Chapwa is a crop breeder with experience in both conventional and molecular breeding for improved yield and insect and disease resistance in cereals and legumes including maize, sorghum and groundnut. Her work on breeding for insect resistance has had a particular focus on the invasive fall armyworm in maize.

At the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) Chapwa is working under the PlantWisePlus project, contributing to the development of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for priority invasive species in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work involves conducting gender-responsive surveys involving smallholder farmers, developing resources and disseminating information on cassava brown streak virus, Zambia’s newest invasive pest in cassava. She is also involved in fall armyworm IPM research, largely incorporating host plant resistance and bio-conservation aspects.

You can connect with Chapwa on LinkedIn or Twitter.