University
Egerton University
Area of Focus
Agricultural Sciences
Education
Marie Chantal Zaninka is an Assistant Lecturer and researcher at the University of Rwanda, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM) and is pursuing her PhD in Agricultural and Rural Innovation at Egerton University in Kenya. She holds an MSc in Agricultural Extension, from Egerton University, and a BSc in Agricultural Sciences with Honours in Agroforestry, from the University of Rwanda, and the former Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. Marie previously worked as an enumerator of a crop assessment programme which is a Seasonal survey according to the Rwandan agriculture seasons (A, B&C) organised by Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) from 2013-2014 in Nyamasheke District. In 2013- 2014 She also worked with Fertilizer programme Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources on voucher printing and fertilizer-use mobilization in Nyabihu, Gatsibo, Rubavu, Rwamagana, Nyaruguru Districts of Rwanda.
Research & Work
Marie’s research looks at enhancing the use of Esoko, an agricultural messaging and profiling service among smallholder maize farmers in Gisagara District in southern Rwanda. Through her research, Marie is building the capacity of maize farmers to use the Esoko platform for virtual marketing of their produce. Her goal is to help farmers get fair prices while selling their maize produce, and to remove barriers faced by farmers on the use of Esoko. Through her work, there will be an improvement of agricultural services, farmer’s livelihoods, information sharing, and increased farmer’s income where the market potential could stimulate rural development and reduce poverty as well.
