CURRICULUM VITAE. July 2008-Nov 2008: CMAAE shared facility: Specialization in Agribusiness Management- University of Pretoria, South Africa

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1 CURRICULUM VITAE Personal Information Name: RUTH CHEPCHIRCHIR TARUSS Profession: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST Nationality: KENYAN Address: P.O BOX , NAIROBI Mobile: Research Interests Socio-economic research, Sustainable agriculture and rural development, Agribusiness/agri-business development, Agricultural trade and policy analysis, Financial and economic project evaluation, Supply and value chains analysis, and Food Security and Poverty Dynamics Education Jan To date: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Agricultural Economics, African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) : Master of Science ( MSC), Agriculture and Applied Economics, Egerton University/University of Pretoria-South Africa July 2008-Nov 2008: CMAAE shared facility: Specialization in Agribusiness Management- University of Pretoria, South Africa : Bachelor of Science (BSC), Agricultural Economics, Egerton University, Kenya, Second Class Honors (Upper Division) Computer Skills MS Office, SPSS, STATA, R, General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) RISK Awards 2012 Awarded Travel Grant by African Growth and Development Policy (AGRODEP) Modeling Consortium to attend a training workshop on household survey data; sampling and processing at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Dakar, Senegal 2012: Awarded Travel Grant by African Growth and Development Policy 1

2 (AGRODEP) Modeling Consortium to attend a training workshop on poverty measurement and analysis at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Dakar, Senegal 2011: Awarded Travel Grant by African Growth and Development Policy (AGRODEP) Modeling Consortium to present a paper at the second Agrodep Modeling Consortium members meeting and workshop, in Dakar Senegal 2008: Awarded Scholarship by African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) to specialize in Agri-Business Management at the Collaborative Masters in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE) shared facility in the University of Pretoria, South Africa Professional Experiences Date: 2014 Position: Postgraduate research fellow-arppis Project: Economics of integrating push-pull technology in small-holder cereal-livestock farming systems and its impact in Uganda Host: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)-kenya Date: November-December 2013 Position: Agricultural economist Project: Feasibility study, detailed design and preparation of tender documents for the Ruungu irrigation development project (Tharaka-Nithi County) Activities performed: Development and review of survey tools, training of enumerators, supervision of data collection and data entry exercise, data cleaning and analysis, and technical report writing. Client: Ministry of Agriculture through Small-holder Irrigation Development Project (SHIDP) /Ecosite Development Consultants. Date: October - December 2013 Position: Researcher/agricultural economist Project: Feasibility study for the Greater Bura irrigation development project (Kitui, Garissa and Tana River Counties). Activities performed: Development and review of survey tools, training of enumerators, supervision of data collection and data entry exercise, data cleaning and analysis, and technical report writing. Client: National Irrigation Board (NIB)/ East Africa Consulting Engineers Date: August 2013 Position: Researcher/agricultural economist Project: Feasibility study, detailed design and preparation of tender documents for the 2

3 Gikindu irrigation development project (Murang a County) Activities performed: Development and review of survey tools, training of enumerators, supervision of data collection and data entry exercise, data cleaning and analysis, and technical report writing. Client: Ministry of Agriculture through Small-scale Horticultural Development Project (SHDP) /Royal Associates Date: June-July 2013 Position: Researcher/ Team leader Project: End of phase evaluation ( ) and baseline for phase (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) Activities performed: Development and review of survey tools, training of enumerators, supervision of data collection and data entry exercise, data cleaning and analysis, database development and organization, technical report writing, workshop organization, and moderation, and preparation of workshop reports. Client: Swisscontact Financial Services East Africa Date: December April 2013 Position: Agricultural Economist Project: Feasibility study and detailed design of sustainable Smallholder irrigation development and management in Semi-arid lands (Proposed Olopito Irrigation scheme- Narok County) Activities performed: Development of survey tools, field work coordination, training enumerators and supervision of data collection and data entry, analysis, and technical report writing, and presentation of findings to stakeholders Client: Japan International Cooperation agency (JICA)/ Ocra Company Limited Date: July to December 2012 Position: Monitoring and Evaluation expert/ Assistant Team leader Project: Mid Term Evaluation for Pala Area Development Project Activities performed: Development of survey tools, training enumerators and supervision of data collection and data entry, analysis, and technical report writing, and presentation of findings to stakeholders Client: World Vision Kenya/ Ocra Company Limited Date: March 2012 Position: Agricultural economist Project: Baseline Survey (for indicators of project benefits monitoring systems-farm household) for the Mwea Irrigation Development project, Kirinyaga county Kenya. Activities performed: Development of survey tools, Training Enumerators and Supervision of data collection, Data entry and analysis, Technical report writing. Client: National Irrigation Board/ Ocra Company Limited. 3

