Mr. Patrick Ngwako Rakau is an accomplished agricultural researcher specializing in forage and range science, with expertise in pasture management, forage breeding, and sustainable agricultural systems. He serves as a Junior Researcher in Range and Forage Sciences at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa, and is pursuing a PhD in Crop Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on the response of ethyl-methane sulphonate (EMS) mutagenized teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] for dual-purpose traits that enhance its suitability for both animal feed and human consumption. His research advances the development of climate-smart and high-yield forage varieties that improve livestock productivity and soil health across diverse agro-ecological systems. As project leader of the National Cover Crop Program funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, he has coordinated multi-provincial collaborations to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Mr. Rakau has authored numerous scientific papers, conference abstracts, and semi-scientific articles in prominent outlets including Farmers Weekly, AgriAbout, StockFarm, and the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology. A long-standing member of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) and a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), he actively contributes to professional knowledge networks and agricultural policy development. Through collaborations with national and international seed companies such as PGW Seeds (New Zealand) and DLF Seed International, he has advanced forage improvement programs emphasizing resilience, nutritional quality, and genetic diversity. His dedication to farmer education, postgraduate supervision, and community outreach reflects his enduring commitment to knowledge transfer, sustainable food systems, and agricultural innovation in Africa.
Profile: ORCID
Publication
1. Mbambalala, L., Mpanza, T. D. E., Tjelele, T. J., Ncisana, L., Mkhungo, S., Sithole, L., Nzeru, M. S., Rakau, P. N., Rani-Kamwendo, Z. T., & Mkhize, N. R. (2025). Dryland fodder radish genotypes: Planting date effects on nutritive value and in-vitro dry matter degradability in Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.