Department of agriculture and aquatic science

November 17, 2021 4:30 AM

Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Science

The department is a unit that was established in 2016 to train students in Agro forestry, animal science and Fisheries and Aqua-culture. Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences addresses complex environmental issues through scientific discovery, creativity and perseverance; teach future leaders to manage the delicate balance between people and the environment on which they depend.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission

We are committed to training current and future natural resources and enviromental professionals to be critical thinkers prepared to manage, sustain and renew our natural resources.

Vision

The vision of the department of Natural Resources is to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve George's natural,historic and culcural resources for present and future generations, while recognizing the importance of promoting the development of commerce and industry that utilize sound enviromental practices.

Expected Outcome

The normal expected outcome of the programme is well trained students who will fully contribute to the well being of the society.

CORE TEAM MEMBERSHIP

Mr. Emmanuel Nkweto (HoD)

Mr. Emmanuel Nkweto is Head of Department and Lecturer in Plant Protection, Crop production and Agricultural Extension at Kapasa Makasa University located in the Northern part of Zambia. He earned his Master’s Degree in Agronomy from RUDN University of Russia and Bachelor’s Degree in Agroforestry from the Copperbelt University in Zambia. Nkweto’s work and research is dedicated to developing sustainable and environmentally sound strategies for managing agricultural pests and diseases (Integrated Pest and Disease Management -IPDM) in horticultural crops. Additionally, his research interest and dedication are in sustainable agricultural technologies, practices and approaches that aim at minimizing the adverse impact of climate change. He is also interested in researching on the role of local seed landraces (varieties) in improving rural livelihoods and climate adaptability. He is a registered and active member of the Agricultural Institute of Zambia (AIZ) and made various paper presentations aiming at advancing the Zambia’s agricultural sector.

Dr. Artherton Jere (Arthertone.Jere@kmu.ac.zm)

His holds a PhD in Fisheries & Aquaculture Science. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Open Learning and a Lecturer in Fish Genetics, Breeding, and Fish Disease. He is also a lead consultant on various projects and specializes in ichthyology, fish taxonomy, and participatory fisheries management. With extensive 20 years’ experience in community-based conservation and sustainable fisheries, he has contributed to projects on the Kabompo River, Kafue Flats, Blue Lagoon, and Lower Zambezi River, supported by roles at WorldFish. Currently, he teaches at Kapasa Makasa and researches Lake Mweru Wantipa and is working on developing a participatory Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Bangweulu projects.

Mr. Bwalya Mutale

Bwalya Mutale holds a Master of Engineering in Surveying and Mapping, specializing in Remote Sensing and GIS. His expertise spans geospatial technologies, land use planning, and environmental monitoring. His research focuses on GIS and remote sensing applications in disaster risk management, climate resilience, and sustainable land use. He has worked on multi-criteria land allocation, machine learning-based land cover modeling, and satellite-based water quality monitoring. Mutale is particularly interested in precision agriculture, including crop health assessment and nitrogen mapping, as well as integrated watershed management under changing climatic conditions. Committed to real-world impact, he aims to support early warning systems, land rehabilitation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Frontiers in Environmental Science and Remote Sensing, served as a reviewer, and contributed to research-informed development. He is actively engaged in capacity building through short course delivery and has field experience in forestry, firefighting. Publications

Mr. Lwabanya MABO (mabo.lwabanya@kmu.ac.zm)

Lwabanya Mabo holds a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences with a focus on fisheries ecology and aquaculture development. He lectures in fisheries ecology and ichthyology at Kapasa Makasa University in Northern Zambia. His research explores the link between nutrient availability and reproductive output of economically important fish species in Lake Tanganyika, addressing issues such as overfishing, bycatch, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. Mabo is also interested in strengthening the complementarity between capture fisheries and aquaculture to enhance food security and livelihoods in artisanal fishing communities. He is currently working on the certification and potential domestication of native species—Tylochromis polylepis and Auchenoglanis occidentalis—for commercial aquaculture, aiming to reduce reliance on non-native species. Mabo aspires to be a leading fisheries scientist focused on sustainable small-scale fisheries in the SADC region. He is an affiliated member of the National Geographic Explorer Community and the Lake Tanganyika Science Advisory Group under the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5503-2323

Mr. Richard Chabu

Chabu Richard is an educator with a strong passion for the natural sciences and mathematics. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Natural Sciences from Mukuba University, completed in 2014, and a Master of Science in Mathematics from the Copperbelt University, earned in 2023. He currently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences at Kapasa Makasa University. In this role, he is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring students as they engage with interdisciplinary subjects that bridge agriculture, aquatic sciences, and mathematical foundations. His research interests lie in the application of mathematical principles-particularly abstract algebra and other advanced mathematical fields to solve complex problems across diverse disciplines. He is particularly intrigued by the intersection of mathematics with real-world systems, and seeks to contribute to innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions through his academic work.

