Contacts
Nancy Muchiri, AATF Communication and Partnerships Manager
Email: n.muchiri@aatf-africa.org
Phone: +254 20 4223700 or +254 735 992 206

NAIROBI: 2 March 2009 – Dr Daniel Fungai Mataruka has joined the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) as the Executive Director.

Dr Mataruka, an agronomist and business development strategist, took up the position in Nairobi on 1 March 2009, succeeding Prof Jennifer Thomson, who had been Interim Executive Director since September 2008.

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).