Main Menu
Professor Melusi Sibanda

Position :  Associate Professor &  HoD

Telephone : 035 902 6068

Email : SibandaM@unizulu.ac.za

Office : HA2, Department of Agriculture, KwaDlangezwa Campus

Biography:

Professor Melusi Sibanda holds a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Fort Hare. Prof  Sibanda highly values the concept of lifelong learning. He also attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision certificate (Rhodes University) and University Leadership development certificate (Stellenbosch Business School (USB)), among many. Prof Melusi Sibanda is currently a senior lecturer in Agribusiness, Department of Agriculture at the University of Zululand. He is passionate about teaching; undergraduate and supervising postgraduate research students at honours, masters and doctorate levels. He has also mentored a post-doctoral candidate. Dr Melusi Sibanda is an affiliate of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) and the South African Society of Agricultural Extension (SASAE). In 2019, Dr Melusi Sibanda was awarded the UNIZULU VC Excellence Award in Teaching – Best Emerging Academic. Currently, he is nominated for the Teaching Advancement at University (TAU3) Fellowship Programme – a Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) Project funded through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) for 2021/2.

Student Consultation times 

 

Days of the week

Times

Venues

Monday

12:30 – 14:20

Agriculture Office HA2

Tuesday

11:30 – 14:20

Agriculture Office HA2

Thursday

11:30 – 14:20

Agriculture Office HA2

Other consultations

On appointment

Agriculture Office HA2/ Online

Qualifications:
BSc (Agric) (Agricl Economics) (UFH), BScHons (Agriculture) (Agric Economics) (UFH), MSc (Agriculture) (Agric Economics) (UFH), PhD (Agric Economics) (UFH)

Research interests: 

Prof Melusi Sibanda’s research interests and community-related service are not limited to climate change, climate-smart agriculture, food security, rural development, ICT integration in agriculture, and numerous issues impacting smallholder farming in South Africa. Prof Melusi Sibanda has since developed an interest in the Economics of Higher Education (HE) and Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) and

Professional membership:

