read all interesting agriculture stories on zimbabwe news spiked. Newsdzezimbabwe agriculture is updated every day and is very reliable.
By Charles Dhewa No matter how many times this question is answered, it continues to be asked again and again. One of the reasons is that the answer may be correct but unbelievable. As in all other markets, rules of supply and demand influence pricing of agricultural commodities in open markets that are powerful ecosystems…
Drone technology is being used to collect and analyse data, and monitor irrigated areas, combat pests At a special event highlighting the partnership between the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Korea held on the sidelines of the Bank’s Annual Meetings, the role of drone technology to boost food productivity in Africa, was on full display….
More than 400 women have signed up to Africa’s first online platform for female agripreneurs, launched today at a trade fair in Nairobi. The VALUE4HERConnect network will help bring women entrepreneurs in agriculture together in a virtual community and serve as an important business resource for members. The network, which was launched at AWAN-Afrika’s first continental conference and VALUE4HER…
NMB Bank is keen to help promote agricultural exports, which is one of the reasons it is this year participating for the first time at the Agricultural Dealers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (ADMA) Agrishow at Harare’s Borrowdale Racecourse. Its participation at the expo, which is the premiere agricultural event for commercial farmers, provides farmers with the…
By Tatenda Mujeyi A United Nations (UN) Delegation led by Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ms Ursula Mueller, presented a press briefing on their findings following a tour to Cyclone hit areas. The delegation’s visit was necessitated…
Zimnat and THI Insurance, which earlier this year entered into an underwriting management agency agreement with Zimnat General Insurance, are jointly participating in this year’s Agricultural Dealers’ and Managers’ Association Agrishow, which runs from Thursday until Saturday at Borrowdale Racecourse in Harare. The agreement between THI and Zimnat General Insurance, which came into effect on…
By Charles Dhewa How capital determines the structure of agriculture and food systems in Africa Although finance will not solve all challenges facing developing countries, the structure of African agriculture is largely shaped by the way capital flows into this fundamental sector. In Zimbabwe, for instance, more than 55% of the entire capital devoted to…
By Charles Dhewa Rural households that receive regular small incomes tend to have a better standard of living than those earning a once-off payment from a single commodity like cotton, cocoa or tobacco. Levels of malnutrition and poverty are often higher among communities that depend on high yielding mono-crops than those surviving on diverse agricultural…
Telecommunications company Econet and a global nutrition leader, Yara International ASA have launched “Generation Africa”, a partnership initiative to inspire young African entrepreneurs to join the agri-food sector for its viable business opportunities. Generation Africa will reach thousands of young people through its “GoGettaz” competition, which will award US$100,000 in prize money to two exceptional business…
The five-year USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program (2018-2023) launched on May 30. At a launch event held at Africa Synod House, representatives of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Zimbabwe, a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer, and implementing organization Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening agriculture and resilience in Zimbabwe….
By Charles Dhewa Every time farmers inquire about prices of commodities in the market they are often looking for the highest price. However, unless there are serious shortages, in both formal and informal markets, it is rare for farmers or suppliers to sell the entire consignment at the top price. In almost all agricultural commodities…
Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have handed over 14 rehabilitated irrigation schemes to 1’519 smallholder farmers in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. This marks the conclusion of the Smallholder Irrigation Programme (SIP) which was funded by the SDC to the tune of CHF 6…
By Charles Dhewa A majority of African farmers tend to make decisions based on their experiences, expectations and fears, especially in an unstable economic environment and changing climate. At the beginning of each marketing season, a question in every farmer’s head is “Should I sell now or later?” Since the future is unpredictable from both…
