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Joshua Sikhu Okonya

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Joshua Sikhu Okonya
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUgandan
EducationMakerere University, Georg-August University in Goettingen, Germany
Occupation(s)Agronomist and Author
EmployerAssociation for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)
TitleProgram Officer for Technology and Innovation

Joshua Sikhu Okonya is a Ugandan Author and an International agricultural research scientist. He is an Agronomist and a scholar who has made contributions to the body of knowledge in agriculture and the adaptation of African agricultural systems to climate change.[1]

Early life and education

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Born and raised in Uganda, Okonya attended Katuugo Primary School in Nakasongola District. He joined Masaba Secondary School in 1995 and Wanale View Secondary School in Mbale District. He finished his A-level from Caltec Academy in 1999. He then proceeded to Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda where he attained a Bachelor of Science second-class honours degree in Zoology and Botany in 2004. At Makerere University, he was a recipient of an undergraduate scholarship from the Government of Uganda and was attached to Lumumba Hall. He gained a foundation in biological sciences throughout his undergraduate studies, which he later paired with his interest in agricultural research.[1]

In 2008, he attended Georg-August University in Goettingen, Germany where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Tropical and International Agriculture majoring in Agronomy and Crop protection. At Goettingen, he was a recipient of a postgraduate fellowship from Georg-August University and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).[1]

Okonya is an Agronomist and has been trained in insect ecology at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Pest risk analysis at Fera Science, and CAB International, Phenology modelling and risk mapping at International Potato Center, climate-smart agriculture at The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Scientific Research Writing at INASP, Project Planning and Management at Makerere University and International Development Cooperation at University of Kassel.[1]

Career and professional life

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Okonya worked as a Research assistant at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture from 2005 to 2008. During his time at IITA, he conducted research on the Biological pest control of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus and nematodes. In 2010, he joined International Potato Center as a Research associate. At CIP, he coordinated several Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) projects in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In 2021, he was appointed Program Officer for Agricultural Technology and Innovation at the ASARECA Secretariat in Uganda.

In this capacity, he promoted adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices to build resilience of smallholders to climatic change and facilitated transfer of agricultural technologies among National Agricultural Research Institutes in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA) to reduce duplication and improve efficiency. He co-implemented and coordinated several projects at ASARECA including The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) ex-Pillar IV, Strengthening agricultural knowledge and the innovation ecosystem for inclusive rural transformation and livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA) and The Information for Agriculture, Food and Water Security (IAFWS)among others.

Joshua has also done consulting work for various agricultural research for development organizations in Uganda, Germany and Netherlands.[2] He is also a member of the ASARECA Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance, Gender Equity in Research Alliance, DAAD Alumni Working Group on Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa, Entomological Association of Uganda, African Crop Science Society, International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC),[3] African Potato Association and AuthorAID.[4][5][6][7]

Research

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Okonya is a scholar in African agriculture with 65 articles and 811 citations by July 2023.[8] Among his most cited articles are those on pesticide-handling practices, and related occupational risks among potato farmers in Uganda; Distribution of insect pests affecting potatoes;[9] Indigenous knowledge of seasonal weather forecasting and Gender differences in access and use of selected productive resources among sweet potato farmers.[10]

He was also part of the scientists who reported for the first time, the occurrence of the Potato Cyst nematode in Uganda.[11] His research reported for the first time, presence of the Tobacco Rattle Virus in potatoes in sub-Saharan Africa.[12] He contributed three chapters of the Pest Risk Atlas for Africa, the first Atlas with information on current and future agricultural pest risks under different climate scenarios.[13] He was part of the team at CIP led by Dr. Robert Mwanga that received the 2016 World Food Prize for promoting the production, consumption, and utilization of biofortified crops (orange-fleshed sweet potato) to reduce malnutrition (Vitamin A deficiency).[14]

