Biography

Before I was offered the KSAL fellowship, I was a lecturer at the National University of Lesotho. This was two years after I finished my Master’s in Plant Breeding. From 2000—2004, I was also collaborating on research at the Lesotho Agricultural Research Department that involved testing new varieties of plants and some work on the collection of landraces—local varieties of domesticated plant species which have largely adapted to their environment. On joining the KSAL programme, I attended leadership workshops that improved my confidence and empowered me as a leader. One aspect I appreciated was the chance to thoroughly discuss the scope of my intended PhD programme so that it would prove useful to my participation in development programs in SADC. Based on the needs in the region, I chose to pursue research to increase my understanding of the use of molecular techniques in plant breeding. Following the successful completion of my research work, we had visitors from private companies who were particularly impressed by my research work. This resulted in my being offered a position in the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project. The program covers the Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. For this programme, I worked as a breeding data manager and plant breeder developing drought-tolerant varieties of maize for small-scale farmers. Some of these varieties are now in the final testing phase leading to release to farmers for commercial production. Because of the training and the experience I obtained through KSAL, and my work thereafter, I have been offered a position as a researcher in plant breeding at the Institute of Industrial Crops of the Agricultural Research Council.