Ruth Njiru

Background

About Ruth Njiru

An agricultural economist and researcher with extensive experience in agricultural policy, dairy sector, trade, and land market dynamics. Currently, a doctoral candidate at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) focusing on employing machine learning to analyse strategic behaviour and regulation effects in land markets. I also possess a Master’s in Agricultural and Applied Economics (Agricultural policy and trade specialization) and a Bachelor in Agricultural Economics. In my master’s research explored the effects of dairy cooperatives on smallholder farmers' incomes, sparking my enduring commitment to improving agricultural systems and empowering rural livelihoods. My expertise extends to applied research and field surveys, having contributed to projects with Egerton University, Wageningen University, and CIMMYT. These roles involved designing and implementing survey methodologies, leading field data collection, supervising enumerators, and analysing complex datasets to inform policy and practice. I also bring over four years of teaching experience from Egerton University and Chuka University, where I developed and delivered courses on agricultural value chains, business management, and strategic management. Beyond teaching, I supervised student projects, designed curricula, and upheld high-quality education standards Equipped with advanced skills in machine learning, programming tools like Python, R, and NetLogo, and multilingual skills spanning English, Kiswahili, German, and a bit of Turkish, I thrive in dynamic, cross-cultural environments. Passionate about bridging research and policy, I aim to drive impactful change in agricultural systems globally.