Amadu Kamara

Supply Chain, Seed Systems and Agricultural Economist with 9+ years of research and consulting experience across agricultural value chains, seed systems, technology adoption, market linkages, productivity and investment analysis. Practical experience spans seed-system diagnostics, seed security, varietal turnover, local supply-chain design, stakeholder and market analysis, agribusiness investment opportunities and the assessment of constraints affecting farmers, seed producers, processors and other value-chain actors. Currently supports ICRISAT/FAO/CGIAR work on local supply chains for dryland cereals and legumes in Northern Nigeria, including community-based seed systems, food-processing interventions and investment and innovation opportunities.

Has delivered seed-system and agricultural research assignments for ICRISAT, IITA, FAO, the World Bank and Sasakawa Africa Association in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Combines mixed-method field research with advanced econometric analysis, CAPI survey design and technical reporting to translate evidence into practical supply-chain, investment and policy recommendations.

Lecturer at Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (2026-06 – Present)

• Teach agricultural economics and related courses, supervise student research and contribute to applied research, consultancy and university engagement with government, development partners and industry stakeholders.

Global Agriculture and Food Systems Economist at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) (2026-06 – 2026-08)

Lead socioeconomic, value-chain and investment research across three concurrent ICRISAT/FAO/CGIAR initiatives on climate-smart agriculture, smart crops and local supply chains in Northern Nigeria.

• Support the design of integrated interventions to build local supply chains for dryland cereals and legumes in conflict-affected areas, including community-based seed systems, food-processing units involving women and youth, market linkages, and identification of investment and innovation opportunities.
• Conduct stakeholder ecosystem mapping and develop household questionnaires, KII and FGD guides and trader survey instruments to generate evidence on production, seed access, processing, markets, constraints and opportunities.
• Contribute to the Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Framework for Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Benue States through stakeholder consultations, desk review, context updates and cost-benefit evidence for priority investments.

Research Analyst - Cowpea and Soybean Adoption, Varietal Turnover and Agronomic Practices at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (2024-11 – 2025-01)

Designed survey instruments and analysed adoption, varietal turnover and agronomic-practice data to assess how improved varieties reach farmers and influence productivity and household welfare.

• Applied advanced econometric analysis in Stata and contributed to technical reporting and recommendations for scaling improved cowpea varieties and strengthening delivery to farmers.

Research Analyst - Seeds4Liberia Cassava Seed System and Production at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (2024-02 – 2024-05)

Conducted econometric analysis to identify key constraints and opportunities within the cassava seed system and production environment in Liberia.

• Contributed to the Seeds4Liberia technical report, translating analytical findings into recommendations and policy suggestions for strengthening the cassava seed system and production base.

Research Analyst - Seeds4Liberia Cocoa and Coffee Seed Systems at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (2024-07 – 2024-09)

Cleaned, validated and analysed study data in Stata to identify bottlenecks and enabling factors affecting cocoa and coffee seed-system adoption and productivity.

• Contributed to the final study report and evidence base for strengthening planting-material systems and improving the performance of cocoa and coffee production in Liberia.

Research and Quantitative Analyst at PAHIMS Consulting International (2021 – 2026)

Design quantitative and mixed-method agricultural studies, develop survey instruments, manage complex datasets and prepare technical analysis and recommendations for agricultural policy, productivity and enterprise-development assignments.

• Supported Sasakawa Africa Association baseline and needs-assessment studies in Kano State covering farmers, agro-processors and pastoralists, and contributed to a World Bank-supported assessment of agricultural productivity and efficiency in Sierra Leone.
• Apply econometric and productivity methods in Stata and R, including impact-evaluation approaches and Stochastic Frontier Analysis, to identify constraints, productivity gaps and opportunities for agricultural investment and performance improvement.

Consultant / Research Analyst - Seed Security, Sorghum and Millet Systems at ICRISAT and ICRISAT-FAO (2018 – 2020)

• Designed the questionnaire, led field data collection, analysed findings and compiled the report for the ICRISAT-FAO Seed Security Analysis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
• Designed and implemented sorghum and pearl millet adoption and impact surveys, analysing how improved technologies affect productivity, income and welfare across major production areas in Northern Nigeria.
• The sorghum survey covered 9 states, the millet survey covered 7 states, and the seed-security study covered the three conflict-affected Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics – Obafemi Awolowo University (2025)

M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics – Obafemi Awolowo University (2017)

B.Sc. in Economics – Covenant University (2012)