Kevin W. Maina Email and Phone Number

Working on a 3-year RCT study titled "Demand and Liquidity Coordination to Foster the Adoption of Livestock Vaccinations: An Experiment with Small-Holder Dairy Cooperatives in Kenya". I am providing econometric and technical support by investigating smallholder dairy producers' preferences for bundled vaccine-insurance product under improved delivery conditions in Kenya

The aim of the project is to provide access by smallholder producers to high quality seed of improved varieties, which is hampered by sub-optimal seed value chain functioning. This project will address constraints in the forage seed value chain in Uganda and Kenya, and pilot solutions for quality assurance, seed production and marketing business models, and quality seed use promotion strategies. The general objective of this project is to: “Develop viable business models for forage seed production and marketing that assure economically sustainable widespread access to high quality forage seed to diverse clients”. My roles involve:• Conducting G-FEASTs in four sites covering Wakiso/Mukono, Kiboga, Kiruhura, and Mbarara districts in Uganda.• Collating qualitative discussions and generating summaries in the G-FEAST application and compiling reports for each site. • Coordinating data collection on baseline and end-line surveys for Forage Seed systems value-chain analysis• Offering technical support and capacity development of the FEAST technical teams in Uganda.

• Programming of data collection tool on TextIt platform for DTRA Anthrax surveillance project under Washington State University Global Health Project across 18 Counties in Kenya• Training livestock officers on data collection using TextIt platform• Preparing monthly and quarterly field reports for various GIZ projects in Kenya• Data management and analysis

ProEcoOrganicAfrica project works towards improving rural livelihoods in Ghana and Kenya, including food supply, nutrition and income security through climate-smart intensification of agricultural systems.Under the coordination of the project leading organization FiBL (Research Institute for Organic Agriculture), ProEcoOrganicAfrica intends to generate scientific evidence and knowledge on the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative EOA (link is external) in Ghana and Kenya. Sound conclusions and recommendations will be drawn on the potential of EOA, to help farmers, especially women, to be economically successful and resilient to the adverse impacts of climate change and socio-economic challenges.

iShamba is an SMS and call centre based mobile agriculture product aimed at improving farmer's livelihoods across Kenya. Farmers receive market prices, weather information and timely, local information about their crops and livestock each week, and have the opportunity to ask agri-experts any farming question.Shortlisted for 3 awards at the 2015 Mobile Innovations Awards (to be announced October 2015):Best use of CRM on MobileMost innovative Development - InformationEffective Integration of Mobile in an OmniChannel StrategyIn my role I:• Conduct and communicate statistical analysis on agricultural market prices across major markets in Kenya. • Provide expert agronomy advice to farmers • Conduct field research to better understand farmer’s relationship with the iShamba service and offer suggested improvements • Provide call centre support as required • Write a weekly market analysis report for the company director and for use in iShamba social media.

The Biovision Farmer Communication ProgrammeFor most Africa countries, agriculture remains the main source of income for 80% of the rural population. However, the agricultural sector is compromised of a variety of factors. Pests alone are responsible for up to 80% of harvest losses. In developing countries, the demand for food is set to increase strongly until 2025 because of population growth. Using organic farming methods, small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa can increase their yields by simple, cost-effective means to match the increasing food demand. To achieve this, farmers need access to locally relevant, basic agricultural information as well as training, which the Biovision Farmer Communication Programme seeks to provide.