A history of Mount Makulu Central Research Station 1950-1980

This study is an attempt to examine the history of agricultural research in Zambia.
To do this effectively, Mount Makulu Central Research Station has been chosen. This is
because it has always been the most important agricultural research station in the country.The study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter argues that despite being the country's Central Research Station, there has been no comprehensive historical study on its work. This has created a gap in the agricultural historiography of Zambia. This study, therefore, hopes to bridge the gap.
Chapter two argues that agricultural research in Zambia dates back to the early
years of British South Africa Company rule of Northern Rhodesia. During the rule of
the Company and British Colonial Office rule, many research stations were set up in the country. However, the myriad of problems they faced necessitated co-ordinated research in the territory. Therefore, the Central Research Station was established with the aim of solving these problems.
The third chapter focuses on the development of the Central Research Station from 1950 to 1980. We argue that within a thirty year scope, the station had grown both
in size and strength.Chapter four evaluates the work of the Central Research Station. Our argument is that despite the numerous constraints to its work, the Central Research Station had by 1980 recorded a number of successes. Chapter five is the conclusion. The study concludes that a lot of agricultural research work was successfully conducted at the Central Research station from 1950 to 1980. Although some research findings did not reach the intended targets, those that did greatly transformed their lives and in most areas positively impacted on agriculture in
Zambia.