4 Date: October January 2012 Position: Resource Person under the Markets and Seed Systems Component of Pan- African Beans Research Alliance (PABRA) Task: Economic viability and efficiency of seed production systems in Uganda Activities performed: Data cleaning and analysis, Technical report writing, Preparation of potential scientific articles Client: International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Date: August September 2011 Position: Network Resource Person under the Markets Component of Pan-African Beans Research Alliance (PABRA) Task: Bean production and marketing in Cameroon Activities performed: Data cleaning and analysis, Technical report writing, Preparation of potential scientific articles Client: International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). July 2011: Attached to Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). Task: Analysis of gender gaps in secondary school education in selected districts in Kenya. Activities performed: Data entry and analysis. Client: UNIFEM : Researcher; Agricom Consultants ltd. Recent Projects involved in Date: September 2012 Position: Rapporteur Project: Feasibility study, detailed design and preparation of tender documents for the suba clusters irrigation development project Activities performed: Workshop organization, moderation, and preparation of workshop reports for five clusters Client: National Irrigation Board/ Agricom Consultants. Date: June 2012 Position: Rapporteur Project: Feasibility study, detailed design and preparation of tender documents for the suba clusters irrigation development project Activities performed: Workshop organization, moderation, and preparation of workshop reports for five clusters Client: National Irrigation Board/ Agricom Consultants. Date: Jan 2012 Position: Support Agricultural economist : 4

5 Project: Agro-economic baseline survey for Kapelibok, Lokubae, Morulem, and Lokwaliwa Irrigation Schemes- Turkana County. Activities performed: Data entry, cleaning and analysis. Client: National Irrigation Board/ Agricom Consultants. Date: August Dec 2011 Position: Socio-economist Project: Environmental and social economic impact assessment for proposed Muringa-Banana Irrigation Development project. Activities performed: Development of survey tools, Training Enumerators and Supervision of data collection, Data entry and analysis, Technical report writing. Client: National Irrigation Board/ Agricom Consultants. Date: July 2011 Position: Socio-economist Project: Socio-economic survey for Lake challa integrated development Project- (Taita-Taveta County). Activities performed: Development of survey tools, Training Enumerators and Supervision of data collection, Conducting focus group discussions, Data entry and analysis, Technical report writing. Client: Coast Development Authority/ Nat Consult. Date: 2011 Position: Agricultural economist Project: Project evaluation (Financial and economic analysis) for Magwagwa Dam Multipurpose Project; Nyamira and Nyando districts. Output: A report on financial and economic analysis for different options (including irrigation, water supply, hydro electric generation and fisheries). Subcontract by SMEC consultants (Australia). Client: Ministry of Regional Development Authorities/ Lake Basin Development Authority. Date: March- April 2011 Position: Business Development Specialist Project: Development of 5 year strategic/ Business Plan for Agriculture Business Development/Micro-Enterprises Support Programme Trust (ABD/MESPT) Activities performed: literature review, field interviews, development of financial analysis models and tools, data entry and analysis, and technical report writing. Client: Agricultural Business Development (ABD/MESPT) Date: August Feb 2011 Position: Support economist Project: Feasibility study (financial and economic analysis) for Lower Irrigation Development Project; Busia, Butula and, Samia districts: Sio 5

