Dr. Otieno is a lecturer and Examination coordinator in the Department of Physical, Biological, and Health Sciences, at Rongo University-Kenya. A botanist with a special focus on Microbiology. Her research interests are on plant pathology, tissue culture, food security, and climate change. A member of the Institutional Review and Ethics Committee, Biological Weapon Convention (BWC) Desk officer /focal person, and a member of the Science, Technology, and Innovation mainstreaming committee at Rongo University. She is a supervisor of several undergraduate and postgraduate projects. Otieno is a mentor of girls in STEM-related careers. A member of African Women for Bioscience which is a professional body for both secondary and University students. A reviewer of scientific articles including for women in science programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. I teach Botany and Microbiology related courses. She participates in several research and community outreach, particularly on food security and climate change mitigation where she advocates for climate-smart farming and breeding of important orphaned/neglected crops like mushrooms and Colocassia esculenta (Taro). She has been able to come up with a taro leaf blight tolerant taro which is also climate-smart being able to grow under rainfed conditions.https://www.researchgate.net/p...
Thank you so much McDonald. I truly appreciate your concern and interest in research. The resource and financial challenges are part of research journey and I'm trying to be more creative in writing proposal for funding. I'm exploring other crowdfunding for smaller research project. Morever, I've...more
I take this opportunity to appreciate those who have pledged for funding and encourage those still willing to create an impact in the lives of smallholder farmers and to ensure food security and employment among the youths and women.
I'm very passionate about farming and I find a lot of satisfaction in ensuring the youths and women obtain their livelihood and are food secure through farming / agribusiness.
Smallholder farmers comprise of 84% of word's farms and they produce substantial global food security particularly in developing countries yet very little attention has been been taken to promote them. Empowering them by providing cheap planting materials boosts productivity and sustainable livel...more