Andrew Litia is our colleague from Zambia who joined our Department of Economic and Development of FTA, CZU, in October 2021. His research topic is the Adoption of Technologies to Increase the Resilience of Smallholder Farmers in Zambia. This research study investigates the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate change. The study will delve into crop diversification, barriers to the adoption of improved and certified seeds and the food security situation in the districts of southern and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia. Andrew’s research will analyse and investigate how crop diversification and its interconnectivity to the adoption of certified seed varieties are enhancing and shaping farming households to be resilient, sustainable, and food secure.  

Liji Kareyapath is our colleague from India who enrolled in the PhD programme at the Department of Economics and Development of Faculty of Tropical Agrisciences, CZU, in October 2022. Her research focus is analysing participatory forest management in the selected areas of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India, to understand the involvement of indigenous people in participatory forest management practices. Given its role in combating global warming and climate change, sustainable forest management has become a major focus in recent times. In addition, participatory forest management involving indigenous people and their knowledge of forest management is gaining momentum and recognises the traditional knowledge and practices that have survived, evolved and been maintained over generations.  

Irene Franceline Mbouwe, has been recently at CIFOR-ICRAF office in Cameroon carrying out her internship and data collection for her dissertation thesis. Her research analyses the significance of the Shea butter value chain on rural household incomes, household food security and women's empowerment in Cameroon.

The research on the main drivers of food security conducted by PhD student Niga Abdalla in Sulaymaniyah Governorate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The main aims of the study are to describe the status of food security of households in the study area and to analyse the role of the Public Distribution System on household food security. Furthermore, the study investigates the rural-urban differences and the armed conflict impact on household food security. 

Nepal is known as one of the countries that is severely affected by climate change. Climate change had a massive impact on agricultural sector in Nepal, and hence jeopardized its food security.

Last Spring, our PhD candidate Pius Hiwe went to Oyo State, Nigeria to collect data for his dissertation thesis. His research explores agricultural extension in Nigeria with a focus on farmers’ participation, and satisfaction with extension services. Furthermore, the study also examines job satisfaction of those providing rural advisory and extension services.