Adikath Abiola is an agricultural economist who grew up in an urban area in Benin’s capital city, Cotonou. She holds the position of Officer in charge of the professionalization of cooperatives and professional organizations in Benin’s Ministry of Agriculture. She says that research exposed her to the realities of farmers in the rural areas, while working as a research assistant on a project on banana virus (BBTV-Mitigation project) and later during her PhD research on agricultural risks for banana farmers.

“I want to build my leadership in designing policy and strategies that can help smallholder farmers as they are most affected by climate change,” says Adikath noting that women farmers are of particular interest.

Click here to learn more about how research led a Adikath Abiola into Rural Realities, and Toward Climate Solutions