30/09/2026
It’s an economic aggregator. We believe so heavily in 🫂🌍🌽
A PhD in Crop Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) was the happy end-result of a journey of “active hope” for Dr Lusanda Ncisana.
Growing up in Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Ncisana became aware early in life that circumstances need not determine one’s future.
His educational journey was not straightforward: after completing Grade 9, he left school for two years before returning with a renewed sense of purpose following his initiation.
The experience taught him important lessons about discipline, responsibility, respect, humility and serving others. He completed his secondary education, worked for two years and then enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Fort Hare.
“Education was never simply about obtaining a qualification; it was about creating opportunities where none seemed to exist,” said Ncisana.
His university journey soon tested his determination...
His passion for science and environmental stewardship began at school...
Those early experiences would eventually connect with his doctoral research at UKZN where he was supervised by Dr Ntuthuko Mkhize and Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi. Titled: ‘Responses of Selected Forage Brassica (Raphanus sativus) Genotypes to Water Stress’, it focused on improving agricultural sustainability in South Africa, a country increasingly affected by water scarcity. His findings demonstrated that newly developed forage radish genotypes could maintain comparable yields while using substantially less irrigation water, contributing practical knowledge towards climate-smart and water-efficient agriculture.
Read more: https://ndabaonline.ukzn.ac.za/UkzndabaStory/Vol14-Issue34-caes-grad/Journey%20of%20Active%20Hope%20Culminates%20in%20Doctorate%20on%20Water-Efficient%20Agriculture
