Harare Residents to Pay $25 000 RTGS Fine for Illegally Cultivating Wetlands

Staff Reporter The City of Harare has noted with great concern that a number of people are cultivating maize on wetlands in different parts of the city. Against this background, the Harare City Council has warned that among other punitive measures, Harare-based residents who temper with wetlands are required to pay a fine of 25…

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Fish Farmers Urged to Improve Productivity, Contribute to Industry’ Growth this 2022

By Joyce Mukucha Zimbabwean fish farmers have been encouraged to work hard and yield positive results in terms of productivity and at the same time ensure that mistakes that happened in 2021 in the aquaculture sector are not repeated. In his New Year message, the Zimbabwe Productive Farmers Association (ZPFA) Chairperson of Development and Outreach…

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Water supply system in arid Chivi rehabilitated

Dr. Anxious Masuka, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development commissioned the Chivi Water Supply Rehabilitation Works as part of efforts by the Second Republic to accelerate rural development for the attainment of Vision 2030. The rehabilitation of Chivi Water Supply is part of a wider programme to help ease water challenges…

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Cultivating community-led food and nutrition security initiatives

By Charles Dhewa It is taking too long for African governments to realize that allowing communities to take food and nutrition security matters into their own hands cultivates better self-reliance and sustainable development. Many rural African communities are tired of being treated like children who have no influence on what they eat and when they…

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ZPHCA resilience building improving livelihoods of grassroots women

As the country continues to experience drought and failed harvests since 2000 due to climate change and the impact of COVID-19, the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA) is building the resilience of grassroots women to withstand shocks brought about by these challenges.   “The country has been experiencing drought and failed harvest since…

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Denmark commits millions to vulnerable farmers through IFAD’s climate adaptation fund

In the wake of COP26, which featured a strong call for increased finance to help the world’s poorest countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, Denmark, on 10 December 2021 announced a contribution of DKK 190 million (about US$29 million) to the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to assist small-scale farmers to…

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African mass food markets as invisible enablers of nutrition security

By Charles Dhewa While malnutrition is expected to be less in areas that have favourable climates for producing diverse food, undernutrition remains a key characteristic of high production zones across Africa. It is rare for a single area or community to produce an entire balanced food basket throughout the year. The seasonal nature of rainfed…

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Zimbabwe Urged to Produce its Competitive Local Products

By Joyce Mukucha Developing a robust industrial and commercial sector is vital for import substitution and crucial following Zimbabwe’s ratification of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in 2019, a government official has said. Officially opening the Buy Zimbabwe-Buy Local Summit in Harare yesterday, Vice President who is also the Minister of Health and…

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Make agri-food systems resilient to address food security: SOFA 2021

Transform agricultural food systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for better production, nutrition, environment, and life for all, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) said in The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2021 report. Measures to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 disrupted global and national supply chains…

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Let’s break out of our cocoons: PWDs challenged

By Marlvin Ngiza People with disabilities (PWDs) have been challenged to be resolute in claiming socio-economic participation in various spheres of life and move away from a culture of relying on handouts and the benevolence of able-bodied individuals. Moses Marufu, a farmer with walking challenges has called upon other people with disabilities to rise and…

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More than One Million Metric Tonnes of Grain Delivered to GMB

By Joyce Mukucha Farmers have so far delivered more than one million metric tonnes of grains to the Grain Marketing Board(GMB), a phenomenal increase from last cropping season comparative deliveries. In her post Cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said Cumulatively, 227 000 metric tonnes of wheat have…

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Zimbabwe Agri-tech Strategy to mainstream ICTs into agriculture

The government is working on mainstreaming information communication technologies (ICTs) into agriculture and to achieve this, it has developed the Zimbabwe Agri-Tech Strategy to leverage innovations to improve efficiency, increase effectiveness, reduce costs and enhance the competitiveness of the sector. In his remarks delivered on behalf of the minister, Hon Vangelis Haritatos, the Deputy Minister…

