The University of Minnesota joined forces with Lincoln University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University to increase smallholder access to agricultural input, output markets, cash crop alternatives, and labor market information.  To accomplish this, the universities established a cooperative relationship with Bunda College of Agriculture in Malawi.  The relationship will provide long and short term technical assistance and training so as to develop the institutional capacity of Bunda College of Agriculture to undertake agricultural policy research.

The vision is to develop a facility for cooperative research, consultancy, outreach, and training which brings together the University of Malawi, the Government of Malawi and other parties as co-explorers in search of innovative policies and strategies geared towards the promotion and transformation of agriculture and rural development in Malawi.

As part of the project, Bunda College of Agriculture will establish the Bunda Agricultural Policy Research Unit or APRU.  APRU will serve to:

• undertake research on behalf of government agencies and private institutions or individuals
• carry out a comprehensive, systematic collection and dissemination of data, information and materials relevant to agricultural policy in Malawi
• conduct outreach and training activities as necessary to meet the needs of the Ministry of Agriculture, donors and other clients

Funding:
U.S. Agency for International Development