Mwape with fellow students working in the lab at the University of Nebraska
systems, and irrigation pumps. A total of 50 students from 20 countries have completed the field course.
“When I discovered irrigation, it was just something else,” said Mwape. “It just blows my mind. I knew I really had to become an expert in this because it does so much to boost production in agriculture.”
Mwape is the third student to graduate from the rigorous program. The previous two graduated in May 2015 and returned to their home countries. Evodius Rulazi is working for the Tanzanian Department of Agriculture, and Gregory Williams is part of a water consultancy in Guyana.
“I have learned a lot about the design [of irrigation] and how I can apply it. I really want to focus now on what our small-
scale farmers back home can do to apply irrigation to improve production. How can we exploit our water reserves in a sustainable way?” Mwape asked.
These graduates’ newly earned expertise in agricultural water management will be of tremendous benefit in their home countries, where their knowledge can help inform policymaking and develop best practices. In all three cases, the graduates now work for action agencies or consultancies — all of which have great influence on water usage in their region of the world.
Mwape made a leap of faith to pursue the double degree program, leaving behind her husband and infant daughter for nearly two years.
Dean Eisenhauer, PhD, is the coordinator of
the DWFI-IHE Delft Partnership and professor emeritus in biological systems engineering
at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In his over 40-year career, Eisenhauer has focused on education and applied research in agricultural hydrology and irrigation.
Molly Nance, MLA, is the DWFI director of communications and public relations,
IHE Delft and UNL students doing field research in Nebraska
where she is responsible for expanding the awareness of the institute as a leader in
water and food sector research and policy development throughout Nebraska, across the country and around the world.
irrigationtoday.org 29
“I was unsure ... I kept in touch with my family by Skype. My daughter would see me on the iPad and say ‘Mommy, Mommy.’ There was one time when I packed my suitcase and called my husband, telling him I was going to buy a ticket to come home,” Mwape said. “He told me it was OK. That maybe I could finish the program later. But, I knew if I left, I probably wouldn’t come back. Now I know, and I am so glad I did it.”
“I’m excited to go back and share everything that I have learned,” she added.
Since returning to her home in Zambia, Mwape has assumed a new role with the country’s highest agricultural research institute — and is once again “Mommy” to her 3-year-old daughter.
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