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ART Farm, Harare, the venue for ZHB Beef School 2026
The Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB) Beef School returns in September 2026 with a strong, practical programme designed to support livestock producers across the country, this time being hosted in Harare for the first time in many years. The move to bring the event to our capital city comes at an important time for the agricultural…
Are current fertiliser recommendations and trial conditions relevant to smallholder maize farmers?
As the Agricultural Research Trust (ART) prepares to host a Varieties Demo Open Day next Thursday at its research farm in ART Farm near Harare, an important discussion has emerged around the relevance of maize research trials and fertiliser recommendations for the country’s diverse farming sector. The online debate between ART Farm Head of Research…
Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks raise regional alarm across Southern Africa
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), one of the world’s most contagious livestock diseases, is threatening cattle industries and rural livelihoods across Southern Africa after confirmed outbreaks in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries triggered heightened regional concerns, trade restrictions and intensified disease control measures. Early this year, Zimbabwe’s veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of FMD in Mangwe District, close…
TIMB sets stage for 2026 tobacco marketing season amid record output, global market pressures
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector is entering the 2026 marketing season on a strong but strategically cautious footing, with record production expected, structural reforms underway and renewed focus on quality in the face of global oversupply. Speaking at a pre-season media interface in Harare, TIMB Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel…
The Seven Francs book launch
The past week marked the informal launch of Kevin Cooke’s newly published book, The Seven Francs: Shotguns, Gamebirds & Gundogs. Harare South tobacco farmer and former Zimbabwe Tobacco Association president Kevin Cooke has long been known in farming and sporting circles. In this book, he turns his hand to recording a deeply personal quest: to…
Regenerative vs conventional cropping: What three years of trials reveal
By Hugo Winkfield, ART Farm As Zimbabwe’s commercial agriculture sector seeks to remain both profitable and sustainable, regenerative agriculture has emerged as a potential pathway forward. But can regenerative systems truly compete with conventional high-input cropping, especially under Zimbabwean conditions? A three-year independent evaluation at ART Farm in Harare set out to answer this question…
More than a bottom feeder: Understanding and eating Zimbabwe’s catfish
by Ross G. Cooper, D.Phil. Catfish species in Zimbabwe There are 23 species of catfish in Zimbabwe. They are carnivorous and scavenge fish and are characterised by scaleless bodies and conspicuous feelers or barbels around the mouth. They range in size from the spotted catlet and rock catlets, barely reaching 6cm in length, to the…
Turning heat into opportunity
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 I had to find my own market and start adding value.” In Zimbabwe, where many farmers operate under pressure from land access challenges, changing weather…
Rainy season alert: Internal parasites (worms) in goats and sheep
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 properly managed, worms can seriously affect the health, productivity, and survival of goats and sheep-especially young animals. Why worm problems increase during the rainy season…
Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector record expansion signals new era of growth
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 the tobacco value chain. This comes on the back of a record-breaking national yield in 2025 (surpassing 353 million kg). Tobacco remains a cornerstone of…