By John Wilson of Food Matters Zimbabwe Fame Here’s a 50-minute podcast interview with David Montgomery, a guitar-playing (belongs to two bands) Professor of Geomorphology at the University of Washington who has written books on Regenerative Agriculture. I sent out quotes from one of his books last weekend. I found the whole interview interesting, but the…
By Charles Dhewa Whether it is potato production in the highlands of Rwanda, cassava production in Northern Mozambique or sweet potato production in Gokwe South district of Zimbabwe, the marketing season presents the same headaches for farmers. While production is now much easier, profitably moving commodities from farms to markets remains a nightmare that cannot…
By John Wilson We in Africa are fighting for Agro-ecology as the modern way of farming for Africa in the 21st century. One of the main arguments against Agro-ecology has been that, as good as it may be for some farmers to improve nutrition and to deal with climate change, it’s not going to feed…
The Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme’s regional pre-assessment workshop opened with a call to National Vulnerability Assessment Committees (NVACs) of Member States to harmonise and improve the quality of assessments and analysis; and integrate emerging issues such as nutrition, gender, HIV, markets and urban vulnerability to meet the needs of decision makers. The…
By Tatenda Mujeyi The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Vangelis Haritatos, launched the inaugural Agricultural Sector Survey in partnership with Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS), Financial Gazette and AEDS as the consultant with funding from CBZ and National foods last month. The event was attended by the Minister and Ministry heads, ZAS executive board, business leaders, bankers,…
The Italian Government has contributed €250,000 to respond to the needs of communities affected by Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. The contribution, provided to the World Food Programme (WFP), will support immediate food needs in the worst-affected areas of the country. An estimated 250,000 people in seven districts of Zimbabwe were directly affected by Cyclone Idai,…
By Charles Dhewa The introduction of exotic crops, fruits and livestock into Africa was initially guided and informed by the way indigenous crops, livestock and fruits performed in different micro climates. Unfortunately, instead of cultivating co-existence between exotic and indigenous foods, the colonial knowledge system has sought to completely replace indigenous crops, fruits and livestock…
By Lovemore Chazingwa (News Correspondent) Communities vulnerable to natural disasters need be geared for preparedness and response in order to mitigate the effects of such calamities, an expert in disaster management has said. Responding to questions on the sidelines of a recent workshop on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) organised by international non-governmental…
The Government of Japan contributed US$350,000 to respond to emergency needs in Zimbabwe following Cyclone Idai. The contribution, provided to the World Food Programme, will support immediate food needs in the worst-affected areas of the country. Some 270,000 people in seven districts of Zimbabwe have been affected by Cyclone Idai which made landfall in Zimbabwe…
By Charles Dhewa The African spiny horned cucumber is abundant in Southern Africa this farming season. Like other natural crops, it does well in seasons characterised by global warming-induced drought such as the one ravaging Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe this year. Replaced by the English cucumber, the African cucumber has been completely…
By Charles Dhewa The formal education system in developing countries has not taken time to explain and justify colonial measurements that continue to be used in attaching value to agricultural commodities. Consequently, smallholder farmers wonder why some commodities are measured in kilograms and liters. In the absence of meaningful explanations, consumers and farmers surmise that…
By Byron Mutingwende Mr Cloffas Nyagumbo, the Green Innovation Hub (GiHub) Project Manager and Deputy Country Director of SNV Zimbabwe had a one-on-one meeting with Spiked Online Media wherein he laid out the advantages of the initiative to the youths and the economy. He said the GiHub seeks to address challenges around youth unemployment, climate…
By Charles Dhewa Contrary to the hype in which ICTs are presented as a panacea, ICTs-related costs in many African countries eroding the meagre promised benefits. Countless studies and articles (including this one https://www.techzim.co.zw/2019/03/cost-of-mobile-data-in-zimbabwe-should-we-even-compare/) show that the cost of data is increasing in Africa when such costs are decreasing in other parts of the world….
