Lemekezani Chilora | Agriculture economics | Young Scientist Award

Posted on by ScienceFather

Mr. Lemekezani Chilora | Agriculture economics | Young Scientist Award

Research Analayst,  MwAPATA Institute Malawi

Lemekezani K. Chilora is an accomplished Agricultural and Resource Economist with expertise in research, data analysis, and project management. He holds an MSc in Agriculture and Applied Economics and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from LUANAR. Currently a Research Analyst II at MwAPATA Institute, he conducts research, trains research assistants, develops data collection tools, and authors manuscripts and policy briefs. He has consulted for IITA, AGCOM, IFPRI, and other organizations. Previously, he worked as a lecturer at MUBAS and a monitoring and evaluation officer at CISANET. His research focuses on agricultural policy, food security, and rural development.

Publication Profile

Scholar

🎓 Education

PhD (Agriculture and Resource Economics) – LUANAR (2026, Ongoing). MSc (Agriculture and Applied Economics) – LUANAR (2020). BSc (Agricultural Economics) – LUANAR (2016)

💼 Experience

MwAPATA Institute (2020 – Present) – Research Analyst II: Leads data collection, analysis, research, and policy development. CISANET (2020) – Monitoring & Evaluation Officer (Intern): Supported project implementation, strategic planning, and communications. Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (2019-2020) – Lecturer: Taught research, business planning, and community development. Japanese Tobacco International (2016-2017) – Graduate Trainee: Focused on tobacco production, forestry management, and research.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Principal Investigator (2023-2025): Research on input subsidies and food accessibility, funded by AERC ($30,000). STAAARS+ Fellow (Cornell University & PRCI): Research on gender differences in sustainable agriculture adoption. Principal Investigator (MSc Thesis, AERC Grant – $2,500): Research on child nutrition determinants in Malawi. Principal Investigator (IFPRI Grant – $3,000): Research on child nutrition under the Bunda Grants Scheme.

🔬 Research Focus

Lemekezani’s research focuses on agricultural policy, food security, rural livelihoods, and economic sustainability. His studies explore the effectiveness of input subsidies, gender disparities in agricultural intensification, and child nutrition determinants. He applies data-driven methodologies to assess policy impacts and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving food systems and rural economies in Malawi and beyond.

🔹 Conclusion

Mr. Chilora’s strong academic background, diverse professional experience, and involvement in significant research projects position him as a promising candidate for a Young Scientist Award. To enhance his eligibility, focusing on publishing his research findings in peer-reviewed journals, seeking international research collaborations, and taking on leadership roles in professional organizations would be beneficial. These steps would strengthen his profile and align with the typical criteria considered for such awards.

Publication 

  • Exploring Adoption Effects of Subsidies and Soil Fertility Management in Malawi (2021) – M Khonje, C Nyondo, L Chilora, J Mangisoni, WJ Burke, J Ricker-Gilbert – Citation: 15

  • Trends in Tobacco Production and Prices in Malawi (2021) – A Wineman, L Chilora, TS Jayne – Citation: 9

  • Challenges and Opportunities for Small-Scale Aquaculture Development in Malawi (2021) – MG Munthali, L Chilora, Z Nyirenda, D Salonga, A Wineman, M Muyanga – Citation: 9

  • The Economic Cost-benefit Analysis of Black Soldier Fly as an Alternative Animal and Fish Feed Ingredient in Malawi (2023) – MG Munthali, C Lemekezani, G Mike, B William J, B Eric, K Jeremiah, … – Citation: 8

  • Lessons Learnt: Promises, Achievements, Shortcomings and Pitfalls of Inputs Subsidy Programs in Malawi (2021) – C Nyondo, M Khonje, J Mangisoni, WJ Burke, J Ricker-Gilbert, LK Chilora – Citation: 5*

  • Determinants of Children’s Nutritional Status in Malawi (2020) – LK Chilora, J Duchoslav – Citation: 2

  • Productivity and Profitability of Small-Scale Aquaculture in Malawi (2024) – MG Munthali, L Chilora, A Wineman, B Nankwenya, L Chiwaula, … – Citation: 1

