Page 35 - UNAM Executive Annual Report 2018

Research, Innovation

and Development

Associate Prof. Kenneth Matengu
Pro-Vice Chancellor:
Research, Innovation and Development

Centre for Innovation and Development
The Centre for Innovation and Development is mandated with the commercialization of the University
research and innovation outputs. The operational programmes to actualize the mandate during the period
under review were:
• Agro-processing and value addition
• Animal Reproduction Biotechnology Programme
• Bush-to-Feed Programme

The research and innovation activities during the reporting period included the establishment of a Fruit
and Vegetable Agro -Food Processing Plant on a small scale. The Plant was to produce pasteurized fruit,
vegetable juices, production of dried fruits and vegetable, and production of fruit pulps from fruits such as
mangoes, oranges, guavas, monkey orange, tomatoes, onions, butternuts, and watermelons. Six products
in the form of juice and soup were produced. The products were exhibited at the 2018 UNAM Research
and Innovation Day held at Katima Mulilo as well as at the Summit of the African Union 10 Heads of State
Champions for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation held in 2018 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The Animal Reproduction Biotechnology flagship programme is aimed at applying mature and cutting-
edge animal reproductive techniques to boost the livestock numbers of Namibia. It is also to preserve wild
animal species especially at risk of extinction. Genetic pool of domestic animals can be effectively utilized,
and farming and management skills can be created and improved through this flagship programme.

The Bush - to - Feed programme focused on building capacity, as six students were attached to the project.
The expected output was to produce young experts in different areas of bush feed production. One PhD
student was selected to capacitate staff members at the laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water
and Forestry in performing bush feed quality analysis. As part of knowledge transfer, operational manuals
were developed, and workshops were conducted at Neudamm and Cheetah Conservation Trust to help
farmers in producing their own feed from encroacher bush. The Centre managed to secure funding from
the NCRST and National Research Fund of Mozambique and through consultancy services. Staff members
published research articles in journals and presented papers at conferences.

Centre for Postgraduate Studies

The mandate of the Centre is to coordinate the University’s postgraduate programmes for purposes of
uniformity, quality control, and to ensure that regulations and procedures are adhered to with one view to
ensure high academic standards. The Centre provides postgraduate students with high quality academic, ICT

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