Biography
Born in Sierra Leone, Dr. Jones received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sierra Leone, and from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom, a master’s degree in 1979, a doctorate degree in plant biology in 1983, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2005. He began his career in 1975 with the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) in its Mangrove Swamp Rice Research Project in his home country. He continued to work as a rice breeder and researcher at the international institute for tropical agriculture through the 1980s.
In 1991, Dr. Jones was appointed head of the Upland Rice Breeding Program at WARDA. It was in this position in 1994 that he made his exceptional breakthrough by combining Asian and African rice genome to develop the, “New Rice for Africa†(NERICAs) uniquely suited to poor African rice farmers. This breakthrough won him the World Food Prize in 2004. Dr. Jones continued to show leadership and innovation in bringing NERICA to farmers in Africa’s villages. He built partnerships among scientists, extension workers, civil society organizations and policy makers. He outlined a plan for community-based and participatory programs to rapidly disseminate the seeds and allow farmers an active role in developing NERICAs. In 2002, Dr. Jones was appointed the first Executive Secretary of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa. At FARA, he oversees advocacy and coordination efforts in support of regional research for development, with the goal of increasing agricultural growth by at least 6 percent annually by 2020 as well as fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, and improving food security for Africa’s people. FARA, under Dr. Jone’s leadership gained world-wide recognition as the apex organization for African Agricultural research for development and mandated by the African Union Commission to lead initiatives in African ARD. This is very timely as the development partners are refocusing their initiatives towards Africa to assist them to meet the millennium development goals. Dr. Jones is seen as prominent ambassador of African ARD not just to external partners but also to Africa’s policy makers, who are encouraged to rethink their investment strategies and increase support to ARD. Through his innovative thinking and dynamism, reform in ARD is starting to be implemented. Recognition of African leadership in putting in place their own agenda to drive the required change in the region, is starting to be felt and seen in Africa. |
