MELVIN MUNA

Melvin Muna is a young entrepreneur and innovator answering the global call to address UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 & 13. He has over five years of development experience in Telecommunication Engineering and Agricultural Development. His passion for sustainable development led him to start MELMAX FARM FRESH, a large-scale farming venture that produces chili pepper of the African Birds Eye variety for the local and export market. The farm is located in the semi-arid region of Kitui in the eastern part of Kenya. Still, through irrigation, they have managed to maintain production throughout the year and provide decent, sustainable jobs to marginalized youth and women in the region. Melvin uses the farm as a training center for sustainable farming. He trains smallholder farmers on sustainable farming practices to boost their resilience in the face of climate change. Those enrolled in the program have increased their yields by more than 100%, thus helping alleviate poverty and food insufficiency in the local area. He previously worked with Nokia Networks as a Base Station Engineer before quitting to pursue his passion for agriculture. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Melvin hopes to start a large sustainable farming network in Africa where smallholder farmers receive high-quality farm inputs, technical assistance, and market linkages to help them prosper as farmers.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical & Telecommunication Engineering - Moi University; Certificate in Network Technologies (Cisco Certified Network Analyst - CCNA) -  Institute of Advanced Technology