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The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has bemoaned discrimination prevalent in the distribution of food assistance as the inputs and food aid are channelled through local and traditional structures. ZPP said it has over the years documented numerous cases of destitute and marginalised citizens of Zimbabwe being unlawfully denied social welfare assistance, solely on the basis…
By Byron Mutingwende The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) under the auspices of the SADC Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate has said the 2018-19 Summer Agricultural season was one of the driest since 1981. This was revealed by Dr. Tamuka Magadzire, the FEWS NET Regional Scientist for Southern Africa during…
As natural disasters threaten the most vulnerable people in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region, the EU is providing €7 million in humanitarian aid to increase the capacity of communities and authorities to prepare for and respond to disasters. This aid is in addition to the approximately €17 million in EU humanitarian assistance given…
Fish accounts for more than one-fifth of the protein intake of African south of the Sahara and provides a livelihood to millions of people Africa’s small-scale fisheries play a critical role in global food security and must be supported with greater research and investment, say international and African experts. Industry, NGO, government and academic representatives…
Mauritius is one of the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), that is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its smallness, remoteness and exposure to natural hazards. This was revealed by Dharamraj Deenoo, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Security, Environment and Sustainable Development in his presentation at the Vulnerability Assessment…
By Byron Mutingwende Across a number of counties in Southern Africa, vulnerability assessment and analysis results for the 2018/19 agricultural season paint a gloomy picture but with relevant interventions there is light at the end of the tunnel. This write-up will focus on Zimbabwe. Addressing stakeholders during the Windhoek Regional Vulnerability Assessment and…
ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ) in partnership with Zimbabwe Environment Lawyers Association (ZELA), AfroSoft Private Limited and Africa Breeders Services Total Cattle Management (ABS TCM) has launched the Second Phase of the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Programme in the Zambezi Valley reaching 45 105 households. Phase 1 of the ZRBF Programme ran from July 2016 to May…
Meeting to consolidate the regional food and nutrition security outlook for 2019 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) programme’s annual dissemination meeting has opened in Windhoek, Namibia with a call to strengthen and prioritise the mainstreaming of climate change into vulnerability assessments and analysis. The meeting that took…
By Charles Dhewa If developing countries are going to only recognise and respect research results from formal research institutes and universities, they will continue excluding diverse voices and stifling ambition. While formal institutions in Africa are doing their thing, ordinary people in farming communities, fishing villages and informal markets are creatively shaping their own future…
Tanzania, which will export maize to some countries plagued by inclement weather and droughts, has emerged the sole shining light in the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) corn crisis. The country is set to sell 700 000 tonnes of the staple maize food to Zimbabwe, which is enduring reduced yields after the Cyclone Idai ravaged…
By Esther Ngumbi The latest UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s annual Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition Report highlighted drought as one of the key factors contributing to the continuing rise in the number of hungry people in sub-Saharan Africa. And in South Africa, the Government’s Crop Estimates Committee announced that the country would harvest 20…
Econet’s innovation, Ecofarmer, a mobile-based insurance services programme epitomises the important role that technology can play in achieving gender equality. Ecofarmer is a mobile technology solution, which delivers weather-based insurance, real-time, location-based weather information and farming tips via cellphone, that is helping producers to combat the effects of climate change. Statistics show that Zimbabwe is…
By Nevson Mpofu Zimbabwe has been encouraged and pushed forward to increase its National Budget on Nutrition from 0, 45% to 3%. An Expert in Nutrition Kudakwashe Zombe of Zimbabwe Civil Organisations Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) speaking in Harare highlighted the need to consider Nutrition Health as the only way-forward to eradicate or…
By Charles Dhewa As buying patterns signify ordinary people’s priorities, developing countries should invest more in finding pockets of opportunity from micro-markets than pursuing mega deals. In most African countries, much of the overlooked growth is within open food markets from which the majority get food and income. An outside observer may see open markets…
Digital ventures already have more than 33 million registered users, according to study by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Dalberg Advisors. More than 90 per cent of the market for digital services that support African smallholders remains untapped and could be worth more than €2 billion (US$2.26bn), according to a…
The AgriShow held at Borrowdale Racecourse from Thursday last week until Saturday was an eye opener for those who attended it for the first time, with an impressive exhibition of agricultural equipment, much of which was large modern sophisticated machinery. The show, held by the Agricultural Dealers and Manufacturers Association (ADMA), attracted not only manufacturers…
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…
