Agriculture
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Partnerships leading to greater access to nutritious food and affordable diets
The Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (SPG Coalition) brings together researchers, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners to advance a world with greater access to nutritious food and affordable diets. The Coalition recognizes that increasing the productivity of natural resources through climate adaptation and mitigation is instrumental to reaching…
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‘Superfood’ millet may be arid regions’ answer to climate change
Riding a red electric scooter on country roads in eastern India, Sanjulata Mahanta has become something of a poster girl for millet since she stunned fellow villagers by planting the hardy grain — and making a profit — three years ago. “People laughed at me and said I was growing grass,” Mahanta, 35, said on…
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Zimbabwe-China partnership gives birth to 1.14 MW Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant
Writes Elvis Dumba Raffingora – The government’s “Look East Policy” has continued to bear more fruits for the country in various spheres of the economy. The “Look East policy” success continues to be evident following the recent commissioning of a 1.14 MW Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant at Sisi Farm near Raffingora through a Zimbabwe-China partnership.…
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Stage set for implementation of in-country genome editing initiatives in Africa
The stage has been set for the implementation of genome editing, a form of biotechnology meant to spearhead agricultural transformation on the African continent. This comes as experts gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi (from August 14 to 18, 2023), are finalising the review of the zero drafts of GEd training modules that were designed for different…
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Malawi’s communication strategy, modules for Africa on genome editing workshop roars to life
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The workshop on validation of Malawi’s National Communication Strategy on Genome Editing and Genome Editing Modules for Africa has roared to life in the Southern African Country. The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is holding the Expert Group Meeting in Malawi to review genome editing (GEd) training modules that were developed by African scientists, regulators…
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FAO partners veterinary services of Mozambique and Zimbabwe against foot-and-mouth disease
Emergency support is launched to mitigate risks and to improve food security, nutrition, and access to the market of livestock farmers in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and neighbouring countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Government of Mozambique and the Government of Zimbabwe, launched a USD 500 000…
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WFP and Government of Zimbabwe launch roadmap toward food security
The Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) to formalize their collaboration on improving food systems and reforming the social protection system in Zimbabwe. The LoU aims to bolster the capacity to respond to emergencies and effectively foster investment in agricultural entrepreneurship. The Government…
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Avenues for cultivating the business face of agro-ecology in the Global South
Writes Charles Dhewa Facing the limitations of industrial agriculture, many governments and global organizations are beginning to embrace agroecology and other alternative ways of producing food. Being the application of ecological concepts and principles in farming, agroecology considers the relationships between all the plant, animal, and human elements in a system. There is some emerging…
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Africa has potential to achieve food security and sustainable development
Writes Wellington Madumira Youth Dialogue around food systems, climate change, and actions towards zero hunger in the face of a crisis on food insecurity; A Side event during the 12th Africa Green Waste and Energy Expo 2023 Africa, with its rich and diverse natural resources, has the potential to be a global powerhouse in agriculture…
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BUPUSACOM for shared watercourse promotes sustainable development
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The Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission (BUPUSACOM) was launched in Beira, Mozambique, on 19 July 2023, following the signing of the BUPUSA Water Courses Commission Establishment Agreement in Harare, Zimbabwe on 17 May 2023. The tri-basin institution will have oversight on the planning, development, and management of the water resources within the Buzi, Pungwe,…
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Technologies for preserving indigenous African food are long overdue
Writes Charles Dhewa For many decades, African countries have lagged behind in terms of developing technology for preserving indigenous food systems. What has worsened the situation is that the colonial system brought its own food and seed systems into Africa supported by appropriate technology for processing and preserving food. A lot of investments went into…
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Namibian delegation impressed by Zimbabwe’s agriculture model
Writes Elvis Dumba Zvimba – A Namibian delegation from Kavango East Region has lauded the Zimbabwean government for coming up with policies and frameworks that empower citizens through the successful agrarian revolution that was rolled out in 2000 to correct social imbalances, with beneficiaries of the land reform programme accessing machinery, loans, and inputs courtesy…
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Mashonaland West Agric Show roars to life
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West Agriculture Show being hosted by the Mash West Show Society has roared to life in Chinhoyi. The provincial agriculture and business premier exhibition opened its gates to the public on Thursday and will run until next Saturday when the Namibian Governor of The Okavango Region is expected to…
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Recently Inaugurated Zimbabwe Carbon Association Seeks to Contribute to Climate Mitigation and Adaption
The recently inaugurated Zimbabwe Carbon Association, representing many of the major investments in carbon project development in the country, welcomes the Government of Zimbabwe’s effort to bring transparency and accountability to carbon trading in the country and position Zimbabwe as a credible, attractive destination for green financing. The Zimbabwe Carbon Credit Framework, which the Government…
