Staff

I am a Ghanaian and I obtained both my B.Sc. (Agriculture) degree and M.Phil. (Plant Breeding) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana in 2014 and 2018 respectively. Currently, I am enrolled in a PhD. (Plant Breeding) program at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) I began my career with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) as a national service personnel attached to the Rice Improvement Program during the 2014/2015-year. During the latter part of the service period, I had the opportunity to be trained on how to produce good quality rice seed for both breeder and foundation seeds of which I was contracted to serve as a Field technical officer on the USAID RICE SEED SCALING Project. After successful completion of my MPhil. Studies, I was employed as a principal technologist to the Rice Improvement Program. My main duty is to help the team to develop high-yielding rice varieties for use by farmers. Supervise production of breeder and foundation seeds of rice. My research focuses on the genetics of rice characteristics viz a viz rice grain quality, yield traits, biotic and abiotic stresses. Throughout my work, I have had the experiences in developing high-yielding rice varieties of which I was part of the team that released four (4) rice varieties in 2020 by the CSIR-SARI in Ghana. I have good background in producing rice breeder and foundation seeds, how to manage rice germplasm, how to establish and manage multi-location trial and how to analyze trial data. With this expertise, I have been able to co-authored 6 journal articles including a book chapter. Currently, I have been appointed to act as a Head of Rice Improvement Program. I am a Christian and married to Angelina Adjei-Gyabea

1. Establishment and monitoring of on-station and on-farm trials and demonstrations.

2. Collection, management, analysis, and reporting of data.

3. Evaluation of breeding materials against insect pests both On – station and on-farm.

4. Culturing, infesting, and sampling of various insect pests in both field and laboratory

5. Extensively collaborated with Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Farmer-based Organisationsnsion (FBOs), and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

6. Collaboratively produced several manuals, and technical leaflets on good agronomic practices (GAPs), compost preparation, and Aflatoxin management on cowpea, maize millet, and grounuts. 7. Conducted Integrated insect pests management on Cowpea, Soybean, Groundnut, Bambara groundnut, Sweet and Frafra potato, Rice, maize, Millet, Sorghum and Soybean, Onion, Tomato, and pepper.

8. Has been extensively conducted Farmer Field Schools (FFF), Participatory Variety Selection (PVS), Farmer Field Days (FFD) Farmer Exchange visits (FEV) in several communities in the various districts in Upper East Region

A highly motivated well organized communication specialist with 8 years working experience in
the communication field. Area of expertise include web and print content development, public
speaking, software development and project management. I am versed in a range of
communication solutions, channels and technologies. I have managed to start and manage a
Quarterly Organizational Newsletter dubbed Research Monitor, started and managed a
Newsletter for their Research Staff Association (RSA Newsletter), enhanced internal
communication with staff locally and abroad by introducing various communication channels
including a WhatsApp group and group emails. I created and managed organizational websites
(www.sari.csir.org.gh, www.faithitconsult.com), Facebook Pages, and also a WhatsApp group
for the general public to be educated on technologies from organizations. I come with a wealth of
knowledge collected from my years of service to numerous donors through projects managed by
the organizations I am based in. I have a strong work ethic, am a team player, am creative, and with a
great sense of humor.

Abdul Latif is a soil scientist with a Ph.D. in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition from the Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey, and a Master’s degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. Abdul Latif has over 12 years of experience in Agriculture and Food Security. Over this period, I have worked on a number of projects funded by AGRA, N2AFRICA, the 4R, and NUTCAT. Currently, Abdul Latif is a Research Scientist at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, SARI conducting research on soil fertility and plant nutrition/Agronomy.

Isaac Kodzo Amegbor obtained his BSc in Agriculture Technology from the University for Development Studies (UDS), and MSc and PhD in Plant Breeding from the Pan African University (University of Ibadan, Nigeria), and the University of the Free State, South Africa, respectively. He is currently a Research Scientist at the CSIR Savanna Agricultural Research Institute as a Maize Breeder. Isaac was a teaching assistant at UDS, a research fellow at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (Nigeria), ARC-Grain Crops Institute (Potchefstroom, South Africa), and a Postdoctoral Fellow with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). His research activities focus on the development of nutritionally enhanced maize combined with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses (Striga, drought, heat, low soil nitrogen, and fall armyworm) for climate resilience. He is proficient in germplasm development & maintenance, field evaluations, data collection & management, a mentor to young people working in the field of crop and seed productions, and also serves as a thesis advisor to several students. Together, Isaac has authored/co-authored 22 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact factor journals and has contributed to the release of six maize hybrids. He is a team player, has research and organizational skills, and is result-oriented and deadline-driven

I have a Master’s degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding, I with the vegetables team have been able to recommend one accession of okra and egg plant for release as varieties awaiting approval.

I hold a Master of Philosophy degree in Biotechnology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. I serve as the Assistant Laboratory Manager of the CSIR-SARI Biotechnology Laboratory. My expertise centers around the application of advanced biotechnological tools and techniques, combined with modern molecular breeding methods, aimed at enhancing crop production and contributing to sustainable global food security.

Mawuli Yevu obtained his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana. He has worked as a Research Assistant with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and as an Agricultural Economist at the Projects Coordination Unit (PCU) of the Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). He currently works as an Agricultural Economist at the CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) and member of the Socioeconomics units (Inoculant Production Lab./Business Unit). He has gathered a lot of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, qualitative and quantitative data management and analysis, and business development. He has done a couple of research work on efficiency, cost-benefit analysis, sustainable intensification, and technology adoption and commercialization. His key research interests are in the areas of management of innovation platforms, farming systems research, agricultural commercialization, financial inclusion, gender, value-chain development, impact evaluation water(irrigation) footprint assessment, and Rural and Regional Development.

Dr. (Mrs.) Flora Amagloh holds a BSc. (Hons.) in Biological Sciences and MSc. in Food Science & Technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. She was awarded a fellowship from the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) with which she obtained her Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology from Makerere University in Uganda. Dr. (Mrs.) Amagloh is passionate about agriculture-nutrition linkages and therefore focuses her research activities on the development of functional foods and their utilization, plant bioactive compounds, and antioxidant profiles of existing functional foods whose potential can be harnessed for disease prevention, especially nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Topical areas of her research also include food analysis, product development, and recipe refinement to improve nutrition, food processing for value addition, sensory evaluation, and consumer acceptability studies. Flora has done extensive work in community nutrition, especially on nutrition sensitization of vulnerable groups such as women and school-aged children in Northern Ghana. Dr. (Mrs.) Amagloh serves as co-supervisor to undergraduate and master’s student theses in Food Science and Technology from the University for Development Studies (UDS). She is also a mentor to several students and early career scientists, especially women. She is currently the research scientist in charge of the Food Science and Nutrition Section of the Institute that houses the Food and Nutrition Analytical Laboratory (FaNAL). Her laboratory is responsible for carrying out nutrient composition analysis and consumer acceptability studies on the institute’s mandate crops for varietal release and has contributed to the release of maize, soybean, groundnut, sorghum, and cowpea varieties. The FaNAL also operates commercially on a fee-for-service basis.