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Africa’s largest tobacco processing facility opens
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 now the largest tobacco processing plant on the African continent. The new facility is equipped with advanced German and Italian technology and has the capacity…
Basics of veld management: A practical guide for cattle farmers
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 control. It is reaped by unpaid harvesters that process it into a high-quality product and in their spare time they see to fertilisation and soil…
When determination outweighs resources
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 said it couldn’t be done. We often talk about food security, agricultural transformation, and supporting smallholder farmers in abstract terms, through statistics, policy papers, and…
Snake-proofing your fowl runs: A guide for small-scale farmers
Snakes pose a recurring challenge to poultry keepers, particularly during wet seasons when these reptiles become more active. Understanding how to protect your flock while respecting the ecological role of snakes is essential for sustainable farming practices. Understanding snake attraction to poultry areas The primary draw for snakes to chicken coops isn’t the birds themselves,…
Farming ducks
By Ross Gordon Cooper Searches for articles in the literature pertinent to the care of ducks revealed 49 papers and two manuals specialising in duck husbandry. Relevant details thereof are alliterated below. The management of duck concerns depends on their size. The small home flock kept in a yard would include a simple, partially-enclosed shed,…
The benefits of crossbreeding in beef cattle
By Prof. Esté van Marle-Köster (PhD Pr. Anim. Sci) This week we share another of the excellent topics presented at Zimbabwe Herd Book’s annual Beef School. Crossbreeding is a smart breeding strategy that has changed beef cattle farming around the world. To understand why farmers choose crossbreeding, we need to look at the basic genetics…
The evolution of Zimbabwe’s stockfeeds industry
By Rowan Hayter Zimbabwe’s stockfeeds industry has undergone remarkable transformation over the past decade, with total feed production surging by 62% since 2016. However, beneath this impressive growth figure lies a complex story of shifting market dynamics, changing consumer preferences, and evolving agricultural practices that have fundamentally reshaped the landscape for beef producers. The numbers…
Zimbabwe, China deepen tobacco ties at historic inaugural Expo
The inaugural Zimbabwe-China Tobacco Expo concluded last week, marking a historic milestone for Africa’s tobacco sector. Officially launched by Hon. Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, this two-day event brought together China and Africa’s “T5” major tobacco producing countries (Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique) under the theme: “From Leaf to…
Conserving Zimbabwe’s indigenous goat heritage: The untapped potential of Matabele and Mashona breeds
By Joseph Sikosana Zimbabwe’s indigenous goat breeds, the Matabele and Mashona, represent centuries of natural selection and adaptation to our unique environment. Yet despite their remarkable resilience, disease resistance, and proven ability to thrive under harsh conditions, these hardy breeds remain largely undervalued in our small-stock industry. As commercial farmers increasingly turn to exotic breeds,…
Koala Park’s beef production and dual backgrounding system
At the Zimbabwe Herd Book‘s 13th Beef School recently held in Bulawayo, cattle producers and industry stakeholders gathered to explore innovative approaches to cattle production that are transforming the local beef sector. Among the standout presentations was an insightful analysis from Koala Park’s Willy Swan, who shared how his company has revolutionised its operations through…