Agriculture

Turning heat into opportunity

By Staff Writer / February 1, 2026 /

The Grounded chilli story “I initially got into chilli farming through an export opportunity after securing an off-taker contract with a local middleman. But the prices were not sustainable, so…

Rainy season alert: Internal parasites (worms) in goats and sheep

By Staff Writer / January 26, 2026 /

This small stock management advisory is kindly shared by Bulembe Farm, Matabeleland. Feature photo credit to Klipspringer Ranch. The rainy season creates ideal conditions for internal parasites (worms). If not…

Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector record expansion signals new era of growth

By Staff Writer / January 19, 2026 /

Zimbabwe’s 2025/26 tobacco growing season has opened on a highly positive note, marked by significant expansion in planted hectarage, increased participation by women and small-scale farmers, and renewed confidence across…

Form follows function

By Staff Writer / January 12, 2026 /

The philosophy of purpose over aesthetics George Hulme of Pungeni Nkone stud speaks with the clarity of someone who has spent decades observing cattle navigate the unforgiving landscape of Zimbabwe.…

Threat of aphid-borne virus diseases outbreaks in the 2025-26 tobacco growing season

By Staff Writer / January 5, 2026 /

By Zimazile Jazi and Charles Karavina Tobacco insect-monitoring activities by Kutsaga have shown higher aphid populations across major tobacco-growing regions of Zimbabwe at this stage of the 2025-2026 season compared…

Kutsaga Innovation Challenge 2025

By Staff Writer / December 19, 2025 /

Celebrating youth-led agripreneurship solutions for a sustainable and resilient future By KF Chitambira; TP Munhenga; O Mudadisi; KZN Chiwanga; G Zvobgo; K Mateva; S Dimbi Figure 1: Kutsaga management, the Innovation Challenge organising…

Data-driven cattle breeding: Transforming century-old operations through systematic measurement

By Staff Writer / December 16, 2025 /

Based on a presentation by Sonja Schneider at the 2025 Zimbabwe Herd Book Beef School About Okamutombe Farm Operating in Namibia’s challenging 410mm median rainfall environment, the Schneider family has maintained…

Africa’s largest tobacco processing facility opens  

By Staff Writer / December 8, 2025 /

His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the Cut Rag Processors (CRP) tobacco manufacturing plant in Aspindale, Harare. The facility, which represents an investment of between USD 100-120 million, is…

Basics of veld management: A practical guide for cattle farmers

By Staff Writer / December 1, 2025 /

By Dr D.M. “Mick” Gammon The cattle farmer has been blessed with the most wonderful crop: grass. It requires no cultivation, no planting, no fertilisation, and no weeding or disease…

When determination outweighs resources

By Staff Writer / November 24, 2025 /

A smallholder’s firsthand account of growing wheat this year The following is an unfiltered, first-hand account from a small-scale farmer in rural Zimbabwe who dared to plant wheat when everyone…