Farmers urged to boost productivity

Farmers urged to boost productivity Agriculture Reporter Zimbabwean farmers should take advantage of the huge demand for local agricultural produce on international markets to increase productivity on farms, Acting President Joice Mujuru said yesterday. Speaking at the Tobacco Sales Floor Grower of the Year Awards ceremony, Acting President Mujuru said China provided a huge market …

Crisis looms for poultry sector

Crisis looms for poultry sector Herald Reporter Poultry producers in Zimbabwe are headed for a showdown with banks as they battle to repay loans following the lifting of the Government ban on imports. A senior banking executive this week said Government’s decision to lift the ban on poultry product imports had disastrous consequences. “Instead of …

Tsetse-clearing programmes resume

Tsetse-clearing programmes resume By Obert Chifamba The Tsetse Control Division has resumed tsetse-clearing operations in the northern and northeastern border areas of Zimbabwe. The areas had been re-infested at the height of the economic meltdown when the division was incapacitated to carry out clearing operations. Tsetse flies feed on animal blood and transmit trypanosomes that …

We’ve enough seedlings to cover 1 800ha – TRB

We’ve enough seedlings to cover 1 800ha: TRB Agriculture Reporter The Tobacco Research Board has enough seedlings to cover 1 800 hectares and has trained more than 62 000 farmers under its Calendar-Based Training and Circus Meetings ahead of the 2010/11 growing season. TRB assistant general manager (research and extension) Dr Dahlia Garwe revealed this …

We must not abandon farmers – President

We must not abandon farmers — President By Takunda Maodza President Mugabe has called for Zimba-bweans to put their heads together and come up with a planned agricultural financing strategy to enhance productivity. Officially opening the 100th edition of the Harare Agricultural Show yesterday, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe …

Tobacco sales reach 115 million kg mark – TIMB

Tobacco sales reach 115 million kg mark — TIMB http://www.thestandard.co.zw/ Saturday, 28 August 2010 15:25 AT least 115 million kg of tobacco had been auctioned by last week representing the highest output in seven years, figures released ahead of the end of the selling season on Friday show. Figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing …

Blitz against goat traders

Blitz against goat traders http://www.thestandard.co.zw/ Saturday, 28 August 2010 19:52 GOAT traders in Harare say their livelihoods are under threat in the wake of massive raids by council, the police and animal welfare organisations that have seen them lose at least 188 goats and sheep inside two weeks. Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe (VAWZ), have …

Mugabe questions quality of Zim’s farmers

Mugabe questions quality of Zim’s farmers http://www.zimonline.co.za/ by Own Corespondent Saturday 28 August 2010 HARARE — President Robert Mugabe yesterday questioned whether Zimbabwe has produced the quality of farmers needed to restore the country’s status as a bread basket and said the supply of critical agriculture inputs remains a major challenge. Mugabe’s supporters seized white-owned …

Climate change reality dawns on rural farmers

Climate change reality dawns on rural farmers By Charlene Munhenga Rural folk across Zimbabwe are beginning to experience the effects of climate change, with crop yields declining as prolonged droughts and erratic rains start taking their toll. The changing climatic patterns have resulted in food insecurity in some areas as the hectarage of land under …

SMEs move into agric value addition

SMEs move into agric value addition By Fortious Nhambura Zimbabwe’s revolutionary land reforms have seen an increase in the participation of small and medium-sized companies in value addition and manufacturing. This has also seen the widening of the economic base and increasing participation of Zimbabwe’s indigenous companies in the agro processing, once a preserve of …