Sylvans Ochola
Crop Protection/Integrated Pest Management/Plant Pathology
Migori,Nyanza
Summary
Innovative Crop Protection and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) expert mindful of trainee engagement and interest who thrives on experiential learning. Time-tested designer of targeted training with audience in mind, devising most effective methods for helping participants acquire intended information. Creative thinker with flexibility to allow audience to guide direction of trainings and achieve most out of interdisciplinary education experience.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Lecturer & Program lead – Plant Health & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA)
Kigali, Rwanda
09.2022 - Current
- Training students and visiting farmers' groups on the theoretical and practical techniques of Crop production, Conservation Agriculture, and Plant Health & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Capacity building and promoting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for sustainable crop production among farming communities
- Promoting judicious pesticide application based on economic injury levels and economic thresholds
- Daily management of pesticide wash-off facility on campus and technical backstopping on pesticide uses in commercial crop production fields
- Routine classification of pesticides and advisory on pesticide use and safety
- Mentoring and co-supervision of student research projects on crop production, plant health, and integrated pest management (IPM)
- To improve RICA agricultural extension services and technical advice on crop production and pest management options to local farmers by at least 15%.
Lead-consultant
Funded by Agro-Pesticides Evaluation Consultants (APECs) and Pest Control Products Board (PCPB)
Nakuru, Kenya
06.2016 - 09.2020
- Designed and conducted multi-location and multi-season trials to test efficacy of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides on pests of cereal crops
- Conducted field inspections and routine pest scouting and monitoring to determine efficacy of pesticides
- Coordinated data collection and analysis and writing of individual pesticide product efficacy reports
- Improved process of registration of pesticides intended for crop production in Kenya by at least 20%
- Made recommendation for registration of selected evaluated products by Pest Control Products Board (PCPB).
Research associate
University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd.
Kisumu, Kenya
06.2016 - 09.2016
- Reviewed existing and viable value chain commodities in Kisumu County
- Developed data collection tools for household's survey in Kisumu County
- Participated in developing and implementing research on value chain study in Kisumu County under Agricultural Sector Support Programme (ASDP)
- Mapped major sorghum and cotton growing areas in seven sub-counties of Kisumu County
- Drafted final report on sorghum and cotton value chains with recommendations on potential for commercial production and value addition options.
Post-doctoral research fellow
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
Pretoria, South Africa
09.2021 - 08.2022
- Developed plant diseases diagnostic tools and protocols for diagnosis of common fungal pathogens fruit-tree crops
- Conducted on-farm agricultural extension programs to strengthen existing knowledge on plant health and disease management practices fruit-tree orchards
- Mentored and co-supervised graduate and undergraduate student research projects focusing on plant health and crop protection.
- Collaborated with 3 multidisciplinary research teams to accomplish fruit tree crops health.
Seed systems consultant
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Nairobi, Kenya
09.2020 - 08.2021
- Developed Seed System Security Assessment tools for data collection targeting households, local markets, seed producers and traders
- Coordinated data collection activities led by Third-Party Monitors (TPM) in Somalia
- Coordinated activities of lead consultant (based in DRC) and Co-lead consultant (based in Somalia) in implementing Seed System Security Assessment task
- Developed final Seed System Security Assessment in Somalia report.
Lecturer
Egerton University
Njoro, Kenya
09.2019 - 08.2021
- Taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in General Perennial Crops Production, Statistics for Agriculture, Crop Pests and Pest Control, Mycology & Bacteriology
- Developed training and teaching materials and manuals for various courses taught.
Project consultant
Funded by DANIDA & Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) Kenya
Makere, Tana River
01.2020 - 08.2020
- Trained Cooperative members on basic principles of crop production, Cooperative leadership and management, Production records and record keeping
- Capacity building of cooperative management on resource mobilization and management of donor funded (DANIDA and MESPT) project activities
- Strategic planning, coordinating and implementation of commercialization of cooperatives agricultural activities
- Technical advisory services on pest scouting and management through synchronization of crop production calendar
- Diversified cooperative's income generating activities through commercialization of tractor activities plough-for-pay model, and provision of ploughing services.