Joshua's work in the control of RTB (Roots, Tubers, and Bananas)-critical pests and diseases under changing climatic conditions was one of his major contributions. He developed creative integrated pest control solutions using cutting-edge risk assessment, surveillance, and modeling tools to safeguard agricultural crops from potential dangers.[15][16][17][18]

Additionally, he developed techniques for smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change and understood the relevance of indigenous knowledge in seasonal weather forecasting in his research. His academic writings, which included investigations into how farmers perceive and adapt to climate change, were well-recognized in the academic world and added to the corpus of knowledge in agricultural sciences.[19]

Selected Publications

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  1. Potato Pest and Disease Management: Okonya has conducted studies and research on pest and disease management strategies in potato farming. His work addresses the challenges faced by potato farmers and explores environmentally friendly approaches to reduce the use of pesticides.[19][20][21]
  2. Gender Differences in Agriculture: One of Okonya's research focuses includes examining gender differences in access to and utilization of productive resources among sweet potato farmers. His studies shed light on gender dynamics within the agricultural sector and contribute to empowering women in food production and processing activities.[10][22]
  3. Serological Survey and Metagenomic Discovery of Potato Viruses
  4. Okonya has been involved in a study investigating potato viruses in Rwanda and Burundi. The research aimed to identify the presence or absence of specific viruses in potato crops in sub-Saharan Africa, providing crucial insights for disease management and crop protection.[15][16][22][18]
  5. Satellite imagery to aid Uganda farmers boost yields by solving climate change challenges.[23]
  6. The role of sweet potatoes in Uganda following COVID-19.[24]
  7. Ugandan entomologist overcame barriers to publication with help from the AuthorAID network.[25]
  8. Determinants of Women's Decision-Making Power in Pest and Disease Management: Evidence From Uganda.[26]
  9. Experts worry that over use of pesticides is posing danger to human health.[27][28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Joshua Sikhu Okonya | ASARECA". www.asareca.org. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  2. ^ "AFRICAN POTATO ASSOCIATION – GROWING WEALTH AND HEALTH FOR A DIVERSE CONTINENT | APA". 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  3. ^ "Home". www.istrc.org. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  4. ^ "COORDINATION | ASARECA". www.asareca.org. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  5. ^ "Gender Equity in Research Allience – GERA". Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  6. ^ "Working group: Climate change Agriculture and Rural development". www.daad.de. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  7. ^ "Eldis". www.eldis.org. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  8. ^ "Joshua Sikhu Okonya". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  9. ^ Kroschel, Jürgen; Mujica, Norma; Okonya, Joshua; Alyokhin, Andrei (2020), Campos, Hugo; Ortiz, Oscar (eds.), "Insect Pests Affecting Potatoes in Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate Regions", The Potato Crop: Its Agricultural, Nutritional and Social Contribution to Humankind, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 251–306, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-28683-5_8, ISBN 978-3-030-28683-5, S2CID 213686392
  10. ^ a b Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Kroschel, Jürgen (2014-01-16). "Gender differences in access and use of selected productive resources among sweet potato farmers in Uganda". Agriculture & Food Security. 3 (1): 1. doi:10.1186/2048-7010-3-1. ISSN 2048-7010. S2CID 256330549.
  11. ^ Cortada, L.; Omagwa, J.; Kisitu, J.; Adhiambo, M.; Haukeland, S.; Mburu, H.; Orr, J.; Jones, J. T.; Wasukira, A.; Kisingiri, J. B.; Tugume, J.; Birenge, J. B.; Okonya, J. S.; Coyne, D. (November 2020). "First Report of Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, Infecting Potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Uganda". Plant Disease. 104 (11): 3082. doi:10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2110-PDN. ISSN 0191-2917. S2CID 225746777.