  • Ordinary Member – Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA).
  • Member – African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
  • Certificated Extension Technologist. Level B. (Cert. Ext. Tech. B.) – South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE) Membership Number 2521.
  • Recent publications:
    Khumalo, N.Z.; Sibanda, M.; Mdoda, L. Implications of a Climate-Smart Approach to Food and Income Security for Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1882. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051882
  • Fon, F.N. & Sibanda, M. (2023). Can student evaluation of a course and teacher be of benefit to the evaluating cohort: timing of evaluation in a rural-based institution of Higher Education. In M. Makua et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023), Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research 788, https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_17
  • Melusi Sibanda, Nolwazi Z. Khumalo & Fabian Nde Fon (2023). A review of the implications of artificial intelligence tools in higher education. Should we panic? In M. Makua et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023), Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research 788, https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_9
  • Dumisani Shoko Kori, L. Zhou & Melusi Sibanda. A retrospective analysis of climate adaptation strategies and implications for food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers in South Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 7(2023):1-14. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1139078
  • Tonderai Mushipe, Lovemore Musemwa, Vincent Tinashe Munyati, Simbarashe Ndhleve and Melusi Sibanda (2023). Socio-economic determinants of food preferences and dietary diversity among people living with HIV in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS). 6(2):110. DOI: 10.36941/jicd-2023-0015
  • Fon, F.N. & Sibanda, M. (2023). Detecting at-risk students in an Animal Science module with performance data (test 1 and 2) from two different cohorts in a rural-based University. In M. Makua et al. (Eds.): Proceedings of The Focus Conference (TFC 2022), ASSEHR 732. Atlantis Press. pp.18 – 26. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-006-0
  • Wekeza, S.P.; Sibanda, M. & Nhundu, K (2022). Prospects for organic farming in coping with climate change and enhancing food security in Southern Africa: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 14(20), 13489. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013489
  • Sibanda, M. & Fon, F.N. (2022). Prospects and Challenges of Integrating Technology into Pedagogy in South African Higher Education Institutions in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Kagisano 13, 122 – 145.
  • Mkhize, M.; Sibanda, M. (2022). Food Insecurity in the Informal Settlements of Inanda Households Living with Children under 60 Months in EThekwini Municipality. Children, 9, 1521. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9101521
  • Zhou, L., Kori, D.S., Sibanda, M., and Nhundu, K. (2022). An analysis of the differences in vulnerability to climate change: A review of rural and urban areas in South Africa. Climate, 10(8), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli10080118
  • Victor O. Abegunde, Melusi Sibanda & Ajuruchukwu Obi | Sandro Serpa (Reviewing editor) (2022). Effect of climate-smart agriculture on household food security in small-scale production systems: A micro-level analysis from South Africa, Cogent Social Sciences, 8:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2022.2086343
  • Tevera D., Sibanda M., Mamba S.F., Tivana L.D. (2021) Assessment of Cyclone Idai Floods on Local Food Systems and Disaster Management Responses in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In: Nhamo G., Chikodzi D. (eds) Cyclones in Southern Africa. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74303-1_4
  • Nhundu K., Sibanda M., Chaminuka P. (2021) Economic Losses from Cyclones Idai and Kenneth and Floods in Southern Africa: Implications on Sustainable Development Goals. In: Nhamo G., Chikodzi D. (eds) Cyclones in Southern Africa. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74303-1_19
  • Mbalenhle Mkhize and Melusi Sibanda (2020). A Review of Selected Studies on the Factors Associated with the Nutrition Status of Children Under the Age of Five Years in South Africa. IJERPH, 2020, 17(21), 7973; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217973
  • Obert Paenda, Lovemore Musemwa, Simbarashe Ndhleve & Melusi Sibanda (2020). Determinants of farmers’ marketing choices and preferences under communal cattle farming: Evidence from Mwenezi District in Zimbabwe. J Hum Ecol, 72(1-3): 13-23. DOI: 10.31901/24566608.2020/72.1-3.3263
  • Victor O. Abegunde, Olubunmi O. Alawode & Melusi Sibanda (2020). Socioeconomic Impact of Land Use Conflict in Nigeria: A Study of Agricultural Production in Southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 62(2): 127-146.
  • Motion Manhanga, Lovemore Musemwa, Melusi Sibanda & Simbarashe Ndhleve (2020). An analysis of cattle marketing in Zimbabwe: A case study of Mukumbura communal area in Mt Darwin District. J Hum Ecol, 70(1-3): 67-78 (2020). DOI: 10.31901/24566608.2020/70.1-3.3216
  • Victor O. Abegunde, Melusi Sibanda & Ajuruchukwu Obi (2020). Mainstreaming ClimateSmart Agriculture in small-scale farming systems: a holistical non-parametric applicability assessment in South Africa. Agriculture, 10(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10030052
  • Menyuka, N.N., Sibanda, M. & Bob, U (2020). Perceptions of the challenges and opportunities of utilising organic waste through urban agriculture in the Durban South Basin. IJERPH, 17(4), 1158; https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1158/htm
  • Victor O. Abegunde, Melusi Sibanda & Ajuruchukwu Obi (2020). Determinants of the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by small-scale farming households in King Cetshwayo District Municipality, South Africa. Sustainability, 12(1), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010195
  • Victor O. Abegunde, Melusi Sibanda & Ajuruchukwu Obi (2019). The dynamics of climate change adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa: a review of climate-smart agriculture among smallscale farmers. Climate, 7(11), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7110132
  • Zulu, N.S., Sibanda, M. & Tlali, B. (2019). Factors affecting sugarcane production by small-scale growers in Ndwedwe Local Municipality, South Africa. Agriculture, 9(8), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9080170
  • Wekeza, S.V. & Sibanda, M. (2019). Factors influencing consumer purchase intentions for organically grown products in Shelly Centre, Port Shepstone. IJERPH, 16(6), 956. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16060956
  • Khumalo, N.Z. & Sibanda, M. (2019). Does urban and peri-urban agriculture contribute to household food security? An assessment of the food security status of households in Tongaat, eThekwini Municipality. Sustainability, 11(4), 1082; doi: 10.3390/su11041082
  • Victor O. Abegunde & Melusi Sibanda (2018). Agricultural sustainability and food security in the 21st century: a review of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Africa. In Proceedings of the 5th International Climate Change Adaptation Conference – Adaptation Futures 2018: Dialogues for Solutions,142 – 144.
  • Ngema, P.Z., & Sibanda, M. & Musemwa, L (2018). Household food security status and its determinants in Maphumulo Local Municipality, South Africa. Sustainability, 10(9), 3307. doi: 10.3390/su10093307
  • Abegunde Victor, Osanyinlusi Oladele & Sibanda Melusi (2018). Adoption intensity of improved rice varieties in Ekiti State, Nigeria: A double hurdle approach. J. Ponte, 74(6/1): 160-184. doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.6.11
  • Sibanda, M., Musemwa, L., Mushunje, A., Mutengwa, C.S & Zhou, L. (2018). Socio-economic factors influencing nett farm revenue of smallholder farmers under extreme climatic conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. J. Ponte, 74(5): 268-284. doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.5.19
  • Musemwa, L., Ndhleve, S., Sibanda, M., Zhou, L., Muchenje, V. & Nakin, M.D.V. (2018). Implications of livelihood strategies on household dietary diversity in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. J Hum Ecol, 61(1-3): 31-43. DOI: 11.258359/KRE-36
  • Ntshangase, N.L., Muroyiwa B. & Sibanda, M. (2018). Farmers’ perceptions and factors influencing the adoption of no-till conservation Agriculture by small-scale farmers in Zashuke, KwaZulu-Natal Province. Sustainability, 10 (2), 555. DOI: 10.3390/su10020555