Agriculture

Growing chilli

By Staff Writer / August 25, 2025 /

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.…

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Aquaponics shows promise for African agriculture

By Staff Writer / August 18, 2025 /

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…

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Brahmans maintain dominance as Zimbabwe’s breed of choice

By Staff Writer / August 11, 2025 /

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…

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Apodemus sylvaticus, a potential threat to seed crops

By Staff Writer / August 8, 2025 /

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…

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Soil-less farming using hydroponics for fresh produce

By Staff Writer / August 4, 2025 /

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…

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Zimbabwe dairy legend Christopher “Stoff” Hawgood receives 2025 ZADF Oscar award

By Staff Writer / July 28, 2025 /

The Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) has honoured Stoff Hawgood with the prestigious 2025 Dairy Oscar Award for his exceptional contribution to Zimbabwe’s dairy industry. The award was presented…

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Farming through Zimbabwe’s transformation: A 35-year journey

By Staff Writer / July 22, 2025 /

Reflections on agriculture, resilience, and the evolving landscape of Zimbabwean farming My name is Stuart Tippett, and I farm in Marondera North. Over the past 35 years, I’ve witnessed Zimbabwe’s…

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57th National Breed Sale set to showcase industry resilience

By Staff Writer / July 14, 2025 /

The Zimbabwe Herd Book’s 57th National Breed Sale is set to take place on Friday 25 July. This much-anticipated annual fixture on our agricultural calendar will demonstrate the livestock sector’s…

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Indigenous livestock breeds

By Staff Writer / July 8, 2025 /

Nguni sheep: Indigenous small livestock At the ADMA Indigenous Breeds Sale, besides the Mashona, Nkone and Tuli cattle – all indigenous Zimbabwean breeds known for their hardiness – there also…

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Zimbabwe’s 2024/25 maize recovery

By Staff Writer / June 30, 2025 /

This agricultural season tells a tale of dramatic recovery following Southern Africa’s worst drought in recent history. The 2023/24 summer rainfall season, characterised by El Niño conditions and a devastating…

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