Chitedze

DARTS has four main libraries at Bvumbwe, Chitedze, Lunyangwa and Makoka Research Stations. These libraries have independent databases which are networked. The library network maintains more than 70,000 reference documents including books, reports, journals, newsletters and other publications. The library system is linked to international institutions such as FAO, CTA, SADC, ICRISAT, CIAT, GTZ, ILRI and ICRAF.

Main activities

(i) developing and organizing a large collection of materials on agriculture and related fields using CD-ROM to search international databases for articles of relevance to research in Malawi, and
(ii) developing cooperative efforts with local and international institutions for inter-lending and document supply.

Main achievements

(i) established a network of agricultural research libraries in DARTS,
(ii) developed a computerized documentation system,
(iii) improved accessibility to local and international information resources using the latest information technologies for retrieval and dissemination (e.g., CD-ROM, E-mail and Fax),
(iv) developed cooperative programmes for inter-lending and document supply services, and
(v) designation of the Chitedze Library as a national focal centre for the SADC Regional Agricultural Information Network (SAAINET), and the FAO's National Input Centre for AGRIS/CARIS databases in Malawi.

The Agricultural Economics, Statistics and Data Processing Unit (AGREDAT) is a section which ensures that data collected on research projects by scientists are statistically and economically analyzed and properly interpreted.

Area of research focus

(i) carrying out uniformity test studies to determine appropriate plot sizes for various crops (e.g., sweetpotato which has a tendency to spread out during the crop growing season), and
(ii) conducting crop-weather studies with the aid of local indigenous technical knowledge to predict the season's rainfall pattern and status.

Main achievements

(i) standardization of computer software and assistance to DARTS scientists in the use of MSTAT, SAS and GENSTAT for statistical analysis, Lotus and Excel for budgeting; WordPerfect and MS word for report writing; and Havard Graphics and Power point for preparing and presenting graphs,
(ii) providing advisory services on trial design, data analysis, and data interpretation.
(iii) conducting economic analyses on various technologies before they are released for use.