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Our rabbit industry growing in leaps and bounds
Rabbit farming in Zimbabwe has been a niche industry for several years, with limited, informal production and markets. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable upswing in the development of a more formalised, commercialised and structured industry for rabbit production and marketing. Under the auspices of the Livestock Meat and Advisory Council (LMAC)…
Green manure crops
Article shared with permission from Rob Stokes of ROC Systems. Green manure crops are similar to cover crops except they are incorporated into the soil. They are hugely beneficial to your soil, however, the ploughing process causes losses of soil carbon and organic matter. One incredible fact to note is that if you plant multi-species,…
Care of Your Stud Bull
By Dr Doug Bruce, BVSc (Pretoria), Veterinary Surgeon. Your stud bull is an expensive and critical investment. His failure can be likened to crop failure. Pay attention to his needs and ensure he is fertile. Genetics Your stud bull determines the genetic direction and improvement of your cow herd. It is therefore important that you…
Zimbabwe braces for mixed weather outlook as 2025 approaches
Zimbabwe faces a complex weather forecast heading into early 2025, with varying rainfall patterns across the country and the potential emergence of La Niña conditions, according to the latest Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) report. While parts of the country received significant rainfall in November 2024, particularly in central, eastern, southeastern, and northwestern…
Zimbabwe’s tree-planting heroes
National Tree Planting Day in December is the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe’s flagship campaign, aimed at educating the nation about tree conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change mitigation. However, some passionate individuals are taking tree preservation far beyond a single annual event. Seeding hope with Green Finger Nursery At 72, Stephen Duri is a living…
Dowsing in Zimbabwe
By Morag Flight This article is an insightful firsthand narrative of Morag Flight’s experiences with dowsing, a traditional method used to locate underground water sources. It takes us through the history, techniques, challenges, and personal anecdotes related to dowsing in Zimbabwe. Dowsing is one of the methods used to find underground water. It refers to…
Precision feeding in beef production – enhancing reproductive success with strategic supplementation
By international ruminant nutrition consultant Dr. Hinner Köster In the world of beef production, precision feeding is a crucial element that can significantly improve the profitability and efficiency of operations. With feed costs accounting for 50-70% of total input expenses, optimising nutritional strategies is essential for cattle farmers aiming to enhance reproductive rates and overall…
Celebrating 40 years of the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA)
Today, 26 November 2024, marks the 40th anniversary of the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA). The ITGA is an organisation that has served as a dedicated advocate and global platform for tobacco farmers since its inception in 1984. The ITGA was established by the six leading tobacco-exporting countries at the time (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Malawi,…
Farmer focus: Agri influencer Tatendaishe Ukama
At just 26 years old, Tatendaishe Constantino Ukama is making waves in the agricultural sector with his integrated small-scale rural dairy farm. He also raises rabbits and calls himself an ‘entremanure’, reflecting his entrepreneurial spirit. His farming journey is driven by a passion for sustainable agriculture and community development, rooted in his upbringing in a…
Unlocking your goat herd potential
Artificial insemination (AI) offers the rapid genetic improvement of your entire goat herd that you may never get with a live animal. Artificial Insemination (AI) is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive track of a female to cause a pregnancy. AI technology offers the…