Seifu Kibebew | Crop Modeling | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Academic Achievements

Mr. Seifu Kibebew | Crop Modeling | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Seifu Kibebew | Crop Modeling | PhD Candidate at Haramaya University | India

Crop Modeling serves as the foundational theme of Mr. Seifu Kibebew’s professional journey, shaping his academic pursuits, research expertise, and instructional contributions across Ethiopia’s agricultural sector. Mr. Seifu Kibebew is an emerging agronomy scholar whose work integrates climate change analysis, sustainable crop production, and decision-support technologies to enhance agricultural resilience in Central Ethiopia. Educated through a carefully structured academic trajectory, he is currently a PhD candidate in Agronomy at Haramaya University, where his dissertation focuses on “Modeling Climate Change Analysis, Impact Assessment and Nitrogen Optimization for Bread Wheat Production in Central Ethiopia,” a research area that aligns strongly with modern Crop Modeling approaches and the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT). Prior to his doctoral work, he earned a Master’s degree in Agronomy from Haramaya University and a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Jimma University, each stage reinforcing his passion for crop physiology, production systems, and climate-smart agriculture. Professionally, Mr. Seifu Kibebew has accumulated extensive field and academic experience, beginning as a Horticulture and Irrigation Expert at the Agricultural and Rural Development Office, a government institution where he provided technical guidance, managed irrigation systems, and supported farmers in improving horticultural yields. He later transitioned into academia as a Lecturer at Salale University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Plant Science in Fitche, where he mentors students, supervises research, and teaches advanced courses in agronomy, soil–crop relationships, and simulation modeling. His research interests include crop modeling, climate change projection and impact assessment, nitrogen optimization strategies, DSSAT simulation, sustainable food production systems, and adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers facing climatic variability. Mr. Seifu Kibebew’s technical skillset is equally strong; he is proficient in statistical and modeling software such as SAS, GenStat, MS-Excel, MS-Word, and MS-PowerPoint, and demonstrates capability in managing computerized agricultural datasets for research and decision support. His professional competencies include management and leadership ability, interpersonal communication skills, multitasking capacity, strong analytical reasoning, stress tolerance, problem solving, planning and organization, operational decision-making, customer focus, and the ability to work collaboratively at all organizational levels while maintaining values such as respect, accountability, courage, and excellence. He has also received several training certificates that strengthened his field knowledge, including international training in irrigation and postharvest technologies in vegetable production, irrigation and crop management organized by professional agricultural institutions, training on garden-based nutrition through Save the Children’s ENGINE project, TOT training on nutrition program management by Jhpiego, and specialized workshops on homestead vegetable production, apple management, and honey production facilitated by international and national development organizations. His professional awards and recognitions stem from his excellence in teaching, community service, modeling application skills, and contributions to climate-focused agronomy research. In conclusion, Mr. Seifu Kibebew stands as a dedicated agronomist whose academic commitment, diverse field experience, and strong foundation in Crop Modeling position him as a valuable contributor to Ethiopia’s sustainable agriculture transformation, with a future career pathway strongly oriented toward climate-resilient food production, agricultural technology advancement, and high-impact scientific research.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

  1. Kibebew, S. (2025). Calibration and validation of the CERES-Wheat model in DSSAT to assess climate change impacts and adaptation options for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in central Oromia, Ethiopia. Agronomy Journal.
  2. Kibebew, S. (2025). Climate trends, variability, and changes in extreme indices under future projections over Central Oromia, Ethiopia. Discover Environment.

Maria Esmeralda Cuzco Cruz | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Academic Achievements

Prof. Maria Esmeralda Cuzco Cruz | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award 

Prof. Maria Esmeralda Cuzco Cruz | Agriculture | Master at University of Guayaquil | Ecuador

Prof. Maria Esmeralda Cuzco Cruz is a distinguished scholar and researcher in the field of Agricultural Sciences, with a particular focus on Plant Protection, Entomology, Agroecology, and Sustainable Crop Systems. She earned her Ph.D. in Protected Agriculture (Plant Protection) from the University of Almería, Spain, where her doctoral research centered on biological pest control and greenhouse crop management. Prof. Cuzco Cruz also holds master’s degrees in Sanitation and Plant Production from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and in Geomatics, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Models for Forest Management from the University of Córdoba, Spain, complementing her undergraduate degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil, Ecuador. Professionally, she has served as a Professor and Researcher at leading institutions such as the University of Guayaquil, University Agraria del Ecuador, and Technological University ECOTEC, where she has contributed to both academic instruction and research leadership. Her research interests include biological control of insect pests, pest ecology in greenhouse systems, biodiversity assessment, and the integration of IoT and remote sensing technologies in sustainable agriculture. She is proficient in molecular and morphological pest identification, experimental design, statistical analysis, and spatial modeling techniques. Throughout her career, Prof. Cuzco Cruz has received multiple academic honors, including recognition for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Innovation and leadership in Sustainable Agroecological Development Projects. Her scholarly contributions are reflected in numerous peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus and Google Scholar, which address emerging challenges in pest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture. Prof. Maria Esmeralda Cuzco Cruz continues to promote scientific excellence through interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative approaches that strengthen sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship for future generations.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

  1. Cuzco Cruz, M. E., Bustos, J. P. Q., Cabrera, W. G. M., & Sánchez, A. J. L. (2022). Molecular and morphological characterization of the genus Pythium from forest species. RECIAMUC, 6(2), 375–387. 

  2. Cuzco Cruz, M. E. (2014). Development of rearing methods for Hambletonia pseudococcina (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and its efficacy in the biological control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

  3. Sánchez, A. J. L., Sornoza, J. S. V., Cruz, M. E. C., & Bustos, J. P. Q. (2022). Evaluation of zootechnical parameters of Oreochromis spp fed with 8% corn FVH and ascorbic acid in earthen ponds. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 6(5), 5056–5070.

  4. Cuzco, M. E., Vera, A. M., Quiñonez, J. P., Mera, L. F., & Lao, M. T. (2025). Influence of a greenhouse adapted to the Ecuadorian coastal climate on pest dynamics in tomato crops. Horticulturae, 11(11), 1279. 

  5. Cuzco, M., Santos, D., Vivas, M., Cotto, M., Vera, A., & Quito, E. (2024). Identification, spatial distribution and report of new records of pest and beneficial insect species in Ecuador from Samanea saman trees. African Journal of Biological Sciences, 6(Si4), 5458–5469.

  6. Rolando, L., Paulino, M. P., Astudillo-Astudillo, E. A., Cruz, M. E. C., et al. (2023). The impact of agroecological practices on biodiversity and agricultural productivity. Migration Letters, 20(S3), 1282–1294. 

  7. Prada Herrera, J. C., Bolaños Contreras, C. C., Cano Legua, F. E., & Cruz, M. E. C. (2023). Strategies for microbiological control in food: Microbiological control, agronomy, and environmental conservation. Journal of Namibian Studies, 33.