The Future is EDUCATION.

Tibebu Belete Chane is working as a senior lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dry Land Crop and Horticultural Sciences in 2008 from Mekelle University and a Master of Science Degree in Plant Breeding in 2011 from Haramaya University in Ethiopia. Dr. Tibebu Chane also received his doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Plant Protection (plant pathology) in 2021 from Selcuk University in Turkey. He has more than eleven years of teaching and research experience at Samara University, Ethiopia, and RICA, Rwanda. In addition, Dr. Tibebu Chane was the Chairperson of Curriculum and Modularization (2012-2013) and research and publication (2014-2015) at Samara University, Ethiopia. He is the author or co-author of more than 20 papers in international refereed journals. He is an active professional member of the Ethiopian Horticultural Sciences Society (EHSS) since 2014 and the Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SAS Society) since 2021. Dr. Tibebu Chane’s research areas of interest and experience are plant disease characterization and management, plant breeding and genetics, forage crop management, pre- and post-harvest management of horticultural crops, and plant genetic resource conservation. He can be reached via email at tchane@rica.rw or tibebelete@gmail.com

Duncan Cheruiyot is the Row and Forage Crops Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s degree in Agronomy; Plant Breeding and Genetics Option from Egerton University in Kenya. He earned his doctoral degree in Environmental Sciences from the North-West University in South Africa. His prior professional experience includes being a project consultant and research fellow at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, a lecturer of Botany at the University of Kabianga In Kenya, a research assistant at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute, and a student agronomist at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and Tea Research Foundation of Kenya. He can be reached via email at dcheruiyot@rica.rw

Quenan Gasana is a Post-Harvest Management Lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Processing and Marketing and a Master of Science in Bioresources and Food Sciences, both from Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. Mr. Gasana also received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization with honors from the University of Rwanda in Kigali. In his most recent experience, he served as the Head of Agricultural Mechanization Department at the University of Rwanda and has served in education for several years. In addition, he has extensive research experience with published work. He can be reached via email at qgasana@rica.rw

Jean Bosco Hagwirineza is a Vegetable and Tree Crop Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Crop Production and Horticulture from the University of Rwanda and a Master of Science in Agronomy and Agro-Industry with a specialization in Mediterranean and Tropical Horticulture from the Montpellier SupAgro and Agrocampus in Ouest, France. He previously lectured at IPRC Musanze and the University of Rwanda. His prior experience also includes environment audit and monitoring for the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. He can be reached via email at jbhagwirineza@rica.rw

Crispin Kabeja is a Precision Agriculture Lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He currently is a PhD candidate in Environmental Science at the University of Science and Technology of China. Further, he holds a Master of Science Degree in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation from the University of Twente, Enschede in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Rwanda. In his most recent experience, Mr. Kabeja served as an Assistant Lecturer in the College of Science and Technology at the University of Rwanda. He’s also served in other higher education and research roles for several years where he was featured in peer-reviewed publications for his work. His teaching and research focus on the use of earth observation data (UAV, Satellite) for sustainable agriculture and GIS mapping and modeling. Mr. Kabeja speaks both English and French. He can be reached via email at ckabeja@rica.rw

Dr. Angelique Kangondo is the Agricultural Economics Lecturer of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). She holds Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics and Agri- business from the University of Rwanda, a master’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. Her prior experiences include being an Assistant Lecturer at both University of Rwanda and Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. Dr. Angelique was a Research Fellow at The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture & IFAD and at the Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation -PARI. She also worked as a Consultant at the National Agricultural Export Development Board in Kigali, Rwanda. She can be reached out at akangondo@rica.rw

Celestin Munyaneza is the Dairy Production Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Munyaneza holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Interstate School of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Science Degree in Livestock Production and Sustainable Development from the Cheikh Anta Kiop University of Dakar, and a doctoral degree in Animal Science and Production from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He has served as an Assistant Lecturer of Animal Production and the Academy Secretary of the Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy at the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba. His focus is on animal husbandry and animal production. He can be reached via email at cmunyaneza@rica.rw

Dr. Nshogoza is the Applied Agricultural Chemistry Lecturer of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry – Biology with Education from Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda, a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Xiamen University in China, and a Ph.D. from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Biochemistry. His prior professional experiences include being a Lecturer at University of Rwanda / College of Science and Technology, Chemistry Department; Kigali Institute of Education, Institut d’enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri (INES) and having been a Chemistry and Biology teacher at Sainte Bernadette College and Minor Seminary of Zaza. Even though he has been and is still a Lecturer, Dr. Gilbert also supervises various projects ranging from Undergraduate, Post-graduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. research projects at different Universities/College in Rwanda.

Samuel Nshutiyayesu is the Conservation Ecology Instructor at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Mr. Nshutiyayesu holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the National University of Rwanda and a Master of Science in Management and Conservation of Terrestrial Ecosystems from the University of Burundi. He previously was a researcher and lecturer focusing on biology, botany and conservation at the University of Rwanda. He’s mentored hundreds of students and has contributed to the design and development of relevant teaching programs in the biology conservation field. He can be reached via email at snshutiyayesu@rica.rw

John Bosco Talemwa is the Agricultural Mechanization Lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation agriculture (RICA). Talemwa holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Engineering from Makerere University in Uganda and a Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Hankyong National University in South Korea. His prior experiences include working as a RAB Agriculture Mechanization Specialist, where he contributed to the mechanization policy and strategy development for the Ministry of Agriculture. He also worked as a MINAGRI/RAB Mechanization Extensionist, leading the technology transfer for smallholder farm mechanization. Since 2012, John Bosco has trained over 500 agronomists, technicians, tractor operators and farmers as well as contributed to the mechanization curriculum development for TVETs. He attended multiple international trainings and workshops. He can be reached via email at jbtalemwa@rica.rw

Layton Ullman is the Irrigation and Water Management Lecturer, Enterprise Lead and Internship Coordinator at the Rwanda Institute for conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Ullman holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering from Cornell University and Texas A&M University. He also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Duke University and a doctoral degree in Biological & Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University in the United States. Dr. Ullman’s most recent work was as a physical science researcher for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and as an associate research professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Utah. He has more than two decades of experience as a researcher and educator in agricultural engineering. Dr. Ullman is a member of the Soil Society of America, the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, and the American Chemical Society, as well as other professional organizations. He can be reached via email at: jullman@rica.rw