Participating CG Centers

• IFPRI (9)
• ILRI (8)
• CIAT (10)
• ICRAF (4)
• ICRISAT (3)
• CIMMYT (2)
• IITA (7)
• CIFOR (2)
  
• WARDA (2)
• World Fish (3)
• BIOVERSITY INTERNATIONAL (2)

Participating US Institutions

• Cornell University (10)
• Michigan State University (5)
• University of Hawaii (3)
• Iowa State University (4)
• Penn State University (3)
• Texas A&M University (3)
• University of Florida (2)
• University of Illinois (2)
• George Mason University (2)
  
• Oklahoma State University
• Purdue University (5)
  
• 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
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Auburn University
• University of Wyoming
  

Countries Represented

• Burundi
• Cape Verde
• Dem. Rep. of the Congo
  
• Ethiopia
• Ghana (3)
  
• Ivory Coast (3)
• Kenya (14)
• Malawi (2)
  
• Mali (2)
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria (4)
  
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Tanzania (3)
  
• Thailand
  
• Uganda (5)
• Zimbabwe (3)
• Philippines
• Mexico
• India
• Vietnam
  

Idris Amusan

Nigerian, Idris Amusan is enrolled in the PhD program at Purdue University in the Plant Breeding and Genetics Department. Mr. Amusan’s research will investigate methods of improving the efficiency of breeding for maize production. His research objectives are two-fold: 1) to determine the variability of different strains of Striga weed to germination stimulant; and 2) to develop molecular markers for marker assisted selection in breeding for Striga resistance in maize. Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University and Dr. Abebe Menkir of IITA will mentor Mr. Amusan. His research also has the support of Dr. John Yohe, the Program Director of the INTSORMIL CRSP (Sorghum, Millet and Other Grains Collaborative Research Support Program). During his fellowship, he will be collecting data in Ibadan, Nigeria under the supervision of Dr. Menkir.

Rafael Martinez-Garcia

Mexican, Rafael Martinez-Garcia is enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Arizona in the Environmental Science/Aquaculture Department. Mr. Martinez-Garcia’s research will evaluate polyculture systems and integrated aquaculture systems in an effort to develop sustainable systems which will promote water conservation. His research objectives are: 1) to evaluate polyculture shrimp and tilapia; 2) to assess the growth of genetically improved tilapia; 3) design an integrated aquaculture system employing polyculture of shrimp-tilapia and halophyte crops; and 5) to evaluate and disseminate the results to meet the needs of shrimp farmers in Mexico. Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons of the University of Arizona and Dr. Raul Ponzoni of the World Fish Center will mentor him. His research also has the support of Dr. Hillary Egna, who is the Director of the Aquaculture CRSP (Collaborative Research Support Program). During his fellowship, Mr. Martinez-Garcia will be conducting his research at the World Fish Center in Malaysia.

Kiddo Mtunda

Tanzanian, Kiddo Mtunda is enrolled in the PhD program in the Plant Breeding Department at the University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Ms. Mtunda’s research aims to develop improved cassava varieties, which will contribute to food security and generate income for resource-poor farmers in Tanzania. It is expected that from her study, farmers will be able to benefit by using new varieties with improved starch content. Dr. Tim Setter of Cornell University and Dr. Edward Kanju of IITA will mentor her. She will be conducting her research at the Sugarcane Research Institute at Kibaha, Tanzania and Cornell University.

John Recha

Kenyan, John Recha is enrolled in the PhD program at Cornell University in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department. Mr. Recha’s research focuses on watershed management. He is interested in providing farmers with solutions to soil degradation problems by using land management interventions to replete degraded soils. His research objectives are: 1) to determine nutrient exports from watersheds as a function of soil degradation, 2) to assess the dominant flows of nutrients in order to develop strategies to stem the flow of nutrient loss, and 3) to measure short-term changes of nutrient flow paths during storms. He conducts his research in the western Kenya highlands which are a catchment of the Lake Victoria. Dr. Johannes Lehmann of Cornell University and Dr. Louis Verchot of ICRAF will mentor him. In addition to his research at ICRAF, he will be working with Dr. Geoffrey Kironchi at the University of Nairobi.

Haroon Sseguya

Ugandan, Haroon Sseguya is enrolled in the PhD program at Iowa State University in the Sustainable Agriculture and Sociology Departments. Mr. Sseguya’s research will explore how social capital affects the achievement of food security. His research objectives are: 1) to identify the factors that determine the level of participation of community members in local groups involved in food security interventions; 2) to describe the processes of information flow for food security within communities, 3) to determine the factors that affect the performance of farmers’ groups, 4) to examine the relationships between different types of social capital and food security; and 5) spatial analysis of the effects of other community capitals on the relationship between social capital and food security. Dr. Robert Mazur of Iowa State University and Dr. Jemimah Njuki of CIAT will mentor Mr. Sseguya. He will conduct his research in Uganda. Dr. Frank Matsiko of Makerere University will also mentor him in his research.

Ravelina Velasco

Filipino, Ravelina Velasco is enrolled in the PhD program at the Institute of Graduate Studies at Central Luzon State University in the Fish Genetics Department. Ms. Velasco’s research focuses on selective breeding for the tilapia aquaculture. This is a key technology which can help improve and maintain agricultural yields where the majority of farmers live below the poverty level. She plans to generate a new selected breed of tilapia, determine the selection response, and mass-produce selected individuals to send out to farmers to test in growth trials. This improved fish seed should increase production and profitability. Dr. Russell Borski of North Carolina State University and Dr. Raul Ponzoni of the World Fish Center will be her mentors. She will do her research at the World Fish Center in Malaysia and at North Carolina State University. Her research is also supported by Dr. Hillary Egna, the Director of the Aquafish CRSP (Collaborative Research Support Program).