Govt declares all-out war on crop pests

Govt declares all-out war on crop pests  Herald 26/2/2020   Minister Shiri Sydney Mubaiwa in Zaka Government has stepped up efforts to improve plant health throughout the country as it forges ahead to ensure optimum yields this farming season. In an interview at the ongoing Plant Health Awareness Campaigns, Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement …

40m trees for tobacco curing

40m trees for tobacco curing Herald 26/2/2020   Chipo Chaumba and Panashe Chikonyora The Forestry Commission says it is targeting to plant 40 million tree seedlings countrywide this year as part of a long term strategy to proffer tobacco farmers with energy solutions by making the tobacco curing process efficient, environmental friendly and sustainable. Although …

Fireworks expected at Hippo Valley AGM

Fireworks expected at Hippo Valley AGM Herald 26/2/2020   Herald Reporter FIREWORKS are expected at listed sugar producing firm Hippo Valley Estates’ annual general meeting (AGM) today where the firm’s minority shareholders will question certain financial decisions by the majority shareholder, which allegedly prejudiced them over a long period. Sources said minority shareholders, including Old …

Calls to punish roller meal cartels soar

Calls to punish roller meal cartels soar    Herald 26/2/2020 Mr Mutashu Cletus Mushanawani Senior Writer A cross-section of Zimbabweans has urged authorities to deal ruthlessly with those abusing taxpayers’ money and depriving the market of subsidised commodities through hoarding or diversion to the black market. While the Government continues to spend large amounts of …

Ramaphosa announces another presidential land summit

Ramaphosa announces another presidential land summit  Chronicle 25/2/2020   Cyril Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of another summit — this time a Presidential Summit on Land. He made the announcement while addressing the National House of Traditional Leaders yesterday. “Our rural areas mustn’t be places that young people leave, only to return when they retire,” …

Hippo Valley sugar output declines

Hippo Valley sugar output declines  Chronicle 26/2/2020   Hippo Valley Estates Enacy Mapakame, Harare Bureau Hippo Valley Estates’ sugar production volumes for the nine months to December 2019, declined as cane production took a dip. According to the firm’s quarterly trading update, sugar produced during the nine months ended December 31, last year amounted to …

Climate change threatens wild fruits’ existence

Climate change threatens wild fruits’ existence Chronicle 26/2/2020   The monkey orange tree Pamenus Tuso From time immemorial, wild fruits have occupied a special place in the lives of rural people in many southern Africa countries including Zimbabwe. Indigenous fruits are a reliable source of food in times of hunger and have saved many remote …

Smallholder farmers earn Government praise

Smallholder farmers earn Government praise  Chronicle 26/2/2020   Minister Perrance Shiri Tawanda Musarurwa, Harare Bureau Government has lauded smallholder farmers for playing a critical role towards contributing to the country’s food and security requirements.  Said the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Dr Perrance Shiri: “Government appreciates the contributions that FAO, civil society organisations represented …

Infrastructure gap – A potential investment area.

Infrastructure gap – A potential investment area. Financial Gazette 6/2/2020 THE government must work on a comprehensive approach to revamp infrastructure in the agri­cultural sector especially in communal areas as this will create an enabling environment for investment through value chain financing models, The 2018/2019 Agriculture Sector Survey, has said. The survey commissioned by The …