Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Faculty of Science, Engineering and AgricultureDepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences
The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in agronomy through teaching, research and community engagement that is geared towards sustainable agriculture and rural development in Southern Africa.
Prof JBO Ogola
Head of Department
Tel: +27 15 962 9005
Email: ochanda.ogola@univen.ac.za
Staff
The following is a list of staff members in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Name: Ms Thifhelimbilu Gloria Kutama
Designation:Cao Experimental Farm
Qualification:NAT (PRETORIA TECHNIKON), BTECH (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA)
Telephone:0159628848
Email:thifheli.kutama@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Prof John Bob Ochanda Ogola
Designation:Professor
Qualification:BSC (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS), MSC (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS), PHD (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:ochanda.ogola@univen.ac.za
Office:SCHOOL OF AGRIC - ADMIN BLOCK Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Humbulani Patrick Nemakundani
Designation:Professor
Qualification:BSCAGR (UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTH), BSCHON (UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA), MINSTA (UNIVERSITY OF ORANGE FREE STATE)
Telephone:0159628624
Email:humbulani.nemakundani@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING NORTHEAST Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Dr. Odeshnee Naicker
Designation:Senior Lecturer
Qualification:BSCHON (DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY), MSC (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA), PHD (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:odeshnee.naicker@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING NORTHEAST Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Ms Fhatuwani Thovhogi
Designation:Lecturer
Qualification:BAGRIC (University of Venda Production), BSHONA (UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH), MINSTA (UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:fhatuwani.thovhogi@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING SOUTH Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: M1ss Tsakani Maria Maphosa
Designation:Junior Lecturer
Qualification:BSCAGR (UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO), MSC (UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO)
Telephone:0159608000
Email:maria.maphosa@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING NORTHEAST Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Prof Eastonce Tendayi Gwata
Designation:Senior Lecturer/Lecturer
Qualification:PHD (UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:Eastonce.Gwata@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING NORTHEAST Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Miss Mashudu Viginia Makhado
Designation:Laboratory Assistant
Qualification:BAGRIC (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), BSHONA (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA)
Telephone:0159629016
Email:mashudu.makhado@univen.ac.za
Office:SCHOOL OF AGRIC - ADMIN BLOCK Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Miss Terry Moraka Leboho
Designation:Technician
Qualification:BAGRIC (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), MSC (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), BSHONA (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:terry.leboho@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING NORTHWEST Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Prof Jude Julius Owuor Odhiambo
Designation:Senior Lecturer
Qualification:BSCHON (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS), MSC (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS), PHD (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS)
Telephone:0159628431
Email:jude.odhiambo@univen.ac.za
Office:SCHOOL OF AGRIC - ADMIN BLOCK Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Rendani Lepaka
Designation:Labourer Farming
Qualification:DIPAGR (null), BTECH (null)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:rendani.lepaka@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Khangwelo Selapyane
Designation:Service Staff Farming
Qualification:
Telephone:0159628000
Email:khangwelo.selapyane@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Mmbengeni Inocent Tshikovhi
Designation:Service Staff Farming
Qualification:N6 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159629353
Email:innocent.tshikovhi@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Thivhulane Sidney Mafadza
Designation:Service Staff Farming
Qualification:
Telephone:0159628649
Email:elelwani@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Mulimisi Joseph Mukwevho
Designation:Service Staff (Farming)
Qualification:GRD 2 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159628649
Email:linda.kone@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Alilali Deriek Maphiswana
Designation:Labourer Farming
Qualification:GRD 10 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE), N2 (GREENSIDE DESIGN CENTRE COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159628649
Email:linda.kone@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mrs Azwililelwi Joyce Themeli
Designation:Labourer Farming
Qualification:GRD 9 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159628649
Email:thifheli.kutama@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Miss Maanea Lonia Ramphinwa
Designation:Lecturer
Qualification:PDIP (UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL), BSHONA (University of Venda Production), MSC (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:maanea.ramphinwa@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING SOUTH Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mrs Tshifhiwa Hilda Mahuwa
