Friends of UKZN Agriculture

02/10/2026

Senior Agricultural Scientist and Plant Breeder at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Dr Adane Gebreyohannes Woldetensay, was awarded his PhD through the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

Woldetensay’s research focused on the genetic improvement of finger millet, an underutilised, nutritious and climate-resilient crop indigenous to Africa.

His thesis: ‘Breeding of Finger Millet for Agronomic and Nutritional Traits and Drought Tolerance in Ethiopia’, combined multi-environment phenotyping, quantitative genetics, hybrid evaluation and genome-wide association mapping to identify genetic resources for improved finger millet. He identified genotypes demonstrating improved agronomic performance, early maturity, high iron and zinc content, and drought tolerance.

Said Woldetensay. “My interest in plant breeding is rooted in a practical question: How can genetic diversity be systematically converted into improved crop varieties that perform reliably under the increasingly variable conditions faced by farmers?”..
With genetic improvement in finger millet less advanced than in major cereal varieties, the crop has significant potential for dryland farming systems. Woldetensay’s research revealed substantial genetic variation in drought tolerance that can be harnessed through targeted breeding. It also showed that varieties performing well under favourable conditions are not necessarily the most productive or stable under drought, highlighting the importance of testing breeding materials across representative environments.

Genetic analyses further demonstrated that the relative influence of additive and non-additive genetic effects varies among traits and environments, informing breeding strategies ranging from recurrent selection to hybrid breeding. Overall, the research reinforces the idea that climate resilience is a complex outcome shaped by interactions among genotype, environment and their interactions.

Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol14-Issue34-caes-grad/Research%20Advances%20Genetic%20Improvement%20of%20Important%20Cereal%20Crop/

01/10/2026

Dr Marylyn Christian’s PhD in Plant Breeding, through the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) renowned African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI), sought to improve bread wheat quality and drought tolerance by using silicon fertilisers as a selection and breeding trait – a complicated exercise given the inverse correlation of these traits – which opened up new avenues for plant breeding.

Christian of Pietermaritzburg found tremendous value in the support, mentorship, and guidance from UKZN’s staff, taking on the challenge of pursuing a PhD in Plant Breeding after completing her honours and master’s degrees in Plant Pathology.

“The type of research that the ACCI does impacts food security in Africa and globally, producing ground-breaking and highly cited research that showcases the brilliance that Africa, and particularly South Africa, holds in terms of agricultural research,” said Christian.

Titled: ‘Pre-breeding for Silicon-Use Efficiency to Enhance Drought Tolerance and Grain Protein Content in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)’, Christian’s research targeted the novel area of silicon-use efficiency, aiming to improve bread wheat yield, quality and drought tolerance, challenging traits that are often inversely correlated. Silicon fertilisers can improve crop performance and nutrient quality, particularly under stress. Genetic crosses based on complementary backgrounds and selection for silicon-use efficiency offer new opportunities for wheat breeding.

Producing five scientific articles in international journals, Christian’s research showed that silicon-use efficiency is breed- and application-dependent, with controlled silicon fertilisation improving agronomic performance, grain protein content and trait associations, while supporting breeding for enhanced yield and drought tolerance.

Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol14-Issue34-caes-grad/Research%20Investigates%20Silicon-Use%20Efficiency%20in%20Bread/

30/09/2026

Dr Feroza Morris is the first in her family to earn a PhD.

Growing up, university was not a common topic of conversation among Morris’s friends or in her community. Her mother, however - a nurse who interacted with graduates - wanted similar academic opportunities for her children.

“She was the one with high expectations but it was difficult for her to show us how to get there,” said Morris. That changed when University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) representatives visited her high school to introduce learners to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degrees. “Those talks sparked my interest, and more than that, made university feel like something I could actually do,” she said.

Morris plunged into her studies and was ultimately awarded a PhD in Environmental Science from UKZN for research that investigated whether South Africa’s rivers could be measured from space, particularly in the Maloti-Drakensberg area, an important source of water for millions of people. Titled: ‘Streamflow Modelling and Forecasting using Machine Learning and Remote Sensing for Mountainous Catchments’, she was supervised by Dr Michele Toucher and Dr Silas Ngetar.

“Most of South Africa’s water comes from a few small mountain areas, and those are exactly the places where we have the least monitoring networks,” she said...
Morris used satellite data and machine learning to investigate whether these rivers could be monitored remotely...
As a lecturer in UKZN's Discipline of Geography, Morris now hopes to bring the human dimension into her research, recognising that water is never solely a hydrological problem. She plans to carry that same concern into her planned Higher Education studies, examining how postgraduate students critically evaluate AI tools when combining physical and social data.

Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol14-Issue34-caes-grad/Environmental%20Scientist%20Turns%20Satellite%20Data%20into%20Water%20Solutions/

29/09/2026

A PhD in Crop Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) was the happy end-result of a journey of “active hope” for Dr Lusanda Ncisana.

Growing up in Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Ncisana became aware early in life that circumstances need not determine one’s future.

His educational journey was not straightforward: after completing Grade 9, he left school for two years before returning with a renewed sense of purpose following his initiation.

The experience taught him important lessons about discipline, responsibility, respect, humility and serving others. He completed his secondary education, worked for two years and then enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Fort Hare.

“Education was never simply about obtaining a qualification; it was about creating opportunities where none seemed to exist,” said Ncisana.

His university journey soon tested his determination...
His passion for science and environmental stewardship began at school...
Those early experiences would eventually connect with his doctoral research at UKZN where he was supervised by Dr Ntuthuko Mkhize and Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi. Titled: ‘Responses of Selected Forage Brassica (Raphanus sativus) Genotypes to Water Stress’, it focused on improving agricultural sustainability in South Africa, a country increasingly affected by water scarcity. His findings demonstrated that newly developed forage radish genotypes could maintain comparable yields while using substantially less irrigation water, contributing practical knowledge towards climate-smart and water-efficient agriculture.

Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol14-Issue34-caes-grad/Journey%20of%20Active%20Hope%20Culminates%20in%20Doctorate%20on%20Water-Efficient%20Agriculture

28/09/2026

Reminder, applications for the Department of Agriculture bursaries close in TWO DAYS.

The Department of Agriculture (DoA) intends to award comprehensive bursaries to qualifying applicants who are pursuing or planning to further their studies in identified agricultural fields for the 2027 academic year. The bursary will cover tuition fees, accommodation, study materials, meals and a monthly allowance. These bursaries are aimed at previously disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly those from rural and underprivileged communities.

Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Application form:https://www.nda.gov.za/images/Vacancies/2026-vacancies/2027-doa-full-time-bursary-application-form.pdf
Email completed applications to [email protected] before the closing date.

Closing date for all applications: 30 September 2026.

Programmes:
- BSc Eng. Agricultural (Bioresource) Engineering / Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc.)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs.)
- BHSci. Veterinary Technology
- BSc Agric. Entomology
- BSc Agric. Food Science
- BSc Agric. Animal Health
- BSc Agric. Plant Pathology
- BSc Agric. Plant Science
- BSc Agric. Soil Science
- BSc Agric. Agronomy
- BSc AQric. Viticulture and Oenology
- BAS Food Science and Technology
- Diploma in Food Technology
- Advance Diploma in agriculture related fields
- BSc Agric. Honours: Plant Pathology
- BSc Agric. Honours: Entomology

Enquiries: Ms Silindelo Dlomo Tel: (012) 319 7848; Ms Bongiwe Shabalala Tel: (012) 319 7136; Mr Sifiso Nkuna Tel: (012) 319 7201

28/09/2026

In light of recent news about , did you know that the University of KwaZulu-Natal played a key role in developing the cereal? As outlined in this entry in the South African Medical Journal in March 1962, Doctors JC Simson and NM Mann from the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Natal in Durban conducted vital field trials on the cereal.

Their 1961–1962 clinical research demonstrated that feeding a daily ProNutro supplement to over 1 200 children successfully kept them free from kwashiorkor (severe protein malnutrition). They collaborated with Professor JDL Hansen at the University of Cape Town on nitrogen balance and metabolic studies, which provided the essential scientific validation that developer Philip Hind and his team needed to refine and launch the finalised commercial recipe.

23/09/2026

Professor Joyce Chitja, Director of the African Centre for Food Security at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, will participate as a panellist in the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) global dialogue on food loss and waste on 29 September at 10:00 GMT.

The theme of the webinar is 'From Evidence to Action: The Role of Research in Tackling Food Loss and Waste'.

Keynote speaker Professor Lindiwe Sibanda, a globally renowned Food Systems expert and FLW Reduction Champion 12.3 will speak on ‘Bringing Diverse Perspectives Together to Unlock Multidisciplinary Action towards Food Loss and Waste Reduction’.
This webinar is held to commemorate the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, observed annually on 29 September.

More information and registration: https://arua.org/arua-global-dialogue-on-food-loss-waste/

15/09/2026

Congratulations to all the Agric graduates in this year's September graduation ceremony!

15/09/2026

We are extending our bursary application period for 2027 applicants to 18 September! 😎🍊🍋

Please join the Student Community on our Citrus Communities website and submit your application online. https://citruscommunities.org.za/

For more information, email [email protected] or WhatsApp 066 200 0476.

02/09/2026