CARPS student

Anthony Livoi (Kenyan) is a holder of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and biotechnology from Masinde Muliro University of science and Technology. He is a graduate student in the University of Nairobi undertaking Master of Science in Plant Pathology. He is working on the cassava project Numbered CASSAVA PROJECT –RU/2018/CARP+/04. Anthony’s area of concentration in the project is on a bacterial disease called cassava bacterial blight caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis.  He is working on its distribution in the coastal Kenya and how it can be detected in planting materials. The project location is in Kilifi and Taita Taveta counties which are found in the coastal region. The project is aimed at increasing cassava productivity in the region. My contribution is to ensure that the disease infections are reduced through availability of healthy quality planting materials obtained from a cassava business hub which shall include rapid molecular detection methods for the pathogen in the propagated planting materials. A detection protocol will developed and adopted in the certification system of the Tissue culture cassava planting materials. He has work experience of two years working with a private consultant company in Kenya called Compliance Kenya Ltd. The company offers services in conformity assessment to standards in food safety, agriculture, trade and industry. He has great passion in plant science since he believes through plant science we can be able to solve challenges facing humanity in food and nutrition insecurity, food safety and poor value addition strategies. Plant science is life and contributes greatly to wellbeing of humanity on earth