SEAMEO BIOTROP received a work visit from the Zanzibar Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), and the Zanzibar Institute of Fisheries Research, Tanzania, on Thursday, 01 August 2019. The four delegates were Dr. Suleiman S. Mohammed and Dr. Mohamed D. Kombo from ZARI, Dr. Haroun Ayoub from SUZA, and Dr. Narriman S. Jiddawi from the Zanzibar Institute of Fisheries Research. A representative from the Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Asrori Ali accompanied them to visit the Centre.

The group was welcomed by the BIOTROP’s Director, Dr. Irdika Mansur, in the Centre’s headquarters in Bogor. In his opening remarks, Dr. Irdika said, “We are pleased to welcome the Zanzibar delegations to our Campus. BIOTROP itself is mandated to serve the community using knowledge and technology related to tropical biology through various training, research, and community development activities.” He also introduced the group to the Centre’s programs and activities in general.

During the activity, two Centre’s Scientists presented the BIOTROP’s expertise to the delegates. Dr. Supriyanto, the natural product expert, delivered presentations about the sorghum, essential oils, and SMARTS-BE program, while Dr. Soekisman Tjitrosemito, the Invasive Alien Plant Species expert, explained about the weed management. The visit was then continued by having tour to the hydroponics unit and plant tissue culture laboratory.

At the end of the visit activity, Dr. Suleiman expressed his gratitude for being welcomed by the Centre and hoped that in the near future the three institutions could collaborate in the field of agriculture.

Also attending the visit activity were the BIOTROP’s scientists, managers and supervisors of the Centre’s departments.