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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…
Form follows function
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. His words carry a weight that transcends mere breeding philosophy: “Let us not forget that our Nkone are a functional efficient breed despite the pretty…
Threat of aphid-borne virus diseases outbreaks in the 2025-26 tobacco growing season
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 to previous years. This concerning trend is being driven by multiple factors, including non-compliance with key tobacco production regulations such as stalk destruction and non-adherence…
Kutsaga Innovation Challenge 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 committee, and the top three winners of the Kutsaga Innovation Challenge 2025 The 2025 Kutsaga Innovation Challenge marked a defining moment in Zimbabwe’s agricultural innovation…
Data-driven cattle breeding: Transforming century-old operations through systematic measurement
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 successful cattle farming at Okamutombe Farm since 1912. Today, they run one of Africa’s largest Brahman studs alongside a substantial commercial herd producing oxen and…
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…