Department Builds Complex to Address Water Issues

Dr. Raphael M. Wambua

The Department of Agricultural Engineering has  been facilitating  its  staff  members and students in a number of ways.  For example, to address the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, staff members have been conducting on-line student training. They have been developing e- learning materials for both undergraduate and postgraduate students that can be used to conduct long-distance classes.

In addition, academic staff members have been undergoing training in career development as well as carrying out research in a wide range of focuses  For example, the Department has been facilitating training and research in the use of e- resources, data management, and the engineering profession.

Five staff members from the Department have secured career growth programmes at the level of  the Doctor of Philosophy degree and are progressing well.   Furthermore, some staff members are participating in the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project  (KCSAP)  for  Validation of Mechanized soil and water conservation  in Arid  and  Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), as well as in bioenergy research along agricultural value chains.

The Department has established a Centre for Integrated Water and Basin Management (CiWaB) that focuses on the following key pillars of the water sector: water governance; catchment protection and rehabilitation; value- added water resources data; economic water use and investments; and water use efficiency and liveihood diversification.

There are 25 students in the Department who are pursuing post- graduate degrees, including Ph.D. and M.Sc. Some of the students have secured scholarships from the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM).

Chair of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University.