  • Characteristics of the Small-Scale Aquaculture Sector in Malawi (2023) – MG Munthali, L Chilora, Z Nyirenda, D Saonga, A Wineman, M Muyanga – Citation: 1

  • Does the Choice of Tilapia Species in Smallholder Farms Impact Household Income and Dietary Diversity in Malawi? (2025) – LK Chilora, M Munthali, A Wineman, MG Khonje – Citation: N/A

  • Agricultural Diversification Strategies and Rural Household Food Security and Income in Malawi (2025) – A Gondwe, LK Chilora, L Chiwaula, J Goeb – Citation: N/A

  • What Promotes Gender Equity in Land Rental Markets? Evidence from Malawi (2024) – H Phiri, M Maggie G., M Malata, L Chilora, M Kennedy, M Muyanga – Citation: N/A

  • Drivers of Agricultural Growth in Malawi (2024) – A Gondwe, LK Chilora, L Chiwaula, WJ Burke – Citation: N/A

  • Pre-disaster Preparedness and Post-disaster Response Measures in the District Councils of Southern Malawi (2024) – A Gondwe, B Nankwenya, LK Chilora, J Goeb – Citation: N/A

 

Xin Bao | Agricultural Disaster Monitoring | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by ScienceFather

Dr. Xin Bao | Agricultural Disaster Monitoring | Best Researcher Award

Doctoral Candidate, Southwest Jiaotong University China

Xin Bao is a Ph.D. candidate in Surveying and Mapping Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China. Her research focuses on vegetation growth monitoring, soil moisture retrieval, and the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for environmental monitoring. Xin has published extensively in high-impact journals and presented her work at national and international conferences. She holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Surveying and Mapping from Guilin University of Technology and Shangqiu Normal University. Xin is also involved in patent development related to SAR and remote sensing technologies.

Publication Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education

Xin Bao completed her Ph.D. in Surveying and Mapping Science and Technology at Southwest Jiaotong University in 2021. Before that, she earned an M.S. in Engineering from Guilin University of Technology and a B.S. in Engineering from Shangqiu Normal University. Throughout her academic journey, Xin focused on remote sensing, SAR imagery, and environmental monitoring, contributing valuable insights into vegetation monitoring and soil moisture analysis. She has collaborated with renowned professors like Rui Zhang and Guoqing Zhou on several impactful research projects.

💼 Experience

Xin Bao has worked on numerous research projects, including soil moisture inversion methods in cold and arid regions and the dynamic evolution of glaciers and glacial lakes in Tibet. She has collaborated with international research teams, published papers in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at various academic conferences. Her research has focused on improving SAR-based methods for monitoring vegetation growth and soil moisture, contributing significantly to the remote sensing field. Xin is also a peer reviewer for several esteemed journals in her area.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Xin Bao has received numerous academic awards, including the Doctoral Academic Excellence Scholarship (2021-2023), Yang Hua Rising Star Scholarship (2021), and the Outstanding Master’s Graduate Award (2021). She has been recognized for her excellence in mathematical modeling, winning first prize in the Graduate Mathematical Modeling Competition in 2019. Xin also received the National Encouragement Scholarship in 2018, showcasing her exceptional academic and research achievements.

🔬 Research Focus

Xin Bao’s research focuses on vegetation growth monitoring, soil moisture retrieval, and the application of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in environmental monitoring. Her work includes developing novel algorithms for soil moisture inversion in arid and cold regions and analyzing glacial dynamics in Tibet using SAR and optical imagery. She is also investigating advanced methods for integrating real-scene visualization with urban imagery. Xin aims to improve environmental monitoring and disaster prevention strategies through her innovative research.

Conclusion

Xin Bao’s strong academic foundation, combined with his research excellence in SAR-based monitoring systems and soil moisture retrieval, makes him an ideal candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His ongoing work on time-series SAR data and its applications in geosciences demonstrates his potential for future innovations. With continued focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and greater engagement with the global scientific community, Xin Bao is poised to make further substantial contributions to remote sensing and environmental research.

Publication Top Notes