Cotton set for major rebound

Cotton set for major rebound January 11, 2017 Business Martin Kadzere, Harare BureauZIMBABWE’S cotton output is set for a major rebound this year after farmers planted more hectarage following Government’s increased funding. The yields are also projected to rise on good rains being received in most parts of the country. This season, the Government, under the Presidential …

‘Tobacco auction floors to open next month’

‘Tobacco auction floors to open next month’ January 11, 2017 Business Minister Joseph Made THE government says it is prepared to open tobacco auction floors in February, once farmers are ready to deliver the golden leaf. The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made told ZBC News that tobacco auction floors are ready …

Poultry farmers choke. . . Smuggled chickens add misery to producers

Poultry farmers choke. . . Smuggled chickens add misery to producers January 11, 2017 Business Retired Colonel George Nare Business ReportersTHE Zimbabwe Poultry Farmers Association (ZPFA) says smuggling of poultry products into the country remains a major threat to the viability of local producers who are already choked by high production costs. Small to medium scale …

Lake Mutirikwi remains critical

Lake Mutirikwi remains critical January 10, 2017 in National, News WATER levels at Masvingo’s main supply dam, Lake Mutirikwi, remain critically low despite the heavy rains that pounded the province and most of the country recently, NewsDay has learnt. By Tatenda Chitagu Lake Mutirikwi Masvingo mayor, Hubert Fidze said the dam levels had insignificantly risen from 4% to …

Zim unlikely to ratify controversial seed treaty

Zim unlikely to ratify controversial seed treaty January 9, 2017 Business Breeding their own seed helps farmers create varieties suitable for their specific regions and climates Jeffrey GogoClimate StoryBy breeding their own seed, farmers are able to create varieties that are suitable for their specific regions and climates, helping them cope better with the increasing shifts, …

Govt moves in to quell fall armyworm

Govt moves in to quell fall armyworm January 10, 2017 Local News Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture ReporterGovernment has distributed Carbaryl 85 Wettable Powder across the country for the control of the fall armyworm that has wrecked havoc in most areas with an irrigated maize crop. The pest, which is new in the country, has affected maize in …

Prepare to deal with disasters this rainy season

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Prepare to deal with disasters this rainy season January 10, 2017 Opinion & Analysis ZIMBABWE continues to receive heavy rains that have been pounding most parts of the country but they have come at a huge cost to our creaky and dilapidated infrastructure which has failed to withstand the incessant downpours. Since December, the …

Govt to roll out comprehensive livestock strategy

Govt to roll out comprehensive livestock strategy January 10, 2017 Business Conrad Mwanawashe, Harare BureauA COMPREHENSIVE livestock strategy, covering restocking, equipment and infrastructure development, pasture development and the resuscitation of the Cold Storage Commission, will be rolled out soon. As part of the strategy, the livestock industry has been made an appendage to Command Agriculture, Government’s programme …

‘Zim can produce surplus maize without GMOs use’

‘Zim can produce surplus maize without GMOs use’ January 10, 2017 Business Prosper Ndlovu, Business EditorZIMBABWE has the capacity to produce up to 10 times surplus maize for the export market without using genetically modified technology, a Cabinet Minister has said. The country has maintained its stance against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), a modern technique involving artificial …