Africa Mechanize

Panel of Experts

iSAMAP-Africa Panellists

The iSAMAP-Africa Panel is a group of global sustainable agricultural mechanization experts acting as a think-tank to advise the ACT Network and subsequently, the African Union, FAO, and African governments, on policy, scientific, economic, and technical issues, and specifically the ten (10) Elements of the Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization Framework for Africa. The founding Panel will be chaired by Prof. Nuhu Hatibu, Professor of Agricultural Engineering and Executive Chairman of AfricAcademy - Arusha Science Ltd. The ACT Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Saidi Mkomwa will serve as the Technical Secretary to the Panel. The Panel members, in their personal capacity and not representing their institutions or employers, from different continents, include the following:

Prof. Lawrence Gumbe - Panellist

Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe holds a PhD from Ohio State University, USA, an MSc from Cranfield University, UK, and a BSc from the University of Nairobi. He has worked at the University of Nairobi,... Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe holds a PhD from Ohio State University, USA, an MSc from Cranfield University, UK, and a BSc from the University of Nairobi. He has worked at the University of Nairobi, the Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, and Log Associates. He has published widely and supervised many master’s and doctoral candidates. He has written widely in the area of industrialization and agricultural mechanization.

He is a member of: Institution of Engineers of Kenya; Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya; Architectural Association of Kenya; American Society of Civil Engineers; Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Kenya Society of Environmental, Biological and Agricultural Engineers; American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers; Institution of Agricultural Engineers, UK; and Kenya National Academy of Sciences.

Prof Mathias Fonteh FRU - Panellist

Professor Fonteh holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in agricultural engineering, respectively, from the Cranfield Institute of Technology in England, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England, and Colorado State University in the... Professor Fonteh holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in agricultural engineering, respectively, from the Cranfield Institute of Technology in England, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England, and Colorado State University in the United States of America. He is currently a Professor emeritus of water resources management at the University of Dschang in Cameroon.

He has over 40 years’ experience as a faculty member in a university setting, teaching, conducting research & outreach in water resources management and in agricultural mechanization. He has been an independent consultant for the FAO and carried out the following assignments:
i) Elaboration of a situational analysis report of agricultural mechanization in the central African sub-region as a contribution to the elaboration of a sustainable agricultural mechanization framework for Africa
ii) Elaboration of an agricultural mechanization strategy for Gabon
iii) Study on the state of agricultural mechanization in Gabon
iv) Resource person in agricultural mechanization for the elaboration of the agricultural mechanization strategy for Cameroon; v) evaluation of agricultural mechanization in Mali and Ghana.

Prof. Fonteh is the author of “Agricultural mechanization in Mali and Ghana: strategies, experiences, and lessons for sustained impacts. Agricultural and Food Engineering Working Document #8, Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 50 pp., produced in 2010. He has authored two book chapters in the following publications: Kienzle, J., Ashburner, E. A., Sims, B. G. (editors), 2013. Mechanization for rural development: a review of patterns and progress from around the world. Integrated crop management Vol. 20, Rome: FAO, pp 47-66”, and “Ashburner J; E., Kienzle J., (eds), 2011. Investment in agricultural mechanization: conclusions and recommendations of a round table meeting of experts. Agricultural and Food Engineering Technical Report # 8, Rome: FAO, pp 42-45.

Dr. Alioune Fall - Panellist

Dr. Alioune Fall holds degrees from Senegal and the United States: A Bachelor’s in Physics & Chemistry (1G7G), an M.A. in Applied Physics focusing on hydraulics and thermodynamics (1G80), and DEA coursework in Solar... Dr. Alioune Fall holds degrees from Senegal and the United States: A Bachelor’s in Physics & Chemistry (1G7G), an M.A. in Applied Physics focusing on hydraulics and thermodynamics (1G80), and DEA coursework in Solar Energy (1G81) from Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD). He earned an M.Sc. in Agricultural Mechanization from Sam Houston State University (1G81–83) and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University (1GG3–G7). Beginning his 40-year research career at Senegal’s ISRA in 1G84, he advanced rapidly—serving as regional agricultural mechanization and post-harvest coordinator in Casamance, then national coordinator at CNRA Bambey. Between 2000 and 2008, he directed ISRA’s Saint Louis Research Center and coordinated irrigated systems research through the ISRA-CORAF partnership. In 2008, he became ISRA’s Scientific Director and from 2013 to 2020 served as Director General, managing the flagship Senegal Emerging Plan for cereal corridor development. Dr. Fall held notable continental leadership roles, chairing the CORAF Board from 2014 to 2018 and the FARA Board from 2016 to 2023. During his tenure, he formalized strategic frameworks among CGIAR, the African Development Bank, and African agricultural research, innovation, and education institutions. He also chaired CIRAD’s Scientific Council from 2016 to 2022. In early 2024, he served as interim Executive Director of CORAF, guiding the launch of its 2023–27 operational plan and executive recruitment.

Prof. Blessings Darlo Chinsinga - Panellist

Blessings Chinsinga is a professor at the Department of Politics and Government in the School of Law, Economics, and Government at the University of Malawi and co-founding partner of the Institute of Public Opinion... Blessings Chinsinga is a professor at the Department of Politics and Government in the School of Law, Economics, and Government at the University of Malawi and co-founding partner of the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), where he serves as the Director of Strategy and Management. He holds a PhD in Development Studies and specializes in the political economy of development with a particular focus on agricultural policy processes on the African continent. He is a passionate and accomplished thought leader in the concerted efforts geared at transforming African agriculture, which has suffered years of neglect as a driving force for Africa’s fundamental structural transformation and sustainable development. His passion has been fueled through his involvement in notable international research consortia such as the Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC) hosted by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex; Institutions for Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG) hosted by the Centre for Development and Management at the University of Manchester; Effective States and Inclusive Development (ESID) hosted at the Centre for Development and Management at the University of Manchester; and Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) hosted by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex.

Prof. ElHassane Bourarach - Panellist

ElHassane Bourarach is a technical advisor of the African Conservation Tillage Network serving in the Africa-Mechanize Platform Secretariat, supporting knowledge management, capacity building, and networking in the operationalization of the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural... ElHassane Bourarach is a technical advisor of the African Conservation Tillage Network serving in the Africa-Mechanize Platform Secretariat, supporting knowledge management, capacity building, and networking in the operationalization of the Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (F-SAMA). He is a former teacher and researcher at the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (Dr. Ing.) (1980-2019). He is the honorary vice president of the International Commission of Rural Engineering (CIGR), a founding member of the Moroccan Association for Conservation Agriculture (AMAC), and a member of the International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (iAABE).