Climate Smart Agronomist

• Oct 2021 - Present

• Developing and implementing Climate Adaptation Plans (CAP) across different value chains, resulting in notable improvements in agricultural productivity. • Championing regenerative agricultural practices, including establishing tree nurseries for agroforestry, implementing cover cropping and crop rotation techniques, and employing grass strips to mitigate soil erosion and enhance soil health. • Facilitating the adoption of certified climate-smart seeds that are resilient to extreme weather conditions, enabling farmers to mitigate the impacts of climate change and optimize their crop yields. • Providing capacity-building support to farmers to ensure the successful implementation of climate adaptation strategies, enhancing their resilience and adaptative capacity. • Conducting comprehensive training sessions for farmers, emphasizing the importance of utilizing certified seeds, applying appropriate inputs, and optimizing farming practices to maximize yield potential. • Educating farmers on the significance of water harvesting to supplement rainfall during periods of drought, enhancing water availability for agricultural activities. • Working alongside the CEO, software engineer, and GIS specialist to develop all three stages of the Climate and Sustainability System (CSS), ensuring the utilization of accurate data and delivering user-friendly outputs for non-scientific stakeholders. • Collaborating with dairy farmers in Kiambu County, advising farmers on improving cow comfort by constructing proper cow sheds, providing cow mattresses, and introducing high-protein forage to enhance milk quality and production. • Visiting farmers and/or Agri-SMEs regularly and preparing quarterly Impact reports, including gender impact, GHG emissions reduction, and livelihood change. Show less

Agronomist

• Jun 2016 - Dec 2018

• Organized and conducted field trials focused on maize, implementing various treatments of lime and fertilizers to evaluate their impact on maize yields. Utilized ODK collect, a mobile data collection tool, to efficiently gather and record field data. • Developed agronomic content on multiple topics including fertilizer recommendations, conservation agriculture techniques, striga management, fall armyworm detection and control measures, nutrient deficiency identification, and disease diagnosis and mitigation. • Delivered content to over 150,000 farmers in Kenya through a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) code, providing timely and relevant information to enhance farming practices and optimize yields. • Collaborated with technology partner Echo Mobile to craft appropriate agronomic SMS messages tailored to the needs of farmers. Programmed messages in ECHO Mobile to ensure regular and effective communication with farmers on a weekly basis. • Leveraged Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology to record and deliver agronomic messages to farmers, enabling easy access to agricultural information and guidance. • Provided protocols and assisted in the implementation of farmer focus group discussions to gain insights into local farming practices, align project technologies, and tailor interventions for improved yields. Show less

Field Agronomist

• Jul 2015 - Feb 2016

• Successfully identified and isolated the best inoculants for legumes particularly for soybean as part of the COMPRO II project. • Organized and conducted field trials to evaluate mono-cropping and intercropping techniques of maize and soybean, implementing scientifically designed experiments to assess their impact on yield and nutrient use efficiency. • Collected soil data at planting, vegetative and harvesting stages to monitor nutrient levels, utilizing appropriate sampling techniques. Conducted plant tissue sampling to monitor nutrient uptake and identify potential deficiencies. • Managed a budget of up to KES 500,000, ensuring timely procurement and delivery of inputs to sample farmers for successful implementation of field trials. • Hired and supervised skilled personnel with agronomic backgrounds to assist with planting and monitoring activities, ensuring proper execution of experiments and data collection. • Established and managed a network of 480 farmers, organizing them into groups of 10 and appointing lead farmers as representatives for effective communication and reporting. • Provided comprehensive training to farmers on the proper mixing of inoculants with legumes, ensuring correct ratios for optimal symbiotic nitrogen fixation. • Conducted training sessions on fertilizer application rates and correct plant spacing to promote efficient nutrient utilization and maximize crop yield. • Collaborated with local government staff and village elders to organize field days, promoting knowledge exchange, and showcasing the projects’ outcomes to stakeholders. • Overcame challenges of meeting planting deadlines by planning in advance and recruiting a competent workforce to ensure efficient execution of field activities. • Presented project findings and recommendations in a workshop held in Nairobi, effectively communicating outcomes to diverse stakeholders. Show less

Junior Portfolio Officer

• Jul 2012 - Aug 2013

Meet the objectives of Market Assistance Programme - using making market work for the poor approach Developed a Conservation agriculture short course with Egerton University targeting farmers, students, service providers and extension staff. Worked with KCA university, South Eastern Kenya University and Strathmore business school to develop short courses for rural SMEs. Meet the objectives of Market Assistance Programme - using making market work for the poor approach Developed a Conservation agriculture short course with Egerton University targeting farmers, students, service providers and extension staff. Worked with KCA university, South Eastern Kenya University and Strathmore business school to develop short courses for rural SMEs.

Student

• Sep 2009 - Dec 2011

Conducted a study on Effectiveness of liming and phosphorus fertilizer on maize production in acid soils of western Kenya Conducted a study on Effectiveness of liming and phosphorus fertilizer on maize production in acid soils of western Kenya

Intern

• Jun 2008 - Aug 2008