SADC and RUFORUM Explore Strategic Agricultural Partnership Ahead of December 2025 AGM
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Dr. Judith Kateera, today received a courtesy call from Professor Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), to explore strategic collaboration opportunities in agriculture, science, and research.
Professor Okori, visiting from Kampala, Uganda, is in Gaborone to assess preparations for the upcoming RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is scheduled to take place from 1–5 December 2025. The meeting will be hosted in collaboration with Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), and the University of Botswana (UB).
In their discussions, RUFORUM and BUAN sought support from SADC and its specialised agency, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), to ensure the successful hosting of the AGM. The courtesy call also served as a platform to initiate future collaboration frameworks aligned with regional agricultural transformation.
Dr. Kateera welcomed RUFORUM’s engagement and emphasised its alignment with SADC’s key policy frameworks, including the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020–2030) and the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP). She underscored the need to mobilise resources for agricultural research, innovation, and capacity building to support food security and drive a green economy in the region.
“Strengthening collaboration with institutions like RUFORUM and CCARDESA will ensure we deliver impactful research, support youth and academic growth, and promote sustainable agricultural practices,” Dr. Kateera said. She also stressed the importance of convening strategic meetings that foster innovation, knowledge-sharing, and skills development across Southern Africa.
In response, Professor Okori expressed RUFORUM’s commitment to formalising cooperation through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SADC and CCARDESA. He reaffirmed the organisation’s role in offering regional capacity-building support through doctoral training, gender-responsive programming, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
“RUFORUM is ready to complement SADC’s regional development agenda through education and science-based solutions that enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, and youth empowerment,” said Professor Okori.
He further highlighted RUFORUM’s success in fostering entrepreneurship, expanding women’s participation in science and agriculture, and championing research on livestock nutrition and climate-resilient farming practices.
The December 2025 AGM is expected to attract key players from agriculture, health, and research sectors to exchange ideas and reinforce Africa-led solutions for sustainable development. The event will spotlight youth empowerment and innovative agricultural technologies.
RUFORUM, established in 2004, brings together a network of African universities dedicated to sustainable agriculture and inclusive development through research and education. Botswana’s host institutions—BUAN, BIUST, and UB—are active RUFORUM members and will play a central role in coordinating the AGM.
The meeting was also attended by Professor Samodimo Ngwako, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor at BUAN; Mr. Domingos Gove, SADC Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources; Dr. Majola Mabuza, CCARDESA’s Regional Programme Coordinator for Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa; and other senior officials from SADC and BUAN.
