Nairobi, Kenya
February 9, 2009
 Dr
Daniel Fungai Mataruka, an agronomist and business development
strategist, has been appointed the Executive Director of the
African Agricultural
Technology Foundation (AATF).
Dr Mataruka will take over from Prof Jennifer Thomson, the
Interim Executive Director, on 1 March 2009.
A national of Zimbabwe, Dr Mataruka obtained his doctorate in
agronomy from Cornell University, United States of America, and
a Masters degree in crop science from the University of
Southampton, United Kingdom. He also holds a Masters degree in
Business Leadership from the University of South Africa, UNISA.
Dr. Mataruka joins AATF from Tongaat Hulett Starch, a leading
large scale agro-business company operating in southern Africa.
“Dr Mataruka’s experience in the public and private sectors and
especially in identifying viable business opportunities will be
of great benefit to AATF,” said AATF Board Chairman Prof Walter
Alhassan, when he announced the Search Committee’s decision to
appoint Dr Mataruka to the post.
“The incoming Executive Director has valuable management and
strategic leadership skills that will enable him guide the
Foundation’s progress into the future as it seeks to expand its
partnerships and financial resource base,” Prof Alhassan added.
Dr Mataruka began his career in 1983 as a maize agronomist with
Research and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe, before taking up a
position at the University of Natal, South Africa, as lecturer
in crop science in 1992.
He joined Tongaat Hulett Starch in 1996 and has served in
different capacities including exports development manager,
project leader and managing director of the company’s plant in
Zimbabwe where he is credited with turning around a loss making
entity into a profitable business.
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is an
African-led charity designed to facilitate and promote
public-private partnerships for the access and delivery of
appropriate proprietary technologies with potential to increase
the productivity of resource-poor smallholder farmers in
Sub-Saharan Africa (www.aatf-africa.org)
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