Machiweyi is a passionate researcher with a strong background in developmental work. Over the past decade, Machiweyi’s work focused on evaluating the adoption of agricultural technologies, assessing the impact of agricultural programs implemented among smallholder farmers in Africa and mapping agricultural value chains.

His recent research explores how agricultural cooperatives benefit smallholder farmers, while assessing how social norms affect adoption of agricultural technologies and productivity among smallholder farmers. Machiweyi possesses substantial experience in working with smallholder farmers, government sectors and non-governmental organizations in Southern Africa.

Designations

• Doctor of Philosophy in Applied economics, University of Saskatchewan
• Masters in Agribusiness and International Rural Development, Lincoln University, New Zealand 
• Bachelor’s in Economics, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

Dr. Machiweyi Kunzekweguta joined the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives team at JSGS as a Living Skies Postdoctoral Fellow as part of the Enhancing Food Security and Livelihoods Especially of Women and Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa project. This international development/research project is led by Dr. Carol Henry (Professor, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition), Robert Taylor (Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Animal and Poultry Science), Matthew Noseworthy (Agriculture Canada), and Marc-Andre Pigeon (Assistant Professor and CCSC Director and Strategic Fellow).

He was awarded one of three Living Skies Postdoctoral Fellowships (LSPDF) from USask’s Office of the Vice President Research. The LSPDF is cost-shared by the Global Institute for Food Security (Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) via the Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre (P2IRC) and NUTRIEN. His award is focused on co-operative structures tying production to consumption to enhance diet diversity, gender inclusion, and food and economic security of smallholder farmers.

Working with faculty mentor Marc-Andre in collaboration with the project team, CCSC, and Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF), his program explores food security, including food utilization and related nutritional concerns, and how co-operatives can scale efforts to serve an increasingly global agricultural market, starting with a scoping review of agricultural co-operatives and smallholder farmers, with special emphasis on women and sub-Saharan Africa.

• Academic excellence: Listed on the Dean’s Honour Roll, Lincoln University (2015)

• Best article: Awarded SA R3000 for best article published in Agrekon Journal (2018)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Kunzekweguta, M., Rich, K., and Lyne, M. 2017. Factors affecting adoption and intensity of conservation agriculture techniques applied by smallholders in Masvingo district, Zimbabwe. Agrekon, 56 (4), 330-346. doi:10.1080/03031853.2017.1371616.
2. Nyamangara, J., Mashingaidze, N., Masvaya, E, N., Nyengerai, K., Kunzekweguta, M., Trivedi, R., and Mazvimavi, K. 2014. Weed growth and labour demand underhand-hoe based reduced tillage in smallholder farmers’ fields in Zimbabwe. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 187(0), 146-154. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.005
3. Moyo, M., Mvumi, B.M., Kunzekweguta, M., Mazvimavi, K., Craufurd, P., and Dorward, P. 2012. Farmer perceptions on climate change and variability in semi-arid Zimbabwe in relation to climatology evidence. African Crop Science Journal, 20 (2), 317-335.

Reports

1. Kunzekweguta, M., Findlay, M., Kowalchuk, M., and Anh Pham, A. 2022. Saskatoon Point-in-Time Homelessness Count. cuisr-pit-homelessness-academic-report_digital.pdf (usask.ca)
2. Murendo, C., Kunzekweguta M., Kudita, S., Fusire, M., Mayoyo, A., Machinga, R., Fassil, R., Sithole, V, B., 2018. Barrier analysis of small grains value chain in Zimbabwe. Barrier Analsysis Report.cdr (zimagrihub.org.zw)