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A hands-on approach to Saanen goat dairying in Zimbabwe
Over the past 13 years, a passion for Saanen goats has developed into a specialist dairy operation, with a herd of around 80 goats and a strong focus on genetics, hands-on management and producing fresh milk and dairy products for the local market. The herd’s owner admits that everything she knows about keeping dairy goats…
I come from Chirumhanzu
I come from a place where the soil taught me about life before I even knew that agriculture would become such a big part of my journey. I grew up in Chirumhanzu, among people who understood that if you do not work, the field will not give you a harvest. I watched parents and farmers…
Farmers urged to prepare for an erratic and drier 2026/27 season
Zimbabwe is heading into the 2026/27 summer cropping season with a warning from the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) that farmers should prepare for below-normal and highly erratic rainfall, with prolonged dry spells likely across much of the country. The MSD’s Zimbabwe National Climate Outlook for October 2026 to March 2027 indicates a high probability of…
Government puts indigenous genetics at centre of livestock transformation
Zimbabwe is preparing to place indigenous cattle genetics at the heart of its livestock development strategy, with Government developing a new programme to conserve, multiply and make locally adapted genetics more accessible to smallholder farmers. Speaking at a Mashona Cattle Field Day at Portelet Estates in Makonde District, Mashonaland West, Director for Livestock and Fisheries…
Beef and Small Stock School to equip farmers with practical knowledge, genetics and market insight
Zimbabwe’s Beef School and Small Stock School, being held at ART Farm, Pomona, from 15-17 September, will offer farmers three days of expert insight, practical demonstrations and discussion covering breeding, animal health, nutrition, finance, adaptation and farm management. With Zimbabwe’s livestock sector facing increasing pressure from climate variability, drought, limited grazing and changing markets, the…
Food access set to tighten as Zimbabwe heads towards late 2026
High cereal prices, depleted household stocks and weaker purchasing power are expected to put increasing pressure on food security in Zimbabwe later this year, according to a new FEWS NET assessment. Zimbabwe’s relatively good 2026 harvest is providing an important cushion for many households, but that cushion is not expected to last everywhere. The latest…
Green card dreams in gum boots: The untold ambitions of Zimbabwe’s rural agripreneurs
By day I’m dosing rabbits and repairing drip lines. By night I’m checking DV Lottery results. This is the double life so many of us rural agripreneurs live; rooted here, but still looking abroad. The gumboots are still wet from the morning dew. Before the sun is fully up, I’m in my rabbitry in Tagarika…
The burning question – is your farm ready for the fire season?
Why Zimbabwean farmers need a community fire strategy The images coming out of Britain and Europe this August have been a sobering reminder of how quickly a dry landscape can become a wall of fire. Britain has experienced record levels of wildfire activity this year, with homes destroyed, communities evacuated and military personnel brought in…
Rethinking the fight against Tuta absoluta: Can healthier plants mean fewer sprays?
The battle against Tuta absoluta, commonly known as tomato leaf miner, is prompting an important discussion among growers: are pesticides the best long-term answer, or should farmers be putting more emphasis on plant health, nutrition and natural pest control? A recent discussion among growers and agricultural practitioners highlighted the complexity of managing the pest, with…
Preparing for the 2026–27 El Niño season: Variety selection for successful tobacco production
The forecast of a possible super El Niño during the 2026-27 agricultural season has understandably raised concerns among farmers across Zimbabwe. El Niño conditions are often associated with below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells, high temperatures, and increased moisture stress factors that can significantly reduce crop productivity if farmers are unprepared. However, an El Niño forecast…