The Sokoine University of Agriculture Pest Management Centre (SPMC) generates knowledge through focused state-of-the-art research on pests that benefit a multitude of stakeholders in the county and region including government ministries, the private sector, rural communities and students.

The focus on rural communities includes addressing issues of pest management in crops, forest and public health through development of science –based technologies to reduce the impact and burden of pests to un-economic levels.

The SPMC is also an African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development (IRPM&BTD).

The IRPM &BTD activities incorporate biosensor technology using trained African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys spp.) for landmine and tuberculosis detection and support their operational deployment to complement existing technologies to free mine afflicted lands in Africa and elsewhere and release these for safe use by humans (settlement, agriculture, mining, livestock, etc.).

Novel diagnostic approaches are a key component to tackling Tuberculosis epidemic, yet in resource-limited settings in Africa, the latest advanced diagnostic technologies are sadly a serious challenge.

Trained rats are efficient and reliable TB diagnostic biosensor technology. The ACE in IRPM&BTD also focus to build capacity through training at the MSc and PhD levels in rodent taxonomy, ecology, Science, Technology and Innovations in rodent management and biosensor technology in East, Southern and central Africa. IRPM&BTD is establishing basic and applied research programs for African scientists to pursue high-impact projects in rodent management, understanding the impact of zoonotic diseases on communities and their mitigation, and how best to use biosensor technology for detecting landmines and diagnosis of diseases.

LEADERSHIP

Currently the Sokoine University Pest Management centre is under the leadership of Prof.Apiah W.Massawe as the Director assisted by deputy director Dr.Ladslaus Mnyone.The centre is divided into three sections which are Pest Biology and Ecological Studies Section,Vector - borne and Zoonotic Disease Studies Section,Pest Management Technology Development Section.See the table below;

Prof. Apia W. Massawe	Dr. Ladslaus Mnyone	Prof.Rhodes H. Makundi	Dr.Georgies F.Mgode	Prof. Loth S. Mulungu
Director	Deputy Director	Head Pest Biology and Ecological Studies Section	Head Vector - borne and Zoonotic Disease Studies Section	Head Pest Management Technology Development Section

You can see also The List of All Academic Staffs working at Sokoine University Pest Management Centre