Nust, Malawi varsity in bio-fertiliser partnership

THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has partnered with Malawi’s Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to develop an eco-friendly bio-fertiliser, which will help boost crop productivity and enhance food security in the two countries.

The Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) has since set up a bio-fertilizer research center at Nust and the project is now going into the second and final phase before the full commercialisation of the product.

The project will be housed at the Professor Phineas Makhurane Technovation Centre.

Under the first phase, scientists from Nust and the University of Agriculture and Natural Resources joined forces to develop the bio-fertiliser.

Bio-fertiliser production is also aimed at reducing the negative effects on the natural environment brought about by the overuse of chemical fertilisers which are also a cost to the farmer.

During their study, the scientists noted that the impact of chemical fertilisers has led to soil erosion, reduction of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions resulting in climate change and global warming, which is a serious threat to the sustainability of food systems in Africa.

In an interview at the Nust Innovation Centre yesterday, RCZ research prioritisation, control and co-ordination manager Dr Timothy Marango said they used US$ 30,000 under the first phase and US$ 50,000 in the second phase.

“As a nation, we are mandated to do resource mobilisation for research purposes to ensure that we achieve Vision 2030 goals and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). We aim to change the lives of the people for the better,” he said.

RCZ was established in 1986 to promote, direct, supervise and co-ordinate research. One of its major functions is advising the Government on issues of research for sustainable development. It also provides an exceptional forum for interaction and discussion for the mutual benefit of Government, academia and industrialists.

RCZ’s role is that of a catalyst, and having identified broad areas of concern, it consults and brings together relevant experts to define a programme of work and to seek out sources of funds.

The organisation establishes links with professional bodies and centres of excellence to enhance the quality of its role as a facilitator of national and international collaboration.

Bio-fertiliser project principal investigator, Dr Thembekile Ncube said the project is aimed at producing bio-fertiliser from a consortium of micro-organisms with the whole idea being to release nutrients from the soil using natural systems.

“In other words, we are going environmentally friendly and also ensuring food security in the country as we have some organisms that can mitigate drought stress as well,” she said.

“The first phase of this project saw us working with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources where we jointly produced a bio-fertiliser which as Zimbabwe, we tested on butternut while Malawi tested theirs on maize.

“We were able to get results that added value to the second phase which we are now piloting.”

Dr Ncube said the aim is to ensure that by the time the products get to the market, all the checks and control measures will have been done.

“The piloting stage is expected to last up to July 2025 and thereafter we can then talk about commercialisation,” she said.

Nust Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Business Development, Engineer William Goriwondo said the project is now ready to do life-size prototyping where they will be taking the project into a bigger space which the college is providing.

“Our innovative research is done in stages where you first do proof of concept and once you agree that the idea works, you now need to do a life-size prototype which is why they are now moving to a bigger space where they are making a bigger product which will then be tested in the field before going commercial,” he said.

Eng Goriwondo said the project is beneficial to Nust, the community and the country at large, particularly in terms of food security.