ASARECA Board Chair and TARI DG, Dr. Mkamilo is dead
BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT
ASARECA Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. Geoffrey Mkamilo is dead. Makamilo, who until recently was the Director General Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), died on the morning of Saturday March 2, 2024 at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital Dodoma, Tanzania.
Announcing Dr. Mkamilo’s passing on, ASARECA Board of Directors Vice Chairman, Ambassador Kipyego Cheluget said, “The ASARECA fraternity, which includes the Council of Patron Ministers, the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the Secretariat express heartfelt condolences to Dr. Mkamilo’s family during this challenging time.” He added: “We recognise the pain and sorrow that the family, relatives and friends are undergoing in this very sad moment, and we would like to most heartily condole with them.”
Recounting the unannounced occurrence of Dr. Mkamilo’ demise, ASARECA Executive Director, Dr. Enock Warinda lamented how only two weeks ago, Dr. Mkamilo chaired the powerful 35th ASARECA Board of Directors meeting comprising Directors General of National Agricultural Research Institutes of 15 ASARECA Members States. “There after, he led the entire Board to pay a courtesy call on the ASARECA Council of Patron Ministers Chairman, Hon. Mithika Linturi at the Ministry Headquarters in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi,” Dr. Warinda said.
“After that he led the same Board to participate in the 3rd ASARECA Council of Patron Ministers meeting at Safari Park Hotel, in Nairobi. We miss his enormous contribution to Agricultural Research and Development in Tanzania and indeed, Eastern and Central Africa,” Warinda stated.
Dr. Mkamilo was the first Director General of TARI following its establishment in 2016 by an Act of Parliament No.10 of 2016 with a national mandate to conduct, coordinate, regulate and promote agricultural research in Tanzania mainland. He effectively became DG in 2018 and held the office until February 20, when he handed over office to the new DG, Dr. Thomas Bwana at TARI Headquarters in Makutupora in Dodoma, Tanzania.
Dr. Mkamilo holds a PhD in Production Ecology and Resource Conservation. Until his appointment as Director General, Dr. Mkamilo worked as the National Coordinator of the Cassava Research Program for Tanzania. As coordinator, his main role was to ensure that research on cassava was conducted in a cohesive and effective manner, thereby guiding policy makers in the Ministry of Agriculture to make appropriate national decisions on cassava.
Dr. Mkamilo has extensive research experience having participated in various tailor-made courses, including gender mainstreaming, conventional and molecular breeding, and phenotypic data analysis. Dr. Mkamilo also has extensive experience in managing internationally funded projects and has worked as principal investigator for several national projects.
He will be buried on Tuesday March 5, 2024 in Tanzania. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace!