Biography
Joshua Sikhu Okonya, Program Officer for Agricultural Technology and Innovation at ASARECA, plays a pivotal role in fostering regional collaboration for the development and promotion of Agricultural Technologies Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPs) across 15 member countries. As the coordinator of The ASARECA Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance, he leads a multi-stakeholder platform for coordinating Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) initiatives in Eastern and Central Africa.
Previously, Joshua served as a Research Associate and Regional Project Coordinator at the International Potato Center (CIP), where his team leader, Dr. Robert Mwanga, received the 2016 World Food Prize for advocating and promoting biofortified crops, specifically the orange-fleshed sweet potato, to combat malnutrition in Uganda.
Joshua's groundbreaking research identified the Tobacco Rattle Virus in potatoes across sub-Saharan Africa and unveiled the presence of the Potato Cyst nematode in Uganda for the first time. His contributions to the Pest Risk Atlas for Africa offer valuable insights into present and future pest risks, with actionable recommendations for managing insect pests under diverse climate scenarios.
With over 70 peer-reviewed publications and more than 20 years of experience in coordinating donor-funded research projects, Joshua is a seasoned expert in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), nutrition-sensitive agriculture, rural development, and gender issues. Currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim, Joshua holds a Master of Science from Georg-August University and a BSc (Hons) from Makerere University. His commitment to improving food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is evident through his extensive research and project implementation.