Participating CG Centers

• IFPRI (6)
• ILRI (7)
• CIAT (4)
• ICRAF (4)
• ICRISAT (3)
• CIMMYT (2)
• IITA (5)
• TSBF-CIAT (4)
• CIFOR
• INIBAP
• IPGRI
• WARDA
• World Fish (2)
  

Participating US Institutions

• Cornell University (8)
• Michigan State University (4)
• University of Hawaii (3)
• Iowa State University (3)
• Penn State University (2)
• Texas A&M University (2)
• University of Florida (2)
• University of Illinois (2)
• George Mason University (2)
  
• Oklahoma State University
• Purdue University (3)
  
• University of California, Davis (2)
• University of Connecticut
• University of Georgia
  
• University of Iowa
• University of Minnesota
• University of Vermont
• University of Arizona
• North Carolina State University
  

Countries Represented

• Burundi
• Cape Verde
• Dem. Rep. of the Congo
  
• Ethiopia
• Ghana (2)
  
• Ivory Coast (2)
• Kenya (10)
• Malawi
• Mali (2)
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria (4)
  
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Tanzania (3)
  
• Thailand
  
• Uganda (4)
• Zimbabwe (2)
• Philippines
• Mexico
  

Fredrick Ayuke

Kenyan, Fredrick Ayuke is enrolled in the PhD program at Wageningen University in the Soil Biology Department. Mr. Ayuke's research will investigate the effects of soil fertility management practices on soil aggregation and organic matter incorporation and stabilization. Specifically, he will address the following questions: 1) How do soil fertility management practices, such as organic inputs, rotation and tillage, affect soil fauna functional group diversity? and 2) How do differences in soil fauna functional diversity influence important functions such as soil aggregate distribution and stability and SOM (soil organic matter) turnover? Dr. Johan Six of UC Davis and Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe of TSBF-CIAT will mentor Mr. Ayuke. In addition, Mr. Ayuke will be working with the research team of Dr. Maja Kooistra and Dr. Lijbert Brussaard. He will be conducting fieldwork in Kenya under the supervision of Drs. Six and Vanlauwe.

Sommarat Chantarat

Thai, Sommarat Chantarat, is enrolled in the PhD program at Cornell University in the Economics Department. Ms. Chantarat's research will investigate the demand for index-based livestock insurance (IBLI) in Kenya. The objectives of this research are twofold: 1) to see if IBLI will be a suitable risk management tool to insure the risk of livestock loss among pastoralists; and 2) to determine what price Kenyan pastoralists and agro-pastoralists would be willing to pay for IBLI. Dr. Christopher Barrett of Cornell University and Dr. Andrew Mude of ILRI will mentor Ms. Chantarat. Drs. Barrett and Mude will supervise her field work in Kenya.

Presidor Kendabie

Nigerian, Presidor Kendabie, is enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Pretoria in the Genetics Department. Mr. Kendabie's research will aim to apply genetics, genomics and bioinformatics for the enhancement of Musa (bananas) crop improvement. It is expected that this study will develop enhanced and improved breeding strategies by providing the greater availability of molecular markers and genetic maps. As an end result, the farmers will benefit by increased productivity and enhanced crop value. Dr. Andrew Paterson of the University of Georgia and Dr. Abdou Tenkouano of IITA will mentor Mr. Kendabie. In addition, Dr. Anna-Maria Oberholster, a Cereal genomics expert, will supervise his PhD thesis development for submission and defense at the University of Pretoria.

Michel Masozera

Congolesan, Michel Masozera is enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Vermont in the Environment and Natural Resources Department. Mr. Masozera's research will investigate the economic impact of water management and diseases on the livelihoods of agro pastoralists and pastoralists in Tanzania. The objectives of his research are threefold: 1) to assess the effect of water limitation and disease on Maasai, Barabaig and Sukuma household economies; 2) to estimate the economic impact of water flow reduction on disease among pastoralists and their livestock; and 3) to assess agropastoralists' and pastoralists' attitudes toward disease, disease management and livestock/wildlife extension. Dr. Jon Erickson of the University of Vermont and Dr. Esther Schelling of ILRI will be mentoring Mr. Masozera. Drs. Erickson and Schelling will supervise his fieldwork in Tanzania.

Fulgence Mishili

Tanzanian Fulgence Mishili is enrolled in the PhD program at Purdue University in the Agricultural Economics Department. Mr. Mishili's research will investigate the grain legume trade and marketing in Eastern and Southern Africa. The objectives of his research are threefold: 1) to determine the optimal direction and volume of grain legume trade if all trade restrictions were eliminated; 2) to examine the impact of price, volume and direction of grain legume trade under changes in current trade policies, such as tariffs and real interest rates; and 3) to estimate the welfare impacts of grain legume trade under alternate trade scenarios. Dr. James Lowenberg-Deboer of Purdue University and Dr. Jonas Chianu of TSBF-CIAT will mentor Mr. Mishili. They will supervise his fieldwork in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Botswana.

Moses Okpeku

Nigerian Moses Okpeku is enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Abeokuta in the Animal Breeding and Genetics Department. Mr. Okpeku's research will investigate the population genetic structure and biodiversity of Nigerian goats. His research will provide a better understanding of the function and expression of the species' genes, which will result in genetic improvement to enhance food security. Dr. Michael O'Neill of the University of Connecticut and Dr. Olivier Hanotte of ILRI will mentor Mr.Okpeku. Dr. Michael Ozoje of the University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria will assist in the supervision of his PhD submission.

Alex Owusu

Ghanaian Alex Owusu is enrolled in the PhD program at George Mason University in the Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences Department. Mr. Owusu's research will examine the extent of the desertification and its impact in the upper east region of Ghana. The objectives of his research are threefold: 1) to determine the spatio-temporal extent and severity of desertification in the sahelian region of Ghana; 2) to determine the main drivers of desertification in the area and 3) to explore how remote sensing and GIS technologies improve the understanding, visualization and communication of information to stakeholders to address the problem. Dr. Sheryl Beach of George Mason University and Dr. Liangzhi You of IFPRI will mentor him. Dr. Alex Asiedu of the University of Ghana will assist in the supervision of his fieldwork in Ghana.