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Origin Digital’s Predictive Analytics Fosters Financial Inclusion, Greater Productivity to Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
South Africa’s largest agricultural lender, ABSA, says new technology has huge potential to unlock capital for smallholder farmers and SMEs who have previously had limited access to finance Pioneering ag-tech company Origin Digital is poised to help lenders revolutionise the agricultural credit landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa and drive growth in the sector. Providing credit to the smallholder…
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Dorowera Community Gets Financial Literacy Training
The Dorowera Irrigation Scheme, located in Mutoko District in Mashonaland East Province, is famous for its prolific farming. The produce makes its way to Harare’s Mbare People’s Market and some leading markets in Zimbabwe. The Adam Molai Foundation and GetBucks Bank held a financial literacy seminar for the Dorowera community last Friday at the Irrigation…
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Government Analyst Laboratory receives SADCAS ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 accreditation
The Government Analyst Laboratory (GAL) received the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation after a successful assessment by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS). In a speech read on his behalf during the accreditation ceremony in Harare today, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Health and Child Care, Air Commodore, Dr. Jasper Chimedza said the Government Analyst Laboratory (GAL)…
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My Food is African! Campaign promotes consumption of traditional Zimbabwean foodstuffs
Under the auspices of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe is undertaking a campaign in Zimbabwe to raise awareness and consciousness on the farming, and consumption of traditional Zimbabwean food under the banner of the My Food is African! Campaign. In Zimbabwe, the campaign is…
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Hundreds of land seekers duped by masquerading name dropping war veterans
Writes Elvis Dumba Banket – Prospective land seekers have been against being duped in their earnings by an unscrupulous group masquerading as war veterans specially assigned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to allocate land. This was said by Mashonalnd West Provincial ZANU (PF) Veterans League Chairperson, Happison Muchechetere when he addressed hundreds of people who had…
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How revisiting the meaning of data can add value to African content
Writes Charles Dhewa The advent of digital solutions has brought confusion to the meaning of the word data. This continues to undermine indigenous knowledge systems and African intellectual heritage in several ways. Academics and researchers have always viewed data as a subset of information that can be collected and processed into diverse knowledge products such as…
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53rd SADC PF Assembly focuses on modernising agriculture for food security, employment creation
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The 53rd Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Assembly has roared to life in Tanzania and will focus on the Theme “Modernising Agriculture to Address Food Insecurity and Youth Unemployment in the SADC Region: The Role of Parliaments” and is running from 2 to 8 July 2023. In his presentation at the meeting,…
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Government intensifies climate proof agriculture, targets 700 000 hectares for small grains production
Writes Elvis Dumba Banket – The government is strengthening efforts to climate-proof the agriculture sector from the effects of climate change through supporting initiatives towards increased production of small traditional grains. The government has set a target of 700 000 hectares for traditional small grains under the Presidential Climate Proof Agriculture Scheme locally known as…
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Joint ventures urged for optimum land use
Writes Elvis Dumba Banket – Investment partnerships in agriculture are critical for maximum and optimum land use for the success of the government’s agrarian reform program. The sentiments were made by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. John Basera during a winter wheat field visit at Mema Estates in Banket. “As we go for…
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Namibian delegation to grace Mashonaland West Agricultural Show
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – The much anticipated Mashonaland West Agricultural Show will roar into life from the 26th up to the 29th of July 2023 in Chinhoyi with a Namibian delegation comprising government officials and players in the agriculture exhibition sector expected in the country for the premier showcase. Speaking to the media during…
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AUDA-NEPAD facilitates development of genome editing communication training curricula and modules
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has initiated the development of communication training curricula and modules to help address the current policy needs, gaps, and challenges of genome editing (GEd) on the continent. Officially opened in Maputo, Mozambique today, the workshop seeks to develop a core module on genome editing communication that can be adapted…
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7 critical uncertainties that affect African farmers and food systems
Writes Charles Dhewa While volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) have become a major characteristic of all economies across the globe, the situation is worse for African farmers and food systems. In agriculture-driven African economies, some of the enduring uncertainties include the following: 1. Price uncertainties – whether producing for the domestic market or export market,…
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ActionAid report: High food and fuel prices affect world’s marginalised communities
The cost of food, fuel, and fertiliser in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities is continuing to escalate to crisis levels since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with families spending up to ten times what they paid almost 16 months ago, according to new analysis from international humanitarian organisation ActionAid. A survey of more than…
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Trading raw commodities generates more knowledge than trading processed food
…surprises from African mass food markets By Charles Dhewa For people keen to learn about indigenous entrepreneurship, African mass food markets never disappoint. Also known as territorial markets, these institutions are the heartbeat of genuine knowledge exchange. Like any other institution where thousands of people congregate, African mass food markets are not perfect but they…
