07/09/2026
CARD Research Fellow attends Advanced Bioinformatics Training in Nairobi, Kenya
This week, our Research Fellow, Mr. Joseph Kanyamuka, is at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, participating in an intensive Advanced Bioinformatics training under the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) Fellowship Programme. The training, running from 7–18 September 2026, brings together researchers and plant breeders to build practical skills in the analysis and interpretation of genomic and other biological datasets. For Joseph, the training is an important step toward connecting his background in agricultural economics, quantitative analysis and agricultural development with emerging genomic approaches in crop research.
Joseph’s particular interest is pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), an important legume for Malawi's smallholder farming systems. The crop offers food and income opportunities while its ability to perform under relatively dry conditions and its contribution to soil fertility make it particularly relevant to efforts to build climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
The skills in bioinformatics, genomic data analysis, high-throughput sequencing, statistical computing and bioinformatics workflows will strengthen CARD and LUANAR’s capacity to contribute to evidence-based crop improvement, impact evaluation and agricultural policy research. In particular, genomic information can eventually be connected with data on crop productivity, farmer adoption, market performance, climate resilience and household welfare. The training thus creates an opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary research that brings together crop science, genomics, economics and development
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Innocent Pangapanga-Phiri
