MUNASHE MASHABATU

Agriculture

My name is Munashe Mashabatu, a versatile MSc graduate (Summa Cum Laude) and a current PhD student in Environmental and Water Science

I am a 28-year-old Zimbabwean with a commitment to earth science, atmospheric physics, and model

What is/was your work about?

Accurate crop water requirements assist farmers with saving water, and increases their productivity, and the management of their irrigation water. Upon graduating with my MSc, I registered for my PhD to work on determining water requirements of fullbearing and high-yielding Japanese plum orchards in two major production regions of the Western Cape, using an eddy covariance flux system. The eddy covariance flux system is the most suitable and direct method to estimate crop water requirements. The general aim of both studies is to investigate and quantify the consumptive water use rates of fruit tree species in such a way that fruit growers will know the volume of water (1) being consumed by the plants, (2) being lost through various processes, and therefore (3) required to be supplemented by irrigation methods. This study is critically important, considering the rising water scarcity situation that South Africa is currently facing. Precise quantification of the water requirements of fruit trees informs water

How has your work contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Determining crop water requirements of irrigated fruit species addresses SDG 12, particularly Targets 12.2 and 12.2A. The research covers efficiency in the use and management of natural resources and the support of developing countries’ scientific and technological capacity for sustainable consumption and production. Tools and technologies that allow farmers to minimise nonbeneficial water use while maximising production and yield using limited available water resources have been developed. South Africa, which is a major exporter of various types of fruits, is considered to be one of the driest countries in the world. Therefore, the availability of adequate water is critically important for the sustainability and growth of the fruit industry. Information on specific fruit tree water requirements obtained from my research contributes to improving water allocation, irrigation water management, and water productivity. Thus, it maintains South Africa’s global competitiveness concerning the production and export of fruit.

How is it impacting your community?

Findings from these studies were distributed to local farmers and water managers for use in improving their management of the available water resources. Fruit growers can now adhere to best practices in water management to drive other water productivity initiatives. Sustainable management of water resources is aiding in the attainment of sustainable development solutions towards the rising water scarcity levels, increasing frequency of drought in the Western Cape and the rising competition for the limited water resources between different sectors of the economy.