to continue implementing a project titled “Validation and Popularization of the RIPAT Approach through SUA Community” funded by Tom Kähler. The project area include Morogoro municipality and Mvomero District aiming to (i) To test and demonstrate RIPAT approach in four villages adjacent to SUA in collaborative efforts between RECODA and SUA community (ii) To enhance adoption of agricultural technologies to small scale farmers in the land catena of the Uluguru mountains, and (iii) To popularize RIPAT approach for wider adoption.