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Grassroots Women Contributing to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Measures

By Joyce Mukucha Worldwide, the impacts of climate change are becoming more and more devastating causing food insecurity, health challenges, heat waves, fires and disasters such as floods which as a result cause displacement and women are hardest hit. Climate change marginalizes and increases vulnerabilities for women and girls because already, they are disproportionately affected…

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Banana Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4: a damaging disease threatening banana production in Southern Africa and beyond

By Dr. Mathew M. Abang Bananas represent one of the most consumed and traded fruits globally. In Southern Africa, bananas serve both as a staple food and important cash crop. To date, Tanzania is the largest producer of bananas in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)….

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Smart Agriculture, Health Programmes adopted by Cabinet

By Joyce Mukucha Aiming to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural production as well as improving the resilience of farmers by providing imperative information through internet connectivity, Cabinet has adopted smart agriculture programme. Cabinet also adopted smart health programme which is aimed at avoiding hindrances when it comes to provision of much needed services in the sector. The…

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Deforestation negatively impacting livelihoods in Cameroon, Central Africa

Food shortages, the disappearance of medicinal plants and essences, and changes in lifestyle are the consequences of deforestation on the indigenous peoples of Central Africa. Nearly 60 km from Douala in Cameroon, in the Littoral region, on a normal road that runs along a track that is engulfed in the forest, and out of nowhere,…

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Government turns Banket Sports Club into Agriculture School of Excellence

By Elvis Dumba Banket- Most of sports and country clubs which were used by former white commercial farmers are in a deplorable state across the country. Government has partnered various institutions in rehabilitating these premises which saw Banket Sports Club being renovated by fertilizer manufacturing company FSG Superfert. FSG Logistics Manager Ngoni Kandeya said his…

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US$13,5 Million Poultry Programme for Provinces Set to be Launched

By Joyce Mukucha In quest to revitalise the agriculture sector and provide sustainable livelihoods to vulnerable poor people in various provinces, government is set to initiate a US$13,5 million free range chicken programme under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Programme, a government official has said. In an interview with the state media, the Permanent Secretary…

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Environmental management critical for sustainability of aquaculture, fisheries

The proper management of the environment is critical to ensure the sustainable use of aquaculture and fisheries along the value chain, a top environmentalist has said. Aquaculture is the farming of animals and plants in water. There are various important steps in the aquaculture value chain that includes production, harvesting, processing, marketing, and utilisation. Environmentalist,…

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Government Headache on Pfumvudza

By Elvis Dumba Government will miss its 15 November 2021 deadline target for distributing farming inputs under the Pfumvuza/Intwasa Presidential Input Scheme from the Lands and Agriculture ministry. It has been learnt that government faces a transport headache after transporter’s contracted by government through Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to transport the inputs from GMB depots…

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US$4 Billion Pledge to Support Sustainable Agriculture: Is It Enough?

Forty-five countries including the UK pledged Saturday to protect nature and transition to more sustainable farming. The announcement was made on Nature and Land Use day at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, which the UK is hosting, and comes with a promise to use more than $4 billion in public sector investments to make agriculture more resilient to the climate crisis and make new innovations accessible…

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Aquaculture, fisheries driving the blue economy in Africa

In driving the blue economy, aquaculture and fisheries are playing a key role in ensuring food and nutrition security as well as securing livelihoods and wealth creation on the African continent. Speaking during the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Media Training Workshop organised in partnership with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)…

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Harnessing the blue economy: Zanzibar women eke a living from seaweed

In Panje, Zanzibar, on the coastline of the resort city, the Furahia Wanawake (Seaweed Farming Women Association) is an organisation of women who are eking a living from seaweed – a low-hanging fruit in the blue economy discourse. According to the Seaweed Farming Women Association Secretary, one Mwanaisha, the project officially came into full force…

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The significance of understanding consumer buying power