Mr. Gelsom Mwanza

Mwanza Gelsom holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture science specialized in animal science and a Master’s degree in Animal nutrition. Currently as a Lecturer at Kapasa Makasa University, he teaches animal husbandry, forages and pasture production and animal products and by products. The focus of his research interests are on inventory and evaluation of local feed resources as cheap feed ingredients in order to improve animal nutrition, pasture and range land development, improving natural reproductive performance of livestock and effective use of reproductive technologies in improving animal breeding among small holder farmers and the generation of region-specific methane emission factors from enteric fermentation and manure management for beef cattle in agroecological zone three of Zambia.

Mrs. Lukundo Nakaona-Siwale

Lukundo Nakaona holds a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry and serves as a Lecturer and Researcher at Kapasa Makasa University in Northern Zambia. With two years of teaching experience, she delivers foundational chemistry and supports interdisciplinary undergraduate programmes. Her research focuses on analytical and bioanalytical chemistry for monitoring nutrient levels, pH, salinity, and contaminants in soils and water to support sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. Nakaona is particularly interested in using microbial and plant indicators to track ecological changes and applying real-time monitoring for food safety and environmental health. Her current projects include studying the effects of probiotics on fish growth and water chemistry, precision agriculture in greenhouse settings, and the development of portable field sensors. She has published in journals such as Environmental Geochemistry and Health and contributes to environmental awareness around mine tailings. Nakaona is an active member of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH) and participates in its early-career researcher programmes.

Mr. Edward Mubanga

Edward Mubanga is a Lecturer in Physics at Kapasa Makasa University, specializing in Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Medicine. He holds an M.Sc. in Nuclear Physics from the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University and a B.Sc. in Physics from The Copperbelt University, along with a professional certificate in Radiation Principles and Safety from Obninsk City, Russia. His teaching and research focus on radiation detection, medical physics, and nuclear applications in health and environmental safety. Mubanga is passionate about applying nuclear science to real-world challenges, including agriculture and aquatic systems. His work includes publications on radionuclide production for nuclear medicine and the impact of gamma radiation on seed viability. He has presented at national conferences such as the Radiation Protection Annual General Conference and received recognition for his contributions to nuclear medicine in 2022. Edward aims to advance nuclear research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and assume leadership roles that drive innovation in science and academia. Notable Publication: Read here

CORE RESEARCH AREA AND INTERESTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND AQUATIC SCIENCES (AAS)

1.0 PREAMBLE

The Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences at Kapasa Makasa University (KMU) is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination in the areas of sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and applied environmental sciences.

Our collective focus integrates natural sciences, agriculture, ecological understanding, and geospatial analysis to tackle real-world challenges affecting food systems, ecosystems, and community resilience. The department also specializes in offering quality consultancy and extension services in order to improve food systems and environmental protection.

2.0 CORE RESEARCH AREAS

Thematic Area 1: Sustainable Agriculture

Development of climate-resilient farming systems
Soil fertility and integrated nutrient management
Sustainable crop, animal production and agroecological practices
Conservation agriculture and agroforestry systems
Agricultural extension and technology adoption for smallholder farmers

Thematic Area 2: Aquatic Ecology and Sustainable Fisheries Management

Biology and reproductive ecology of native fish species of economic importance.
Evaluating anthropogenic induced impacts (e.g. habitat fragmentation, fishing pressure, pollution) and climate change on the productivity of artisanal fisheries in Zambia.
Improved ecological knowledge on native fish species for use commercial aquaculture production.
Advancing ecosystem-based approaches for sustainable artisanal fisheries in the SADC region.

Thematic Area 3: Sustainable Aquaculture Development

Dietary profiling of local ingredients for improved aquaculture production in Zambia.
Promotion of restorative and sustainable aquaculture production in Zambia
Stock performance enhancement programs for native species aquaculture in Zambia

Thematic Area 4: Mathematics and Modelling in Agriculture and Aquatic Systems

Application of abstract algebra, mathematical modeling, and quantitative analysis to solve problems in biological systems
Development of mathematical frameworks for optimizing aquaculture operations, ecological balance, and resource allocation

Thematic Area 5. Geospatial Technologies and Environmental Monitoring

Use of GIS and Remote Sensing for land use planning, precision agriculture, and waterbody monitoring (e.g., turbidity, chlorophyll-a, sedimentation)
Early warning systems for natural hazards and environmental degradation
Integration of spatial analysis for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable land management.

3.0 OTHER AREAS OF COMPETENCES

Expertise in in conducting environmental impact assessment (EIA) and natural resource valuation (agriculture, forestry and fisheries).
Technical and extension services in the areas of sustainable agriculture, GIS fisheries and aquaculture.
Development of fisheries management plans (FMP) and stock assessment for multispecies fisheries resources

4.0 EXPECTATIONS OF PARTNERSHIP

Affiliated programme development
Research collaboration between staff and students
Masters and PhD research attachments
Assist in the actualization/commercialisation of innovation projects
Student and staff exchange and study tours

Programme Development:

Programmes of interest identified at TAR UMT

Undergraduate:

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Food Science
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition
BSc (Hons) in Analytical Chemistry
BSc (Hons) in Bioscience with Chemistry

Postgraduate:

Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology
Master of Science (Food Science)