Dr Wegayehu Bogale Fitawek has just finished her PhD in Agricultural Economics at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development and will be graduating in September 2022. We chatted to her about her studies and research.

How did you end up in the field of Agricultural Economics?

My undergraduate work was in Plant Sciences, but I found that I had a greater interest in the economic side of Agriculture.

Do you think Agricultural Economics is important in today’s world?

Agricultural economics is relevant in everything we do, and it is all around us. Events such as the floodings in KwaZulu Natal, or the war in Ukraine, have an impact on food systems and our food security which is why we need to study agricultural economics. It is specifically relevant for Africa, where most households are involved in agricultural activities in one way or another.

What did you do your research on?

My research is on the impact of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security. I conducted a comparative analysis of Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique using both qualitative and empirical methodologies. I was fortunate enough to be part of the African Food, Agriculture, Land and Natural Resource Dynamics in the Global Agro-food-energy System Changes (AFGROLAND) project, where I had access to primary data on the three countries I chose to study.

Did you enjoy your research?

Yes, very much. PhD is a long journey and has many ups and downs. But I found that I really enjoyed trying different ways to analyse the data, and learning by doing. These types of analyses are also really important for policymakers and I am glad that I could contribute to the knowledge needed for valuable change.

I was also really fortunate to have Prof Sheryl Hendriks as my supervisor. She is very knowledgeable about the field and was constantly sharing new research and opportunities with me and her other students. She also provided us with a platform in which we (Postgraduate students) could engage with and learn from each other. She also thanks Land Matrix for providing her scholarship to pursue her PhD study.

What have you learned from the process that you would share with other students:

1. The importance of prioritising (your work, or sections of your study) and not letting life distract you from the end goal
2. Setting goals for yourself to keep you on track
3. Time management
4. Learn by doing, make the most of every opportunity to learn
5. Communicate with your supervisor and your fellow students

Dr Fitawek has set a record by publishing three papers before submitting her thesis, and she is working on the fourth paper. You can find some of her findings here:

Fitawek, W., Hendriks, S., Reys, A., and Fossi, F. 2020. The effect of large-scale agricultural investments on household food security in Madagascar. Food Security, 12, 1349-1365. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-020-01055-6.

Fitawek, W., and Hendriks, S.L. 2021. Evaluating the impact of large-scale agricultural investments on household food security using an endogenous switching regression model. Land, 10(3), 323. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030323.

Fitawek, W., and Hendriks, S.L. (2022). Large-scale agricultural investments and household vulnerability to food insecurity: Evidence from Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique. African Journal on Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, 5(1),107-138. https://doi.org/10.48346/IMIST.PRSM/ajlp-gs.v5i1.30458.