Last Updated on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 by HEET Website Team

Personal Information

Full Name: Zahara Hassan Mkuki

Gender: Female

Contact Information

Department of Agricultural Extension and Community Development, P.O. Box 3002

Sokoine University of Agriculture,

zaharamkuki@sua.ac.tz,

+255753039517, +254717286744

Biography
Zahara H. Mkuki is a Tutorial Assistant in the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural Extension at Egerton University, Kenya. Zahara is among the beneficiary of the Higher Learning Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) scholarship.

Previous work experience: Zahara has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture as an agricultural extension officer in Maswa District (Simiyu Region) for nine years (9) from 2010 to 2020. She also worked with BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities-Tanzania) from August 2007 to June 2010 as Community Organizer (CO) where she was engaged in establishing women groups and help them to access loans from BRAC.

• Interests, hobbies and talents: Reading books, vegetable gardening and livestock keeping
• Achievements (academic, extracurricular or professional): Zahara has published a paper titled ‘Agricultural Extension Officers’ Perceptions towards their roles’. Moreover, she have also participated in writing a book chapter in the book titled ‘Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation (RIPAT) and Rural Development.

Extracurricular activities related to academics: A member of the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Education and Extension (TSAEE).

Academic Background

HEET Project Scholarship

Brief description of the HEET Project Scholarship received: I am a beneficiary of the two-year HEET scholarship to pursue MSc in Agricultural Extension at Egerton University, Kenya. I have been looking for scholarships to pursue my master degree, not only to get up the ladder but also to foster my creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and communication skills for betterment my institution and academic career. Thus, this opportunity given by the SUA-HEET Project is instrumental to my institution and personal career development. The agricultural extension skills, knowledge, and exposure I am getting are of great significance not only for personal and professional development but also of great utility to the Sokoine University and Republic of Tanzania at large.

Plans for Future: I want to become the seasoned expert on issues related to the delivery of agricultural extension services. I believe that with the provision of quality agricultural extension services at the right time and right place, it is easy to achieve the goals of our farmers and that of the national as well.

Giving Credit and Expressing Gratitude

Honors and thanks go to The Almighty God for his mercy, choosing me to be among of the SUA-HEET beneficiaries. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the to the World Bank through SUA HEET Project, Government of Tanzania who provided the scholarship. Personally, I promise to put efforts into every step of my studies so that I can acquire the required knowledge and skills intended to have a positive impact on my work and the country as a whole.

Lastly, I will forever cherish this unique opportunity and I will make sure that Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and my country, Tanzania, are known for my good deeds.