Staff Profile

Qualifications:

• DPhil in Agricultural Meteorology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2014
• Master of Science, Agricultural Meteorology, University of Zimbabwe, 1997.
• Bachelor of Science Honors in Agriculture (Crop Science major), University of Zimbabwe, 1988.

Research Interests:

• Agronomy, agro-meteorology (crop bias);
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation;
• Resilience building to climate change and smallholder agriculture.

Publications:

1. Makuvaro, V.,Chitata, T., Tanyanyiwa, E and Zirebwa, S. 2023. Challenges and Opportunities in  Communicating Weather and Climate Information to Rural Farming Communities in Central Zimbabwe.  Weather, Climate, and Society 15 (1), 109-119. 
2. Makuvaro V, Maparara T, Mukarati J, Chandiposha M, Chivizhe J and S Abel 2023. Effects of COVID 19 on urban and peri-urban farmers in central Zimbabwe. Afr. J. Food Agric. Nutr. Dev. 23(6): 23786- 23799 https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.121.22330 
3. Defe R., Matsa M.M. and Makuvaro V. 2024. The development of a sustainable climate resilience  building framework for Southern Zimbabwe Natural-based solutions. 6: 1-9  
4. Parwada C,. Makore, F., Chipombo J., Makuvaro V,. and Bandason W. (2024). Effects of tied ridges and  different cattle manure application rates on soil moisture and rainfall use efficiency on maize growth and  yield in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. Technology in Agronomy. 4(1):1-9 
5. 4. Haripo, T. T. , Makuvaro, V. , Madanzi, T. & Sakadzo, N. (2023). Effect of plant population and row  orientation on crop yield under sorghum-cowpea intercropping systems in semi-arid Zimbabwe .  International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences , 7 (1) , 41-48 . DOI:  10.31015/jaefs.2023.1.5  
6. 5. Edmore Hungwe, Veronica Makuvaro, Johnson Masaka & Munyaradzi Gwazane. 2023. Interactive  Effects of Tillage and Mulch Type on Soil and Crop Canopy Temperature and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum  bicolor, L). International Journal of Research in Agriculture, Biology & Environment (IJAGRI) E-ISSN :  2582-6107 DOI: 10.47504/IJAGRI.2023.4.3.1). Volume 4(3) :12p 
7. Moses Mutetwa, Paul Chaibva, Ignatius Chagonda, Veronica Makuvaro, Taurira Mutaita, Wonder  Ngezimana, Johnson Masaka and Pepukai Manjeru 2023. Hydropriming improves seed germination in  horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex Naudin) landraces. EUREKA Life Sciences. DOI:  10.21303/2504-5695.2023.003038 
8. Makuvaro Veronica, Defe Rameck, Matsa Makomborero Mark, Mapfungautsi, Rungano and Muchianga  Nyasha. 2022. Enhancing disaster risk reduction through adoption of climate smart initiatives in marginal  communities of southern Zimbabwe. Environmental challenges, 9(2022);  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100637 
9. Veronica Makuvaro , Sue Walker, Tirivashe Phillip Masere and John Dimes. 2018. Smallholder farmer  perceived effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and adaptation strategies. Journal of Arid  Environments, Vol. 152 : 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.01.016 
10. Veronica Makuvaro, C.T.F. Murewi, John Dimes and Ignatius Chagonda. 2018. Are Smallholder  Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability and Change Supported by Climate Records? A Case Study  of Lower Gweru in Semiarid Central Zimbabwe. Weather , Climate, and Society, 10: 35-49. 
11. Ignatius Chagonda, Adelaide Munodawafa, Francis T. Mugabe, Veronica Makuvaro, Philip Masere, and  Cyril T. F. Murewi. (2013) Comparative performance of scientific and indigenous knowledge on seasonal  climate forecasts: A case study of Lupane, semi- arid Zimbabwe. Int J Agron Agric Res 3 (5), 1-9 
12. Haripo, T. T. , Makuvaro, V. , Madanzi, T. & Sakadzo, N. (2023). Effect of plant population and row  orientation on crop yield under sorghum-cowpea intercropping systems in semi-arid Zimbabwe .  International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences , 7 (1) , 41-48 . DOI:  10.31015/jaefs.2023.1.5  
13. Chaibva, P., Mugala, C., Makuvaro, V., Muziri, T., Chagonda, I., Ndau B M. (2022). Irrigation frequency  and soil type influence germination and early growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd).  AGBIR.2022;38(5):340-344.DOI:10.35248/0970-1907.22.38.340-344.
14. https://www.abrinternationaljournal.org/articles/irrigation-frequency-and soil-type-influence-germination and-early-growth-of-quinoa-emchenopodium-quinoem-willd-94728.html 

