Background

Sokoine University of Agriculture and her collaborators are committed to contribute to sustainable development to attain Tanzania National Development priorities including the Second Five-year Development Plan 2016 - 2021, the 5th Government’s industrialization agenda and Sustainable Development Goals through provision of quality Research, Outreach and Consultancy services. Researchers and collaborators of SUA conduct various applied research activities to address challenges in agricultural productivity in crops and livestock, livestock and human health, socio-economic dynamics, climate change, natural resources management, education and environmental conservation. To commemorate, celebrate and honor the life and legacy of the late Hon. Edward Moringe Sokoine (former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania), SUA wishes to share the generated knowledge, innovations, solutions, and findings to the national and international scientific community. In this spirit, SUA will hold the 2021, 2^nd SUA Scientific Conference along with the Sokoine Memorial Week.

The objective of the Conference is to showcase SUA’s Research and Technological Innovations towards Transformation of Lower Middle Income Countries.
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Conference Subthemes:
We hereby invite abstracts and papers related to the following sub−themes:

1. Agricultural innovations for enhanced food security and economic growth
Food security is critical in economic growth to ensure access to safe and nutritious food at all time to all people. Efforts to achieve food security starts with ensuring optimum productivity of safe and nutritious foods, reducing food loss and adding value of food crops.

We invite papers which will address issues of breeding of livestock and food crops; integrated soil fertility management; agrochemicals; integrated pest management; post-harvest handling and agro-processing to preserve and add value to food crops; agro-mechanization; precision agriculture; improved use of ICT in land management including use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and renewable energy technological solutions.
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2. Pests, diseases and innovative control strategies for improving food security and health
Pest and diseases affect agricultural sector negatively by lowering productivity and product quality. These effects, in return, limit contribution of agricultural sector to the economy (GDP). Poor quality foods affect health of individuals and their productivity.

We invite papers which will address issues of pests; animal and plant health; vaccination; skins and hides; milk and meat quality and productivity; animal nutrition; livestock breeding; human-animal disease interactions; pasture and rangeland management to improve productivity and ensure ecological health; quality of agricultural products and socio- economic impacts of diseases.

3. Policy Framework, Economic Transformation and Quality Livelihoods

This theme aims to assemble contributors on topic related to the key challenges of free market concept that firms from emerging economies face, development issues and other related aspects.

Topics of interest in this theme include, but not limited to the following: effects of macroeconomic policy on agricultural production; consumer behavior and food choice; pro- poor value chain commodity governance; role of institutions in profitability and commercialization of agricultural value chain; commercialization and sustainable agro-industrial development; Impact of fragile business policies on the growth of agro- processing; the role of cross border trade in economic transformation; firms marketing practices in developing economies; SMEs financing practices; consumers’ preferences on electronic payment; firms human resources practices; informal retail management practices; stimulating South-to-South FDI for economic growth; firms CSR practices for economic growth; rural livelihoods diversification; food security; agricultural related risks and shocks; health education, literacy, and behavior; institutional frameworks and economic transformation; development approaches; adoption and diffusion of technological innovations; governance; conflicts: due to investment versus residence, resource use; perceptions and attitudes on economic transformation; gender dynamics; youth and women’s economic empowerment; communication barriers; language as a tool for economic transformation; policy governance; policy implementation; economic effects of government intervention in the markets for agricultural commodities; participation of communities in policy formulation and implementation; researchers and policy makers’ interactions; education and development; public health functions; sustainable food systems; food safety; water and sanitation; adaptation and resilience to the changing environment.

4. Contribution of Forestry, Wildlife Management and Tourism towards economic development
Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism have significant contributions to the country’s economy. We invite scientific contributions from various fields related to the forestry science, wildlife sciences and Tourism management and recreation. The research articles must shed light on how they contribute to transforming the country to an upper-middle income economy.

Articles may include but are not limited to the following: ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) technologies; biodiversity assessment and monitoring; governance and management of forests; wildlife and tourism resources; forest operations and wood sciences for productivity; diversification of natural resources products (e.g. conference tourism, non-timber forest products); genetic technology in conservation and management of wildlife, forest and their production; commercial and urban natural resources management; threats and challenges facing natural resources and tourism; sustainable energy for domestic and industrial uses; emerging issues including climate changes, invasive species, pandemic diseases and pests in the forest, wildlife and tourism; wildlife- human interactions; species-specific biology and ecology; biodiversity and social-ecological systems; and urban wildlife and forestry.
 
5. Public Engagement in Research and Innovation for Sustainable Economic Transformation
Knowledge consolidation, repackaging, dissemination and communication plays the central role of public engagement to realized socio-economic benefits.

In line with, the conference theme, areas of focus for papers are sought under this sub- theme includes but not limited to: research and innovation outputs communication; ICTs for socio-economic transformation; improve technology and innovation diffusion; knowledge management; innovative information systems; innovative digital media and its economic potential impact; e-extension and advisory services; e-learning systems; effective use of social media; public understanding of research and innovation; fostering up and out scaling of innovations; access to and effective use of information resources.

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS
Abstracts are invited from researchers, innovators, postgraduate students and research associates within and outside SUA. The Abstract should be sent to suascientificconference2021@sua.ac.tz; copied to drpgs@sua.ac.tz; rafiki.kiravu@sua.ac.tz and jkashaigili@sua.ac.tz.

NB: All Principal Investigators of research projects registered at SUA must submit at least one abstract/paper as part of dissemination of research findings as per SUA Research Policy and Strategies (2018). Students are also encouraged to submit abstract/paper emanating from their research works.

The Deadline for Submission of Abstracts is Friday 05^th February 2021

IMPORTANT DATES:
Call published, submission system open: 16^th December 2020
Notification of Accepted abstracts: 23^rd to 25^th February 2021
Call for full papers: 25^th February 2021
Deadline for submission of Full papers: 25^th March 2021
Scientific Conference: 07^th - 08^th April 2021

ATTENDANCE
All details of the virtual attendance for those who can’t make it physically will be shared at the main conference page.

CONFERENCE OUTPUTS
Accepted submissions will be published in a digital conference Book of Abstracts. After the conference, the author(s) of accepted submissions will be invited to submit full papers (max. 12 pages) that will undergo rigorous peer reviews same as for the abstracts. Accepted full papers will be published in Sokoine Memorial, 2^nd SUA Scientific conference proceedings volume after the conference and Special Issues journal publications.

THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

1. Prof. Esron D. Karimuribo
2. Prof. Japhet J. Kashaigili
3. Dr. Doreen Ndossi
4. Dr. Akwilina Mwanri
5. Dr. Augustine Matondo
6. Prof. Dunstan Shemweta
7. Dr. Daniel Mushi
8. Prof.Justin Urassa
9. Ms. Lucia Madalla
10. Ms. Rafiki R. Kiravu
11. Dr. Athumani Lupindu
12. Dr. Beda J. Mwang'onde
13. Dr. Devotha Kilave
14. Prof. Camilius A. Sanga
15. Dr. Wilson Mugasha
16. Dr. Georgies Mgode
17. Prof. Christopher Mahonge
18. Prof Cornelio Nyaruhucha
19. Dr. Abdul Katakweba
20. Dr. Felix Nandonde
21. Dr. Heirinimo Proaches
22. Dr. Emmanuel Malisa
23. Dr. Charles M. Lyimo