Dr. Abel Chemura

Postdoctoral Researcher
Guest
Chemura

Abel Chemura is a Postdoc in the Adaptation in Agricultural Systems Working Group of the Climate Resilience Department. He is working on developing, improving and applying process-based, suitability and statistical models for advancing their utilization for production system profiling and risk assessments in agriculture under current and projected climatic conditions. His work at PIK is on development of next-generation dynamic crop modelling approaches by integrating dynamical models, statistical, machine learning and remote sensing data and methods to capture new insights related to intensification, diversification, agroforestry, conservation agriculture and resilience. He also works in co-designing climate change adaptation strategies in liaison with a broad range of stakeholders

He strongly believes that there is scope to 'rescue' the agriculture sectors in developing countries from the scourge of climate change by developing, disseminating and implementing appropriate technical and policy options at scale and in time.

Contact

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
T +49 (0)331 288 2464
abel.chemura[at]pik-potsdam.de
P.O. Box 60 12 03
14412 Potsdam

ORCID

Has over 10 years cumulative experience in agricultural research focusing on systems agronomy and crop modelling in African food (maize, sorghum, millet and groundnut) and cash (coffee, oil palm and cocoa) crops. Has a first degree from Zimbabwe, a joint MSc in Environmental Modelling and Management from Lund University (Sweden) and University of Twente (The Netherlands) and a PhD in Environmental Science specializing in Agricultural Monitoring from University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa). Knowledgeable and experienced in setting up and running biophysical, statistical and machine-learning-based crop models for technical agricultural planning, adaptation evaluation and decision scaling for building climate resilience.

  1. Farming systems modelling, climate impact assessments and systems agronomy
  2. Agricultural monitoring with remote sensing and machine learning
  3. Agricultural landscapes management and alternative food source

Areas of research

  1. Farming systems modelling, climate impact assessments and systems agronomy
  2. Agricultural monitoring with remote sensing and machine learning
  3. Agricultural landscapes management and alternative food sources

Farming systems modelling, climate impact assessments and systems agronomy


 

Agricultural Monitoring with Remote Sensing and Machine Learning


 

Agricultural Landscapes Management and Alternative Food Sources


 

Policy Briefs and Technical Reports


 

Publications in International Conference Proceedings


  • Chemura, A., Mutanga, O., & Odindi, J. (2018, July). Modelling Leaf Chlorophyll Content in Coffee (Coffea Arabica) Plantations Using Sentinel 2 Msi Data. In IGARSS 2018-2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (pp. 8228-8231). IEEE.
  • Chemura, A. and Mutanga, O. (2015) Comparing physiological and spectral response of coffee (Coffea Arabica) to induced soil moisture stress for assessing potential for remote sensing abiotic stressors in coffee management, 16th WaterNet/SADC/GWP Symposium, le Merridien Resort, Mauritius, 27-30 October 2015.
  • Kutywayo, D., Caleb Mahoya, C., and Chemura A(2015) Agronomic and economic performance of coffee-banana intercropping systems at Chipinge Research Station, Zimbabwe, 10th RCZ International Conference, 12-13 February 2015, HICC, Harare
  • Kutywayo, D., Hikwa, D, Chemura, A (2015) Assessing environmental suitability of Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus) and Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) in Zimbabwe, 10th RCZ International Conference, 12-13 February 2015, HICC, Harare.
  • Chemura, A., Rwasoka, D., Mupfiga E., Kutywayo, D & Nyatondo U. (2014) Water balance impacts of changing plantations as a landcover type in a headwater catchment: a case of Buzi Sub-catchment in Zimbabwe, ZAS Water Forum,9-10 July 2014, Monomotapa Crowne Plaza Hotel.
  • Chemura, A., Kutywayo, D & Mahoya, C. (2013) The farmer field school as an agricultural innovation marketplace: Experiences from the coffee sector in Zimbabwe, Proceedings of the RAEIN Africa International Conference on Innovation Systems for Resilient Livelihoods: Connecting Theory to Practice, 26-28 August 2013. Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg.
  • Chemura A., Kutywayo, D., Mahlatini, P. & Nyatondo U. (2013) Assessing the impact of climate change on the suitability  of rainfed flu-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) production in Zimbabwe, Proceedings of the 1st Climate Change Symposium of Zimbabwe, 19-21 June 2013, Cresta Lodge, Harare.
  • Chemura, A., Mahoya, C and Kutywayo, D (2010). Effect of organic nursery media on germination and initial growth of coffee seedlings. Proceedings of the 23rd Colloquium of the Association for Science and Information on Coffee (ASIC),  Bali, Indonesia, 3-8 October, 2010.

  • Modelling Climate Impacts on Agroecosystems
  • Environmental Modelling
  • Remote Sensing Science and Applications
  • Geographic Information Systems