“We were placed on earth to fulfill a purpose, and that purpose is what gives meaning to our lives. You were sent to the world to make an impact and a difference.” – Myles Munroe
This quote gives meaning following the Tanzania Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology’s presentation of the High-Level Recognition Award in Science, Technology, and Innovations to Dr Kiddo Mtunda, a seasoned plant breeder from IITA–CGIAR.
The award ceremony attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Honorable Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko took place during the 9th Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference and Exhibition (STICE), hosted by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre in Dar es Salaam from 2nd to 4th December 2024.
With the theme, “Harnessing science, technology and innovations for climate resilience and competitive economy,” the conference focused on sharing research and innovation results, displaying scientific and technological development, and discussing how STI can contribute to the country’s socio-economic development in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Mtunda was recognized for her contribution to the country’s agriculture sector by developing improved varieties and disseminating them to farmers.
“In my life, I chose fighting hunger through science, technology, and innovations,” Dr Mtunda expressed. She noted that she felt honored and delighted to receive that noble recognition and award from the Government of Tanzania.
This proves the “With Science We Can” campaign under CGIAR, emphasizing the importance of scientific research and innovation in tackling issues such as climate change, food insecurity, and biodiversity loss.
Dr Mtunda is the Technical Lead for the Muhogo Bora Project, which is scaling up the Building an Economically Sustainable and Integrated Cassava Seed System (BASICS II) model in Tanzania’s Western and Central zones. The project has trained 242 cassava seed entrepreneurs, 130 extension staff, and more than 5,000 farm families, indirectly benefiting 164,000 individuals through access to clean cassava planting materials.
With over 20 years of experience in agricultural research, Dr Mtunda has made significant progress in developing and promoting innovative technologies to enhance the productivity of root and tuber crops, particularly cassava and sweet potato. Her efforts have directly contributed to the release of 15 improved crop varieties in Tanzania – nine cassava and six bio-fortified sweet potato varieties. These varieties, including Vitamin A-enriched, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, have boosted agricultural yields and addressed critical nutritional deficiencies among communities.
One of her most notable initiatives, “Fast-tracking access to improved and popular varieties of root crops,” directly benefited more than 229,000 households in Tanzania and Uganda by providing access to high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties.
While working with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Dr Mtunda was actively involved in the development of seed systems of root and tuber crops in Tanzania, collaborating closely with the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Potato Center (CIP), and other key stakeholders in the seed industry. Her science, technology, and innovation successes became possible through capacity strengthening and support from the Government of Tanzania, IITA, Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), CIP, and development partners.
Dr Mtunda’s influence extends beyond research; she has played an important role in Tanzania’s agricultural development and contributed to the National Cassava Development Strategy and National Biofortification Guidelines. Her work as a Borlaug LEAP Fellow and Vice President of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops – Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB) between 2017 and 2020 has cemented her reputation as a leader in agricultural innovation.
As she continues her work at IITA, scaling up innovative seed systems and empowering farmers, Dr Mtunda’s legacy as a leader in agricultural science remains an inspiration for Women and Girls in Science for future generations
Contributed by Gloriana Ndibalema
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