Archive for August 2025
Growing chilli
By Ross G. Cooper Email: rgcooperuk@yahoo.com Capsicum (chilli) is normally sown in rows in September-December in Zimbabwe and takes 7-12 days to germinate and 16-17 weeks to reach crop maturity. The return is so much greater from a few fruits that, if dried, will keep for years. The average depth to sow is 1cm, at…
Read MoreAquaponics shows promise for African agriculture
Africa faces mounting food security challenges, and innovative agricultural solutions are becoming increasingly necessary. One technology gaining attention is aquaponics, a system that combines fish farming with crop production. Martin Fick, originally from Beatrice, Zimbabwe, has spent 15 years developing aquaponics systems across Sub-Saharan Africa through his company, Practical Aquaponics SA. Operating from Makhanda (formerly…
Read MoreBrahmans maintain dominance as Zimbabwe’s breed of choice
Zimbabwe’s cattlemen continue to show their preference for Brahman cattle, as demonstrated at the 57th National Breed Sale that concluded in late July. The numbers tell the story of the Brahman breed’s enduring appeal: 27 Brahman bulls changed hands during the event, with the day’s standout sale reaching USD 40,000. This top price was attained…
Read MoreApodemus sylvaticus, a potential threat to seed crops
Ross G. Cooper, D.Phil., rgcooperuk@yahoo.com The wood mouse (A. sylvaticus, Family: Muridae, Order: Rodentia), a common sighting in North-West Africa and Europe, is, like most rodents, often associated with post-harvest threats to seed crops (Swai et al., 2019). Potentially, road, train and ship transport are facilitating it’s migration down to southern Africa and into Zimbabwe.…
Read MoreSoil-less farming using hydroponics for fresh produce
With the pressure to produce more food with less available inputs such as land or water, an enterprising small business in Marondera is growing vegetables using hydroponics, a revolutionary farming technique that defies conventional norms of vegetable gardening. Hydroponics involves growing plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution, eliminating the need for traditional soil. A trip…
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