6 Activities Involved in; community mobilization, development of survey tools, collection of agro-economic data, collation of costs data, beneficiary analysis, and preliminary financial and economic analysis. Subcontract by Bhundia & Associates /National Irrigation Board. Date: Feb Feb 2011 Position: Support economist Project: Feasibility study (financial and economic analysis) for the proposed Lower Kuja irrigation scheme in Migori and Nyatike Districts; Output: A report on agronomic and agricultural development. Subcontract by GIBB Africa ltd/ client; National irrigation Board. Date: March- June 2010 Position: Researcher/ Agricultural economist Project: Impact assessment study for the smallholder Dairy Commercialization Programme (SDCP). Involved in; development of survey tools, supervision of data collection, data entry and analysis, development of farm budgets, and technical report writing. Client: Ministry of Livestock Development, Kenya/ SDCP. Year: 2010 Position: Researcher Project: Preparation of database and preliminary investigation of irrigation project in Tana River basin. Involved in: Preliminary investigations on potential irrigable areas, data collection and analysis, report writing, and stakeholders workshop facilitation. Client: National Irrigation Board (NIB). Year: 2010 Position: Researcher Project: Preparation of database and preliminary investigation of irrigation project in Athi River basin. Involved in: Preliminary investigations on potential irrigable areas, data collection and analysis, report writing, and stakeholders workshop facilitation. Client: National Irrigation Board (NIB). Year: 2010 Position: Group Team Leader/ Researcher Project: Farm budget survey and enterprise mix update survey in Kenya. Tasks: Development of survey tools, supervision of data collection, data entry and analysis, development of farm budgets, and technical report writing. Client: Ministry of Agriculture/Agricultural Sector Programme Support (ASPS). Year:

7 Position: Economist Project: Analyzing opportunities for Agricultural and Industrial products trade & investments under the EU-EAC trade regime. Tasks: Trade data collection and analysis; Database development and organization; and Technical report writing. Client: Ministry of Trade/ KEPLOTRADE II. Year 2009 Position: Agribusiness specialist Project: Development of farm business plan for a large scale farm ( Sauti Fresh) in Thika. Tasks: Business plan development and technical advisory services such as on marketing outlets, production timing, and developing production schedules Client: Sauti Fresh produce LTD. Year: 2009 Position: Agribusiness expert Project: Development of corporate business plan Involved in: marketing/situation analysis, financial analysis including development of cash flows, revenues and cost analysis, developing organizational structure, development of farm budgets, technical advisory and report writing Client: National irrigation Board (NIB). May - July 2008: Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) Position: Trainee- Attached to departments of Marketing and Technical Advisory Services Responsibilities: Customer advisory and marketing price data collation. April - Sept. 2007: Vegpro Kenya Limited; Position: Quality Control Assistant; Responsibilities: Grading, sorting, weighing, MRLs surveys and packaging supervision. Feb - April 2006: Industrial Attachment Rift Valley Bottlers Limited; Eldoret. Worked with; Sales and Distribution Department, General Accounts Department and Stores Procedures Department. Practiced basic accounting techniques and stores and procurement procedures. SCIENTIFIC PAPERS B.J.K Maina, R. Chepchirchir and C.W. Kabuti. Supply Response of Rice and Implications for Food Security Policy: A Case of Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. Paper presented at 7

8 the third Africa Rice Congress (ARC) in Yaoundé, Cameroon (21 st -25 th October, 2013). R.C Taruss, G. Obare, D.M. Amudavi, and Z.Y. Khan. Farmers perceptions and preferences on suitability of alternative fodder grasses contingent on Napier stunt disease in Bungoma district, Kenya. Paper presented at the second Agrodep Modeling Consortium members meeting and workshop, in Dakar Senegal (June 6-8, 2011). R.C Taruss, G. Obare, D.M. Amudavi, and Z.Y. Khan. Extent and damage of Napier stunt disease infestation in small-scale dairy farming in Bungoma district, Kenya. Paper presented at the CMAAE theses dissemination workshop, in Nakuru, Kenya (July 22, 2011). E.A Birachi, R.C Taruss and S. B, Musongong (Forthcoming). Gender Dynamics in Bean production and Marketing in Cameroon. Membership to Professional Bodies Member African Growth and Development Policy (AGRODEP) Modeling Consortium- Sponsored by IFPRI Member of Agricultural Economics Association of Egerton University, Kenya from