Dr Judith Adejoke Falola-Olasunkanmi

Nigeria | Smallholder farmers in Africa face significant challenges, including climate change, soil degradation, and limited access to improved agricultural practices. These challenges can be addressed by developing and promoting resilient cropping systems. Dr Falola-Olasunkanmi's research adopts a transdisciplinary approach, integrating insights and methods from Agronomy – crop management, soil science, and weed management; climate adaptation and mitigation strategies from Climate Science; stakeholder engagement, policy analysis and a socioeconomic impact assessment from the Social Sciences; and capacity building for farmers and extension agents as Extension Services.

Her project aims to develop and promote resilient cropping systems for smallholder farmers, enhancing crop yields and reducing weed management challenges; to foster climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture practices among smallholder farmers; to build capacity for stakeholders, including farmers, extension agents, and policymakers; and to inform policy and practice through research findings, baseline surveys, workshops, and seminars. She will conduct field experiments to test resilient cropping systems and collect data on crop yields, weed emergence, and other relevant parameters. Afterwards, she will analyse the data and interpret the results to inform research conclusions and recommendations. For dissemination, she will publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and develop a handbook on resilient cropping systems.

Research outputs will include a report on best practices in resilient cropping systems, a baseline survey report, field and post-harvest data collected and analysed, a stakeholder engagement report, policy briefs, publications, a handbook and a project impact assessment report. Furthermore, she anticipates improved crop yields and enhanced food security, as smallholder farmers will adopt integrated cropping systems, leading to better crop yields and improved food security. She also foresees increased resilience to climate change: smallholder farmers will utilise climate-resilient crop varieties and agronomic innovations, which will help decrease their vulnerability to climate change and improve the adoption of sustainable practices. Smallholder farmers will embrace sustainable agriculture practices, reducing environmental degradation and promoting ecosystem services. This will enhance livelihoods and promote poverty reduction by increasing income and improving food security.

Dr Falola-Olasunkanmi's team comprises one agricultural extension consultant, three research assistants and three field staff. KWASU will provide institutional support and oversight. By integrating transdisciplinary approaches, the project ensures a comprehensive insight into smallholder farmers' needs and the development and integration of targeted solutions.

Dr Judith Adejoke Falola-Olasunkanmi is a distinguished agronomist and agricultural extension officer with a PhD in Agronomy (Weed Science) and a master's in Crop Protection (Entomology). This unique blend of expertise enables her to develop holistic solutions for pest management, combining her knowledge of insect pests and weeds to drive sustainable agricultural practices. With nearly a decade of experience as an agricultural extension agent, working closely with small-scale farmers in Africa, Dr Falola-Olasunkanmi has a deep understanding of the complex challenges they face. She lectures at Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria, teaching courses in crop production and related fields. Her work focuses on innovative pest management and agricultural sustainability, leveraging her expertise in pest management to make a meaningful impact. Her current research centres on Resilient Cropping Systems for African Smallholders, integrating weed management, climate adaptation, and agronomic innovations to develop practical solutions for small-scale farmers. She has authored several articles in high-impact journals, further solidifying her expertise and contributing to the advancement of the scientific community. With a strong network of collaborations with local farmers, researchers, and policymakers, Dr Falola-Olasunkanmi drives impactful solutions for sustainable agriculture in Africa.