12 000 boreholes run dry — Minister

12 000 boreholes run dry — Minister February 1, 2016 Headlines, Top Stories Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent—At least 12 000 boreholes countrywide no longer produce water due to the low levels of the water table caused by drought that has hit the country in successive years. Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said last week that the situation …

Grain millers seek to move maize through Mozambique

Grain millers seek to move maize through Mozambique February 1, 2016 Business Conrad Mwanawashe Harare BureauZIMBABWE millers through their apex representative body, the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe, will tomorrow hold high level talks with senior officials from Mozambique’s national rail company, Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique to iron out logistics for the movement of grain into …

16 000 cattle succumb to drought

16 000 cattle succumb to drought January 29, 2016 Local News Elita Chikwati Agriculture ReporterMore than 15 800 cattle have succumbed to drought as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has intervened with $1 million worth of stockfeeds for supplementary feeding. The Division of Livestock and Production Development (LPD) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and …

Zimbabwe’s biggest lake dries up

Zimbabwe’s biggest lake dries up   The Lowveld’s Hippo Valley and Triangle sugar estates depend on Lake Mutirikwi for their water for irrigation. MASVINGO — Water levels at Lake Mutirikwi, Zimbabwe’s biggest inland dam, have drastically declined owing to poor rainfall, making life difficult for people living within the vicinity of the lake.The poor rainfall …

Massive maize crop failure looms

Massive maize crop failure looms January 28, 2016 in Business inShare The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) has said maize production this year would decline by 70% from the 2014/15 season due to erratic rains caused by El Nino. MTHANDAZO NYONI ZCFU president Wonder Chabikwa told NewsDay if the situation remained the same, the nation was heading …

Operation costs crippling crocodile industry

Operation costs crippling crocodile industry January 28, 2016 Business Conrad Mwanawashe, Harare BureauRISING operation costs coupled with the high cost of capital are weighing down the crocodile farming industry which naturally requires huge capital outlay. The crocodile farming business, which could be a critical export earner for the country, raked in $26 million from skin exports …

Rains leave trail of destruction in the Falls

Rains leave trail of destruction January 27, 2016 Local News Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls ReporterHEAVY rains accompanied by strong winds left a trail of destruction in Victoria Falls on Monday uprooting trees, destroying bill-boards and precast walls. Some motorists’ cars were damaged by falling trees. Chinotimba and Mkhosana suburbs were plunged into darkness when trees fell …

Meteorological Services Department repeats flash flood warning

Meteorological Services Department repeats flash flood warning January 27, 2016 Local News Harare BureauMost parts of the country have received heavy rains with some areas recording above 80mm in 24 hours, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has said. MSD senior forecaster, Tich Zinyemba yesterday said heavy rains of 87mm were recorded in Chisumbanje and 98mm in …

How ICT innovation can help farmers improve productivity

How ICT innovation can help farmers improve productivity January 26, 2016 Opinion & Analysis  Gibson MhakaIT appears there is some hesitance in embracing the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. ICTs have helped accelerate Zimbabwe’s economic growth in sectors such as education, health, financial services and trade. However, ICTs …