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Government of Zimbabwe helps meet refugees needs
The Government of Zimbabwe has today contributed 4,400 mt of maize grain to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to meet the food needs of refugees living at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge. The in-kind contribution comes at a critical time – when funding for refugees is limited and follows the commitment made by…
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Application of new technologies: Genome editing to boost agricultural production
As Zimbabwe is striving to become an upper middle-income economy by harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation capacity, genome editing has been described as a key enabler in ensuring a boost in agriculture. This was revealed by Mr. Willard Manungo, the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet during a workshop to review and validate…
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Dairy value chain to benefit from Belarus mechanisation
Own Correspondent Zimbabwe’s agriculture dairy value chain is set to benefit from the Belarus mechanisation programme, after the Eurasian country pledged to diversify the programme. This came out when the visiting Belarus Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Leonid Zayats toured two local firms that produce dairy and related products in Harare Wednesday. The visiting Belarusian delegation,…
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Japan helps boost community resilience in Zimbabwe’s rural areas
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has rolled out resilience-building activities with the support of the Government of Japan to boost food security and improve the livelihoods of nearly 9,000 people in Chiredzi district, in southern Zimbabwe. The funding, a US$ 900,000 contribution coming at a critical time, will help WFP to provide food…
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First Lady’s educational empowerment programme gave me eyes: Granny
Writes Elvis Dumba Zvimba – The various initiatives by The First Lady Dr. Auxilia Mnangagwa has been described as empowerment game changer for disadvantaged citizens. A 66-year-old granny Elizabeth Chidakwa said the program has offered her wings and eyes to improve her agriculture activities. The small-scale agriculture enthusiastic granny said the short agriculture training has…
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Food safety risks in developing countries’ informal sector tackled in new report
The report was produced by Spencer Henson, Steven Jaffee, and Shuo Wang More sticks, fewer carrots: New directions for tackling food safety risks Key messages Despite ongoing structural changes, small-scale processors, grocers, market vendors, and food service operators dominate the food systems of most low- and lower-middle-income countries; Unsafe food is widespread in informal food…
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Zimbabwe gears up for carbon trading
Writes Elvis Dumba Harare – As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change-induced weather pattern challenges, Zimbabwe has joined the carbon trading sector as it gears up its efforts in mitigating the phenomenon. Zimbabwe recently developed and adopted a national carbon credit framework that is expected to guide businesses, benefit communities,…
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Government committed to the maintenance of macro-economic stability
The Government remains committed to the maintenance of macroeconomic stability, preservation of the purchasing power of the Zimbabwe dollar, and restoration of trust and confidence in the economy. This emerged at the high-level dialogue meeting on the economy that officially opened by Dr. Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet and NECF…
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USAID and WFP Help 66 000 Hunger-Stricken Zimbabweans
Writes Evans Muranganwa Humanitarian agency, World Food Programme has received US$8.7 million for its 2023 Food for Assets programme from the United States government through USAID. Speaking at the handover ceremony, USAID acting mission director Mr. Ramses Gauthier said the donation will help food-insecure households in Rushinga, Masvingo, Kariba, Mwenezi and Zvishavane. “I am honoured…
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Zvishavane women call for participation in extractive sector
By Tatenda Muchadenyika Women in Zvishavane have called upon the government and the extractive sector to recognise and facilitate rural women’s meaningful beneficiation from local resources so as to leave no one behind as espoused in Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy (NDS1). The call was made at a local workshop organised by WCoZ to…
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AUDA-NEPAD spearheading genome editing to optimise agricultural production
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) through its Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation is running the Genome Editing (GEd) project meant to foster a broader understanding of modern biotechnology focusing on GEd among different stakeholder groups through communication and advocacy for enhanced uptake of the tool to optimize agriculture in Africa. This…
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Food systems are broader than value chains – thanks to African mass markets
By Charles Dhewa While there is a tendency for policymakers to conflate food systems with value chains, mass food markets reveal how food systems are broader than value chains. That distinction is very important in clarifying and creating pathways for decolonizing food systems. Putting African mass food markets at the center of food systems demonstrates…
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Mozambique delegation impressed by Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector
By Elvis Dumba A delegation from Mozambique that was part of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi’s three-day state visit to Zimbabwe said they have been impressed by the country’s agriculture sector and seek to strengthen areas of cooperation in the sector to allow their country to become food secure. The delegation visited Nyathi Imhenyu Farm in…
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WFP supports government’s e-extension services
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… as it donates tablets to extension workers By Tafadzwa Muranganwa Realising the immense benefits of digitizing extension services in Zimbabwe, the humanitarian agency, World Food Programme has donated high-end tablets to some government extension workers. Speaking at the official handover of the 635 tablets to the Agricultural Rural Development and Advisory Service (ARDAS) on…