- Increased cooperative income by 100% in first two month of engagement
- Reviewed potential and existing agricultural commodities markets and advised cooperative management on viable opportunities.
Technical assistant/agronomy
Bayer East Africa Ltd.
Nakuru, Kenya
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Designed and monitored wheat, maize, and barley field trials across Nakuru and Narok counties
- Trained farmers on wheat and barley production, and post-harvest handling
- Collected and analyzed crop performance data and compiled monthly project status reports.
- Increased data collection and reporting turn-around time by over 75%.
Trial agronomist
Syngenta East Africa Ltd.
Nakuru, Kenya
04.2014 - 10.2014
- Managed wheat, maize, and barley demonstration trials
- Routinely scouted, monitored, and managed pest and diseases in trial fields
- Trained farmers on wheat and barley production, pest and disease management and post-harvest handling
- Supervised potatoes and other horticultural crop production in field trials
- Recruited casual staff that worked in trial sites
- Collected and analyzed data of performance on wheat and barley trials
- Timely compiled and submitted monthly project status reports and updates.
Consultant
Enterprise Solutions to Poverty/Kenya Agribusiness and Agro-industry Alliance/Egerton University
, Kenya
10.2013 - 03.2014
- Mapped major banana production regions in Kenya, number of farmers, size segmentation of arable land devoted to banana production.
- Analyzed physical and financial flows in banana value chain from production to domestic or export marketing
- Determined key players in banana value chain including agribusinesses players that act as key drivers in the value chain
- Analyzed economies and dis-economies of scale of banana production and recommended segments in which progressive, small and medium farmers can be competitive
- Analyzed adequacy of services and linkages provided to progressive small and medium farmers including aggregation, input supply, productivity improvement, finance, marketing, quality control and traceability measures for smallholder farmers
- Analyzed post-harvest constraints and opportunities for banana value addition to reduce losses associated with post-harvest losses
- Identified opportunities and risks associated with devolution to determine how value-adding processes can be shifted to county levels consistent with devolution strategy
- Recommended suitable roles of key players in banana value chain including private sector, central and county governments.
Education
PhD in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) -
Nanjing Agricultural University
Nanjing, China 09.2016 - 06.2019
Masters of Science in Agronomy (Crop Protection) -
Egerton University
Njoro, Kenya 08.2012 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture -
Egerton University
Njoro, Kenya 08.2008 - 12.2012
References
- Mr. Jared Ochieng, Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD) Kenya, +254 723 152 489, Jared.Ochieng@fsdkenya.org
- Mr. Eric Rosana, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), +254 724 069 899, eric.rosana@crs.org
- Dr. Alex Kange, Lecturer, Bomet University College, Kenya, +254 723 778 688, amkange@buc.a.ke
Timeline
Lecturer & Program lead – Plant Health & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA)
09.2022 - Current
Post-doctoral research fellow
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
09.2021 - 08.2022
Seed systems consultant
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
09.2020 - 08.2021
Project consultant
Funded by DANIDA & Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) Kenya
01.2020 - 08.2020
Lecturer
Egerton University
09.2019 - 08.2021
PhD in Agronomy (Plant Pathology) -
Nanjing Agricultural University
09.2016 - 06.2019
Lead-consultant
Funded by Agro-Pesticides Evaluation Consultants (APECs) and Pest Control Products Board (PCPB)
06.2016 - 09.2020
Research associate
University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd.
06.2016 - 09.2016
Technical assistant/agronomy
Bayer East Africa Ltd.
01.2015 - 12.2015
Trial agronomist
Syngenta East Africa Ltd.
04.2014 - 10.2014
Consultant
Enterprise Solutions to Poverty/Kenya Agribusiness and Agro-industry Alliance/Egerton University
10.2013 - 03.2014
Masters of Science in Agronomy (Crop Protection) -
Egerton University
08.2012 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture -
Egerton University
08.2008 - 12.2012
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