By Charles Dhewa Not much research is needed to prove that financial systems in most developing countries do not work for the majority of people and for the environment. To the extent that financial systems are fundamentally urban ecosystems, more than 60% of the populations that live in rural areas are not part of mainstream…
By Charles Dhewa Although rural communities in Africa may not directly push-back donor support, murmurings of dissatisfaction with some development interventions are getting louder. Such concerns are being expressed when farmers meet in markets and farming areas. Some community leaders are mastering the courage to loudly reflect on how long they will continue relying on…
By Charles Dhewa Policy makers in developing countries are often blamed for lacking the vision to craft appropriate agricultural policies that can guarantee food security and better standards of living for their people. While good policies are considered magic bullets, there is no sufficient proof that countries that have developed their economies have done so…
By Byron Mutingwende The Simuka-Phakama 2018 Green enterPRIZE Innovation Challenge is creating a platform for green enterprise development and eco-innovation to thrive Zimbabwe by empowering the citizens and businesses, particularly the youth and women, to become drivers of green and decent jobs creation. By facilitating their access to a tailored business development programme, supported by…
Tendai Guvamombe As the national economy continues on a free fall, many people are now increasingly embracing entrepreneurship through various activities in order to make ends meet. A survey conducted by Spiked Online Media at various places in Harare like Glen Norah, Budiriro and Hopely indicates that many people have drastically changed the traditional narrative…
While 70 percent of the population in most African countries live in rural areas, the bulk of food produced in rural areas is consumed in cities. There is still no clear explanation why most of the food produced in rural and marginal areas is consumed by a small population that lives in cities compared to…
By Special correspondent A FUEL solutions technology company, Garage and Forecourt (Pvt) Ltd, is rolling out an ITC based fuel management system that it argues might be panacea to manual and less accurate fuel gauging and management currently dogging service stations. According to managing director Omalli Jani, the new system replaces convectional dipsticks used to…
The United Nations together with the Government and partners today launched a Humanitarian Flash Appeal requesting for USD 234 million targeting 2.2 million people of the nearly 5.3 million Zimbabweans who need assistance until June 2019. The Humanitarian Flash Appeal presided over by the visiting UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme’s Steering Committee held their Annual Organisational meeting on 18 – 21 February 2019 in Swakopmund, Namibia to review the 2018/19 regional vulnerability assessment and analysis activities and consolidate and approve the work plan and budget for 2019/20 implementation year. The Steering Committee…
UN humanitarian chief allocates US$10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund, says more is required with 5.3 million people in need of assistance following drought and prolonged economic crisis During a three-day mission to Zimbabwe, including a meeting this morning with His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator…
The United States Government announced US$15 million in additional funding to respond to the critical food security situation in Zimbabwe. The contribution, provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), brings the total U.S. funding for the current lean season to US$38 million, ensuring nearly 600,000 rural Zimbabweans have adequate food supplies before the…
By Charles Dhewa Reducing market linkages to transactions is one of the major reasons why efforts to integrate smallholder farmers into value chains have failed to transform agriculture in developing countries. While the notion of market linkages is mostly associated with three to five year projects by development agencies, there is a new realisation that…
By the time the next planting season starts, farmers will be able to find a tractor within minutes, anywhere in Zimbabwe. This is part of an ambitious plan by Vaya, a division of Cassava SmartTech, to expand the range of services available on its mobility and logistics App. According to Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe CEO Mr…
A major headache for many developing countries is developing criteria for valuating highly fluid and transitory economic activities that are now more prevalent. Employment creation in agricultural markets and informal business ecosystems is now a major domain for women and youth, most of whom are highly mobile. Economic actors in the trading business specialize on…
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Zimbabwe is working with Government to develop a Gender Sensitive Land Policy which seeks to improve the land governance system through strengthening of the land administration system thus contributing to national development. The formulation of the policy, supported through a Technical Cooperation Programme…
The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa, noted via Facebook that his friend, Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), used to tell him that “Agriculture is not a development activity, but an industry.” That is not far from the truth because the importance of agriculture in Nigeria cannot be…
By Amon Mwashaireni (ARDA Seeds CEO) The season 2018/2019 is proving to be a drought one in most areas across the country. This has been attributed to the El Nino phenomenon which was rightfully predicted by the Meteorological Services Department. Rightly so, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Rural Resettlement and Climate, encouraged increased production…
By Charles Dhewa Efforts to modernise African agriculture continue to focus on the supply-side at the expense of the demand side. In addition to infrastructure-driven agribusiness models, there is an unfortunate belief that agricultural extension is the only important form of knowledge in transforming the agriculture industry. Instead of embracing a holistic approach that identifies…
By Charles Dhewa During times of socio-economic stability, farmers and entrepreneurs can afford to rely on one commodity or value chain. Not when climate change is announcing itself in unpredictable ways. That is why experimentation is no longer a preserve for schools and universities. Farming areas and markets are becoming laboratories for intelligent experimentation among…
