Exploring butternut farming. As Zimbabwe’s horticulture sector continues to thrive, butternut farming presents a golden opportunity for farmers this summer cropping season. With the potential for both local sales and export, butternuts offer a profitable and scalable farming option. AMA, whose mandate includes linking farmers with lucrative markets, is encouraging farmers to consider butternut…
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A Golden Opportunity for Rice Production in Zimbabwe A lot of times farmers ask, ‘How do I know what to produce’? Market-led farming is all about producing what is on demand in the market. Now ask yourself this question, how many times do you eat rice in your household and where does this come…
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By Chipo Tachiona Tick-borne diseases present a significant threat to cattle health, particularly during periods of drought when the usual challenges of livestock management are compounded by environmental stressors. This year, Zimbabwe experienced an El-Nino-induced drought. His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since declared drought a state of national disaster. The government has…
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By Cliff Chiduku Agriculture has historically been a backbone of the Zimbabwean economy. The sector contributes significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, employment creation and food and nutrition security. Over the years, Zimbabwe’s agriculture has been highly productive and at some point, the country was known as the “breadbasket of Africa”, exporting…
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By Tapiwa Mutonda Last week, the 2023/24 cotton marketing season was officially opened. The season will last for one month. The season comes against a backdrop of the El Nino-induced droughts that led to reduced cotton yields and quality. As expected, the season will be one month long. The cropping season has…
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By Chipo Tachiona Climate change, characterised by rising global temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, poses a significant threat to agricultural systems worldwide. Zimbabwe, whose economy is anchored on agriculture, is bearing the brunt of climate shift. The government has been pulling no stops to make sure Zimbabwe’s…
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By Cliff Chiduku In 2021, the government launched the Presidential Rural Development Programme. The programme is part of the Government’s Rural Development 8.0 initiative whose other components include the Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Presidential Cotton Input Scheme, Presidential Goat Scheme, Presidential Fisheries Scheme, Presidential Tick Grease Scheme, Presidential Poultry Scheme, Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, Vision…
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By Simon Pande The production of sweet potatoes in Zimbabwe has been on a steady increase over recent years. This can be attributed to its low cost of production and more importantly its resilience and ability to withstand low moisture levels. With the adverse weather effects associated with the El Nino phenomenon, sweet…
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