Rabby Samana Banda

• Worked successfully as a Chief technical Research Assistant in analyzing soils to come up with the Zambian National Soils Map under the Norwegian program NORAD
• Was part of team in Coming up with a soils manual for analyzing soils in the Soils Chemistry laboratory at Zambia Agriculture Research Institute , quality assurance and quality control measures for soil analysis processes, including the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Analyzed large volumes of soils using different methodologies using mostly wet Chemistry
• Designed the Soil laboratory at Mutanda Research Station under ZARI and installed, calibrated and trained Technical staff at Mutanda Soil analysis
• Set up a Soil testing at Mansa Research Station as well as Mufulira Research Institute and Installed the equipment in place
• Trained staff at MIsamfu Research Institute in Kasama and installed some equipment bought under APPSA
• Trained Staff at Msekera Research Institute in Chipata whilst installing the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer as well as repairing all minor equipment not working at the time
• Was Japan BIO-Farm Soil Expert (Secondment from ZARI) in project formulation Compound D fertilizer mixed with Chicken Manure for Soils in Zambia.
• Under Japan Bio Farm, managed to make a local Basal Dressing fertilizer using the Local Rock Phosphate from Sinda as a source of Phosphate
• Was chief trainer for ZARI for all Technical Officers in the Soil Chemistry Department as well as trainer for all Students studying Soil Chemistry from the University of zambia, Science Laboratory Technicians from Evelyn Hone College as well as Agriculturists fro National Resources Development College (NRDC), Monze College and Mpika College of Agriculture, Students from Mulungushi and Copperbelt Universities
• Helped in implementation of laboratory equipment procurement activities of the APPSA project. Installed almost all Laboratory equipment bought by the World Bank under the project The Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA). Was instrumental in sourcing for all equipment purchases for all laboratories under ZARI and the training and development of Standard operating Protocols (SOPS) for all equipment installed
• Helped design and Installed laboratory equipment at Simulumbe Research Station under ZARI in Mongu. Trained Technical Officers soil testing and Instrumental analysis
• Was Chief Soil Analyst for an IAPRI (Indaba Agriculture Policy Research Institute for their country wide Soil sampling project to do away with Fertilizer blanket applications by Zambian farmers
• Was responsible for repair and servicing of all equipment in all regional laboratories
• Was in charge of purchasing of all chemicals and equipment under ZARI
• Designed the fertilizer laboratory at United capital Fertilizer (UCF) as well as Instrument Installation, calibration as well as training all Quality Control Officers presently employed at UCF
• Sits on a panel of experts at Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) revising fertilizer protocols.
• Participated in capacity-building activities, such as workshops and trainings, to enhance national capacities in soil analysis and data management. Was Resource person for NUSESA (network Users of Scientific Equipment in Southern Africa and Instrumental in training Technical Officers from Southern Africa- Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Kenya and Ethiopia.
• The most experienced Soil/ Fertilizer analyst to date in the History of Zambia Agriculture Research Institute and the most knowledgeable of all the benchmark soils in Zambia
• The leading trainer of most Soil Analysts in ZARI up to 2020 and the most knowledgeable in Instrumentation and Instrumental training in the history of ZARI

Technical/Functional Skills Summery

• Experience in managing or overseeing soil laboratory operations
• Experienced in soil sample analysis
• Experience in developing learning materials and/or standard operating procedures for soil labs
• Experience in training of soil lab personnel.