The East African Veterinary Research Organisation Its Development, Objects and Scientific Activities

Abstract

The East African Veterinary Research Organisation is one of the regional research organisations established by the East Africa High Commission, with financial assistance provided by the United Kingdom from the Research Allocation under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, to undertake research on important problems common to the whole East Mrican region, which comprises Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar. The idea of regional research is a relatively new conception in the application of science to the solution of Colonial problems. Its philosophy is based on the fundamental fact that the major problems in health, agriculture, fisheries, and so forth, of the peoples of a geographical region, and of their crops and livestock, are not defined or limited by political boundaries or frontiers. In a particular region, such as East Africa, many such problems affecting one Colony are similar to or identical with those in an adjoining Colony, and can therefore be logically studied on a regional rather than on a Colony basis. The main purpose of regional research is to secure efficiency and economy, both in number of staff and in capital and recurrent expenditure, by having for those Colonies within a given region one group of research workers instead of a separate group in each Colony, each doing research similar to that of the others. This centralization of research work, of the funds provided for research and allied functions, of scientific and ancillary staff, and of buildings, equipment and other specialized and expensive facilities of many kinds, is designed to achieve a more effective concentration of scientific effort on major common problems and to avoid undue duplication of research and of financial expenditure within the region.