Update from Susan Kumwenda in Malawi

Name:                          Susan Kumwenda

Country:                        Malawi

Course:                        MSc in Communication for Innovation and Development

University:                     University of Reading 2012-13

Susan Kumwenda was a Marshal Papworth Fund scholarship recipient for the 2012-13 university year, studying for an MSc in Communication for Innovation and Development at the University of Reading, where her dissertation focused on tackling ‘banana bunchy top virus disease’ and how farmers viewed control of the disease.

Here Susan updates us on what she has been doing since she graduated in 2013.

“I have been involved in several agricultural projects aimed at improving smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. Apart from continuing to work closely with the government as a technology transfer specialist, I also work as an agricultural consultant and entrepreneur. As an agricultural consultant, I am mainly involved in project evaluations, where I have been engaged by different organisations including USAID’ Feed the Future Strengthening Agriculture and Nutrition Extension (SANE).”

Susan has also worked as a consultant for the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), using focus groups of farmers across the country including radio listening clubs, aquaculture farmers, livestock farmers and vegetable growers.

“Currently, I am assisting USAID’s Feed the Future Agriculture Diversification Activity where I am involved in ‘Soykit’ evaluation among smallholder farmers who were trained and given soya milk production kits in order to start small businesses and empower them.

“Receiving a Marshal Papworth Fund scholarship has really helped me; very reputable organisations entrust me with different activities especially project evaluations, whilst as an agricultural entrepreneur, I registered an agri-tech company which deals with the production and marketing of maize, groundnuts and soya. Many thanks to the organisers and sponsors of this prestigious Scholarship, allowing me to reach out to my community.”