By Charles Dhewa One of the most overlooked trends in African agriculture-driven economies is the buying power of local consumers. When the private sector, government departments, and development agencies support agriculture, they rarely think about whether local consumers will afford what will be produced or not. At worst, this oversight leads to over-production, translating to…

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Enhancing Sustainable Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Development in Africa boosts economies

Enhancing sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in Africa has the potential of boosting economies on the continent.   This emerged at a media training workshop that kicked off in Zanzibar, Tanzania today under the theme ‘Enhancing Sustainable Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Development in Africa.”   The meeting was made possible by the African Union…

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World Food Price Barometer Surged to a New Peak Reaching its Highest Level Since July 2011′-FAO

By Joyce Mukucha The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has recently announced that the UN barometer of world food prices has surged to a new peak, reaching its highest level since July 2011. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of a basket of food commodities, is up 3.9 per cent from September, rising for a third consecutive month. According to FAO,…

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TaLI launches young women’s empowerment project in Hurungwe

On Monday, Tag a Life International (TaLI), a girls’ and young women’s rights organisation conducted a groundbreaking ceremony in the Bravo village of Hurungwe. With the view of reducing unpaid care work; gender-based violence; deforestation; and financial illiteracy,Tag a Life International launched the Young Women Empowerment Through Provision of Clean Renewable Energy for Domestic Use…

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Governments urged to Prioritize Integrated Water and Climate Action

By Joyce Mukucha The head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) together with nine other international organisations have urged nations to urgently step up and take action to address the water-related consequences of climate change. The message was communicated in a correspondence which was issued last week and directed to world leaders ahead of the…

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Spotlighting Zimbabwe’s Vulnerability Assessment Report in the wake of Climate Change Vagaries

By Tendai Guvamombe The validation of the draft Vulnerability Assessment Report (VAR) held at Mazowe Hotel, in Mashonaland Central Province on the 28th September 2021 by various stakeholders is expected to drive the country towards risk reduction in vulnerability, sensitivity, and exposure as part of climate proofing the socio economic infrastructure. The VAR will directly…

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PWDs Plead for Pvumvudza to Become an Inclusive Initiative

By Marlvin Ngiza People with Disabilities(PWDs) have appealed to the government to make concerted efforts in ensuring that the Presidential Climate-Proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa Scheme become a conducive and accommodating programme which also benefit them. Disability Amalgamation Community Trust (DACT) Executive Director, Henry Chivhanga pointed out that Pfumvudza cannot be able to turnaround PWDs’ livelihoods if it…

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All Set for Summer Cropping Season

By Joyce Mukucha The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said preparations for the summer cropping season were now at an advanced stage with all inputs for farmers including seed and fertilizer available. She said this during a post Cabinet briefing this Tuesday encouraging farmers to collect seed from SeedCo and K2…

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UNDP Donates ICT Equipment to Ministry of Agriculture

By Joyce Mukucha The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) programme has donated information and communication technology (ICT) equipment valued at USD154, 637 to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. The equipment which is aimed at supporting the capacity building of the Ministry to rollout…

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The value of agricultural commodities is in their prices on the market

By Charles Dhewa Prices of agricultural commodities in various markets are some of the most under-rated insights in African agriculture. Policy makers are more concerned with the prices of processed products like bread, cooking oil, sugar, margarine, maize meal, and imported products like fuel. There is no interest in tracking prices of daily basics like…

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Piggery artificial insemination station launched in Zimbabwe with support from the EU

By Wallace Mawire The European Union (EU) funded Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading and Empowerment (VALUE) Artificial Insemination (AI) Station was officially launched by Honourable Vangelis Haritatos, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development at Braford Farm in Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province on 21 October 2021. The AI station is one…

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Tourism SME Love for Africa positively impacting the community

Love for Africa – a destinations management company specializing in the fully inclusive travel market comprising meetings, incentives, corporate, and events, has gone out of its way to positively impact communities in Victoria Falls and beyond. Blessing Munyenyiwa, the Managing Director at Love for Africa who once worked at Disney World in the United States…

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