One Sunday afternoon in 1975, an 11-year-old girl visited the Nairobi National Park with her father and siblings.

She was there to see animals and plants that she had read about in science books, which her father always made her borrow from the library.

On this particular day, her father also wanted them to collect seeds of certain trees that were good for fencing.

Suddenly they came face to face with three fierce-looking lions and ran back to the car quivering with fear!

This ordeal marked the end of those practical lessons, but the girl’s interest in science grew steadily.

Dr Lusike Wasilwa is now a renowned molecular plant pathologist, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with deadly plant diseases worldwide.

She is currently the assistant director in charge of horticulture and industrial crops research at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Dr Wasilwa received most of her training in the US, where she obtained a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Arkansas in 1998, and a post-doctorate from Rutgers University in 2002.

“I then decided to come back to Kenya since I believed that my work would have more impact here,” said Dr Wasilwa.

Indeed, she is now co-ordinating various research projects aimed at increasing food security and improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa.

One of those projects seeks to promote the use of agricultural nets to prevent pests that attack vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbages and kales.

“Most of the farmers rely on pesticides which are costly, and also affect their health and environment when used wrongly,” said Dr Wasilwa.

“We are therefore developing technologies that are affordable and safe.”

She noted that test results from different trial sites in Kenya showed vegetables covered with nets have a reduced incidence of hazardous pests like aphids, thrips, cutworms and diamondback moths that reduce crop yields.

Once trials are completed, the nets — manufactured in Tanzania — will be available for use in Kenya and other East African countries.

Even though she specialises in plant diseases, Dr Wasilwa also strives to focus on other aspects of horticultural crops.

For instance, she is the principal investigator in a research project aimed at commercialising guavas in Kenya.

“These fruits are underutilised yet they are nutritious and posses medicinal qualities that can prevent diseases such as ulcers and colon cancers. Their trees also protect the environment.” she said.

Dr Wasilwa is now collecting and studying different guava varieties to conserve them and increase their production.

She noted that as their consumption increases, guavas will also generate income for farmers.

“We should not spend so much importing guava concentrate and finished products such as juices when these fruits grow wild in most parts of the country.”

Dr Wasilwa is one of the leading researchers in a project set to increase the production of oil palm trees.

According to 2008 estimates from the Central Bureau of Statistics, Kenya spends about Ksh23 billion ($277 million) to import edible oils – 80 per cent of this is palm oil.

“These crops can therefore improve the country’s economy and increase profits for small scale farmers. East African countries that import oil palm for products such as Kimbo (cooking fat) and Blue band (margarine) from Kenya will also benefit.”

Through the African Woman in Agricultural Research and Development programme, Dr Wasilwa mentors upcoming women researchers to become champions in their fields. “When you empower a woman, you are feeding the society,” she said.

She regretted that there are many women doing great things but they are rarely noticed. “They need to be motivated to become leaders and rightfully take their position in agricultural research.”

Dr Wasilwa asserted that to excel in any research, scientists need to adhere to ethics.

“We should be willing to work as a team and share ideas. And when you use someone’s work, always acknowledge the source.”

Due to her exemplary performance, Dr Wasilwa has received three medals from the International Society for Horticulture.

She is now the vice chair of the International Advisory Board for the Horticulture Collaborative Research Programme (CRSP).

It aims at developing horticulture farming in developing countries so as to improve food security, nutrition, health and economic status of the rural poor, especially women.