Promoting dissemination and application of African Universities’ research outputs

Abstract

In the current context of demographic explosion, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, empirical research on aspects that relate to livelihoods is deemed to have considerable long-term implications for societal well-being and sustainable development. Whereas these aspects are various and include a wide range of specific issues from agriculture and food security to health sciences and environment, it is increasingly becoming evident that impacts on society are greater when research outputs are practical and locally exploitable. editorial introduces the 3rd issue of the fourth volume of the African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD: Vol. 4, Issue 3), which presents seven In particular, the issue highlights research studies that have investigated complementary aspects of (i) livestock productivity; (ii) crop productivity and marketing; and (iii) interdisciplinary research capacity and scholarly publishing in African universities. The work presented in this issue provides recommendations that enable livestock farmers attain profitable returns and assure economic sustainability of dairy, piggery and small ruminant farming. Further, it highlights the importance of managing infected soil and debris to address the spread & control of plant pathogens. This issue highlight some of the challenges faced by universities in Africa in producing original research output and building research collaboration, in particular, the need to evaluate existing capacities and map out strategic areas of development in higher education institutions. Our goal in collating and sharing these findings is to catalyze understanding of the issues being addressed, promote research application, facilitate advancement in scientific research on the continent.