Designation:Service Staff Farming
Qualification:GRD 5 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159628274
Email:thifheli.kutama@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Dr Jestinos Mzezewa
Designation:Lecturer
Qualification:MSC (FOREIGN PSE INSTITUTIONS)
Telephone:0159628431
Email:jestinos.mzezewa@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE BUILDING SOUTH Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Mr Azwiili Elias Luvhengo
Designation:Tractor Driver
Qualification:GRD 8 (VHEMBE FET COLLEGE)
Telephone:0159628649
Email:thifheli.kutama@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRICULTURE - EXPER. FARMING Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Ms Seroto Edith Rapholo
Designation:Technician
Qualification:BAGRIC (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), MSC (null)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:edith.rapholo@univen.ac.za
Office:AGRIC SCHOOL-POSTGRADUATE BLOC Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Ms Rebotile Sophy Thaba
Designation:Teaching Assistant - Horticulture
Qualification:
Telephone:0159628000
Email:Sophy.Thaba@univen.ac.za
Office: Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Name: Miss Siphiwe Gloria Lusiba
Designation:Lecturer Ngap
Qualification:BAGRIC (UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO), BSCAGR (UNIVERSITY OF VENDA), MINSTA (University of Venda Production)
Telephone:0159628000
Email:siphiwe.lusiba@univen.ac.za
Office:SCHOOL OF AGRIC - ADMIN BLOCK Building, Office Number, Floor Number
Programmes
Modules
| CODE AND NAME OF MODULE |
|---|
| AGR 1631 : Agriculture and Humankind |
| AGR 2531 : Introduction to plant production |
| AGR 3541 : Principles & application of plant production |
| AGR 3641 : Introductory plant breeding and seed production |
| AGR 3631: Dryland farming technology |
| AGR 4532: Management of natural and cultivated pastures |
| AGR 4531: Agronomy of selected commercial crops |
| AGR 4631: Agronomy of selected oil seed, fibre & cereal crops |
| AGR 4533: Bio-energy crops: Agronomy and post harvest processing |
| AGR 4632: Agronomy of selected field crops |
| AGR 4081: Project and seminar presentation |
| AGR 5531: Agronomy of cereal crops |
| AGR 5631: Agronomy of legumes and tuber crops |
| PPR 2541/3541: Introduction to plant protection |
| PPR 3631: Agricultural entomology |
| PPR 3641: Weed science |
| PPR 3542/4541: Plant pathology |
| PPR 5621: Weed science |
| PPR 5632: Disease and insect pest control |
| PPR 5632: Research project and mini dissertation |
| AGR 6531: Special topics in crop production |
| AGR 6542: Special topics in plant breeding |
| AGR 6631: Crop production systems |
| AGR 6642: Advances in applied crop physiology |
| PPR 6541: Advanced plant protection |
| AGR 6099: Dissertation |
| AGR 7099: Thesis |
Staff
The following is a list of staff members in the Department of Soil Science:
Click here to view full profile
Prof. Jude J.O Odhiambo, C2-Rated
Prof. Jude Julius Owuor Odhiambo is a Professor of Soil Science in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. He holds a BSc (Hons) Agriculture and MSc Agriculture (Soil Science) degrees from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and a PhD degree in Soil Science from The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He has worked for over 33 years in the higher education sector. Prof Odhiambo is a C2 NRF rated researcher and his specialization is in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition. He has published extensively in peer reviewed and accredited journals and among his recent publications are:
1) Ogola, J.B.O., Macil, P.J. & Odhiambo, J.J.O. (2021). Biochar Application and Rhizobium Inoculation Increased Intercepted Radiation and Yield of Chickpea in Contrasting Soil Types. Int. J. Plant Prod. 15, 219–229.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42106-021-00141-9
2) Rötter, R., Scheiter, S., Hoffmann, M., Pfeiffer, M., Nelson, W., Ayisi, K., Taylor, P., Feil, J.-H., Yazdan Bakhsh, S., Isselstein, J., Linstaedter, A., Behn, K., Westphal, C., Grass, I., Odhiambo, J., Twine, W., Merante, P., Bracho-Mujica, G., Bringhenti, T., Lamega, S., Abdulai, I., Lam, Q., Anders, M., Linden, V., Weier, S., Foord, S., Erasmus, B.F. (2021): Modelling the multi-functionality of African savanna landscapes under global change. Land Degradation and Development 32(6):2077-2081 DOI:10.1002/ldr.3925
3) Lusiba SG, Odhiambo JJO, Adeleke R and Maseko ST. (2021). The potential of biochar to enhance concentration and utilization of selected macro and micronutrients for chickpea (Cicer arietinum) grown in three contrasting soils. Rhizosphere Journal https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2020.100289
Prof Odhiambo has also presented his research work at several national and international conferences and supervised several Honours, Masters and PhD students. Prof Odhiambo is the former Dean of the former School of Agriculture, having also served as a Vice Dean of the former School for a period of 8 years and former Head of the Department of Soil Science. He is currently the Interim Chair for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda. Prof Odhiambo is an active researcher and a reviewer for several journals, and an external examiner and assessor for several universities and organizations, both nationally and internationally. He is the current president of the Soil Science Society of South Africa (SSSSA), a member of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), and a registered natural science practitioner (Soil Science) by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).
Phone:
Email: Jude.odhiambo@univen.ac.za
