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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…
Dr Rob Garvin honoured with 2026 CFU Farming Oscar award
Dr Robert Traill Garvin has been named the recipient of the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) annual Farming Oscar for 2026, in recognition of his many years of service to Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Presented during the 83rd Commercial Farmers’ Union Annual Congress at ART Farm in Harare last week, the award recognises more than five decades of…
Illegal tobacco seed crackdown begins as Government moves to protect Zimbabwe’s biggest agricultural export
With Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry generating more than USD 876 million to date during the 2026 marketing season, Government has launched a coordinated national campaign to eliminate illegal tobacco seed varieties, warning growers that crops established from unregistered seed will be destroyed and offenders prosecuted. The move comes as farmers across the country begin establishing seedbeds…
Top studs ready for Zimbabwe’s premier breed sale
Zimbabwe’s leading livestock breeders will showcase some of the country’s finest genetics at the 58th National Breed Sale at the CC Sales Mt Hampden sales pens on Friday, 31 July, with 136 quality animals set to go under the hammer. The catalogue features an impressive selection of 74 bulls, including 47 Brahman, 12 Tuli, six Boran,…