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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…
Empowering Change: TIMB Launches Innovative Sustainability Programs for Tobacco Farmers
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is carrying out several sustainability programmes to ensure Zimbabwe’s tobacco is produced ethically while minimising environmental impact. This is in line with The Sustainable Tobacco Program (STP), an international initiative for tobacco merchants and industry players, which provides a framework for driving industry-wide sustainability standards. Sustainability speaks to…
Winter herd maintenance with cover crops
Since 1984, the Agricultural Research Trust has remained a significant force in the field of agriculture, committed to delivering the state-of-the-art research and training. Through this, it has equipped Zimbabwean farmers with essential knowledge, practical guidance, and unwavering support. ART Farm sustains its research activities through the cultivation of commercial crops and the rearing of…
Enhancing profitability through strategic breeding objectives
This is the fourth in a series of articles from this year‘s Zimbabwe Herd Book‘s annual Beef School. Presented by Johan Styger, the current Chairman of the Livestock Registering Federation (LRF) and member of the Simmentaler Breed Improvement Committee, it features valuable insights on the importance of strategic breeding objectives to enhance herd performance and…