AARDO–IIT Kharagpur Scholarship Programme on

MASTER’ IN SCIENCE BY RESEARCH

July 2022 – August 2024

As per the signed MoU, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur
is providing twenty (20) scholarships for promising students/officers from
AARDO member countries to pursue Master’s Degree programme (two
years full-time courses consisting of four semesters) at IIT Kharagpur,
West Bengal, India. During the period under review, Seven (7) applicants
from AARDO member countries, one each from Ghana, Namibia, Sudan
and four from Kenya have joined the Master’s Degree programme out of
eleven (11) candidates were offered to join.

FEEDBACK AND STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

I am pursuing MS by Research program in Aquacultural Engineering at IIT

Kharagpur. Receiving this AARDO_IIT scholarship award is an honour and
comes at a time when my passion for the Aquaculture Engineering research is at
a high, and it reaffirms me that I am investing my time, energy and fervor into not
just aquaculture, but a string of World’s UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG). Among them is harnessing of Blue Economy in pursuit of contributing to
UN SDGs on sustainable food production, rural development and poverty
eradication in Africa and Asia as a whole. At present I am just in my first semester
of my studies under the mentorship of Professor Gourav Dhar Bhowmick anjzlld I
clearly envision to bring great positive impact to my country as well as to the African-Asian community as a
whole with the experience of AARDO scholarship award.

- Kendi Josyline from Republic of Kenya

I am pursuing a MS by Research Program (2 years) in Agricultural Systems and

Management at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP). I am a
beneficiary of the Scholarship under MoU signed between the African Asian Rural
Development Organization (AARDO) and IIT-KGP. This scholarship covers tuition
fee, hostel charges, one-time admission charges, living allowance and both ways
air tickets to India and back to Namibia. This MS by Research Program will help
me to earn advanced knowledge and skills in the field of Agriculture and be in a
better position to support our national initiatives towards battling chronic famine
wherever it exists, and building a better tomorrow that is characterized by food security rather than
insecurity.My research interest is on Climate change adaptations and mitigations as it impacts food
production. I am very much confident that I will complete this program within the prescribed period and return
the favour many professors bestowed on me towards the course of poverty alleviation in Africa at large.

-Luka Shanyengange Amunyela from Namibia

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 It is my pleasure to be a master of science by research student at an Institute
of Eminence, first of the IITs to be established, the Indian Institute of
Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP). I am more grateful to be in an eco-friendly
and vibrant campus life courtesy of the generous scholarship award by a rural
centric inter-governmental organization dubbed African-Asian Rural
Development Organization (AARDO) jointly with IITKGP. I’m currently
pursuing Ms by research in the department of Agriculture and Food
Engineering along with the Center for Rural Development and Innovation
Sustainable Technology under the discipline on Land and Water Resources
Engineering. I am looking forward to obtaining a skillful in-depth knowledge in
improving crop production especially a sustainable irrigation system. My
broad focus targeting precision agriculture specifically water quality standard in irrigation for a better
management and planning in farming. Furthermore, Africa and specifically my country Kenya have significant
pollution of our natural water resources alongside extreme weather and climatic events. Therefore, at the end
of this program I would like to be a pioneer versed in quality irrigation water to spearhead sustainable
agriculture in combating the prolonged food insecurity created by ineffective irrigation water quality causing
low food production from agriculture.
-Geophry Wasonga Anyango from Kenya

I am pursuing my MSc Research programme under the Department of Agricultural

and Food Engineering in the Faculty of Agricultural Biotechnology. I am thrilled and
honoured to be a beneficiary of the African Asian Rural Development Organisation,
AARDO and IIT Kharagpur program. I am thankful for this opportunity as it has
opened up a new chapter of life for me. As a young woman who is passionate
about education, the financial constraints that proved to be a barrier against
achieving my dreams have been brought to a halt thanks to this scholarship that
covers my tuition fees, accommodation as well as a monthly stipend for my
upkeep. There is less to worry about and thus, I am hopeful and confident that I
would be able to finish my master’s program successfully with flying colours. I am once again grateful to
AARDO and IIT Kharagpur for believing in me, and inspiring me to not give up om my goals and to always
aim to reach higher levels in life. I look forward to gaining more knowledge to help my people and the world
as a whole. I anticipate the bright future ahead of me. Thank you AARDO, Thank you IIT Kharagpur.

- Sophia Ofosuhemaa Duodu from Ghana

I am currently pursuing masters in Agricultural Systems and Management in the

department of Agricultural and Food Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur under African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) scholarship.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees, one time accommodation fee waiver and airfare.
Through this scholarship, my dream of becoming part of global movement towards
spearheading the attainment of stable food supply across the world especially Asia and
Africa through sustainable agricultural technologies is now valid. I would like to take this
opportunity to give thanks to AARDO stakeholders for reaching out to the needy families,
trusting them and giving them an opportunity to rejuvenate and realize their dreams.
Also, their efforts towards promoting sustainable agricultural production across Asia and Africa will soon be
realized and I am hoping that in coming years, poverty in Africa and Asia will be just a story whose impact on
economic development will be considered infinitesimal. Thank you for trusting us.

- Evans Wanjala Mutayi from Kenya

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I am grateful for the opportunity to enroll in an MS by research degree at the
Indian institute of technology, Kharagpur under the African-Asian Rural
Development Organization (AARDO) and the Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur (IITKGP) scholarship programme. So far, studying in such a prestigious
institution has been a great experience and I look forward to amassing sufficient
knowledge and skills in automation and design of agricultural machinery and
thereafter be an asset of value in designing, implementation and maintenance of
agricultural machines as well as contribute in decision making and agricultural
mechanization policy formulation. Design of appropriate and sustainable
agricultural machines in the agricultural production chain is my key future plan with
an overall objective to assist in scaling up farm mechanization in the rural areas particularly to the small and
medium scale farms.

- William Wachira Mwangi from Kenya

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