14. V. Makuvaro, S. Walker , A. Munodawafa, I. Chagonda, P . Masere , C. Murewi and C. Mubaya. 2017.  Constraints to crop production and adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers in semi-arid central and  western Zimbabwe. African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 221 – 235. 
15. Hungwe E, Masaka J, Makuvaro V & Tombo E, 2020. Increased Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, L)  Productivity: Unlocking its potential for food crisis mitigation for small holder communal farmers in the  Semi-Arid regions: A case of the Zambezi Valley Region in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Research  in Agriculture, Biology & Environment (IJAGRI), 1 (3):1-14. 
16. Zirebwa, F.S., Kapenzi, A., Makuvaro, V., Sammie, B. and Madanzi, T. 2015. An evaluation of the  performances and subsequent calibration of three solar radiation estimation models for semi-arid climates  in Midlands, Zimbabwe. Midlands State University Journal of Science, Agriculture and Technology,  Special Edition 2015.44-55. 
17. Makuvaro, V., Walker, S., Munodawafa, A., Masere, T.P, Murewi, C. and Chagonda, I. 2014. An overview  of current agronomic practices of smallholder farmers in semi-arid Central and Western Zimbabwe.  African Journal of Agricultural Research. 9(35: 2710-2720. https://DOI: 10.5897/AJAR11.606 
18. Chandiposha, M., Chagonda, I. and Makuvaro, V. 2013. Utilisation of common grain crops in Zimbabwe.  African Journal of Food Science. 7(9):253-257.  
19. Chiroro, D., Milford, J. and Makuvaro, V. 2006. An investigation on the utility of the sunscan ceptometer  in estimating the leaf area index of a sugarcane canopy. Proceedings of the South African Sugar  Technology Association, 80:143-147. 
20. Makuvaro Veronica, Ngara Rosemary and Magwa Simuforosa, 2015. Barriers to effective learning by  university students on Work-Related Learning: A case study of students on work related learning in Gweru  urban area of Zimbabwe. Journal of Social Sciences Research, 7(1):1250-1260.  
21. Zhou, M and Makuvaro, V., 2020, ‘Early perspectives of land reform and reorganization in the new  millennium in Zimbabwe: A case study of the Fast Track Land Reform and Resettlement in Midlands  Province’, in V. Z Nyawo, T.M. Mashingaidze & H.T. Ngoshi (eds), Zimbabwe Beyond the Land Reform  in Zimbabwe: Struggles, Prospects, Projections and Myths, Midlands State University Press and Africa  Institute for Culture, Peace, Dialogue & Tolerance Studies, Harare, pp.55-63 [Book chapter] 
22. Munodawafa, A., Makuvaro, V., Dimes, J, Mugabe, F., Masere, P., Murewi, C. and Chagonda, I. 2011.  Developing farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to climatic variability and change in semi-arids of  Zimbabwe: Chapter 4: pp277-294. In: Adaptation to climate change: Strategies for exchange and sharing  of information for the benefit of communities. Eds.Amadou Sall & Amadou Moctar Dieye ISBN 978-2- 9534155-2-0. Copyright CES, Dakar 2011. (Book Chapter) 
23. Mutikani, V and Shumba E, 2002. Environmental management in Zimbabwe. Have the national  plans worked? Organization for Social Sciences Research in Southern and East Africa,  Environmental series no. 4, Ethiopia.