  12. ^ Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Gamarra, Heidy; Nduwayezu, Anastase; Bararyenya, Astere; Kroschel, Jürgen; Kreuze, Jan (2021-09-01). "Serological survey and metagenomic discovery of potato viruses in Rwanda and Burundi reveals absence of PVY in Burundi and first report of TRV in potatoes in sub-Saharan Africa". Virus Research. 302: 198487. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198487. ISSN 0168-1702. PMID 34157336.
  13. ^ "Risk Atlas for Africa – POTENTIAL GLOBAL AND REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL PESTS AND ASSOCIATED BIOCONTROL AGENTS UNDER CURRENT AND FUTURE CLIMATES". Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  14. ^ globalreach.com, Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC-Ames, IA-. "2016: Andrade, Bouis, Low and Mwanga - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". www.worldfoodprize.org. Retrieved 2023-07-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ a b Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Petsakos, Athanasios; Suarez, Victor; Nduwayezu, Anastase; Kantungeko, Déo; Blomme, Guy; Legg, James Peter; Kroschel, Jürgen (2019-01-31). "Pesticide Use Practices in Root, Tuber, and Banana Crops by Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda and Burundi". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (3): 400. doi:10.3390/ijerph16030400. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 6388262. PMID 30708958.
  16. ^ a b "The Role of Women in Production and Management of RTB Crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do Men Decide, and Women Work?". Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  17. ^ Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Kroschel, Jürgen (2015-10-25). "A Cross-Sectional Study of Pesticide Use and Knowledge of Smallholder Potato Farmers in Uganda". BioMed Research International. 2015: e759049. doi:10.1155/2015/759049. ISSN 2314-6133. PMC 4637055. PMID 26581164.
  18. ^ a b Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Petsakos, Athanasios; Suarez, Victor; Nduwayezu, Anastase; Kantungeko, Déo; Blomme, Guy; Legg, James Peter; Kroschel, Jürgen (January 2019). "Pesticide Use Practices in Root, Tuber, and Banana Crops by Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda and Burundi". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (3): 400. doi:10.3390/ijerph16030400. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 6388262. PMID 30708958.
  19. ^ a b Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Kroschel, Jürgen (2015-01-01). "A Cross-Sectional Study of Pesticide Use and Knowledge of Smallholder Potato Farmers in Uganda". BioMed Research International. 2015: 759049. doi:10.1155/2015/759049. ISSN 2314-6141. PMC 4637055. PMID 26581164.
  20. ^ CPAD (2018-04-12). "Joshua Okonya takes a farmer-centric approach to Integrated Pest Management". International Potato Center. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  21. ^ "Joshua S. Okonya". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  22. ^ a b Okonya, Joshua Sikhu; Mudege, Netsayi Noris; Rietveld, Anne M.; Nduwayezu, Anastase; Kantungeko, Déo; Hakizimana, Bernadette Marie; Nyaga, John Njuki; Blomme, Guy; Legg, James Peter; Kroschel, Jürgen (January 2019). "The Role of Women in Production and Management of RTB Crops in Rwanda and Burundi: Do Men Decide, and Women Work?". Sustainability. 11 (16): 4304. doi:10.3390/su11164304. ISSN 2071-1050.
  23. ^ Staff Reporter (2023-05-08). "Satellite imagery to aid Uganda farmers boost yields by solving climate change challenges". Farmers Review Africa. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  24. ^ "The role of sweet potatoes in Uganda following COVID-19". Monitor. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  25. ^ "Ugandan entomologist overcame barriers to publication with help from the AuthorAID network | INASP". www.inasp.info. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  26. ^ Okonya, Joshua S.; Mudege, Netsayi N.; Nyaga, John N.; Jogo, Wellington (2021). "Determinants of Women's Decision-Making Power in Pest and Disease Management: Evidence From Uganda". Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 5. doi:10.3389/fsufs.2021.693127. ISSN 2571-581X.
  27. ^ "Experts worry that over use of pesticides is posing danger to human health". Capital Radio. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  28. ^ "Namulonge scientists to popularize purple-fleshed sweet potato in region". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
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