The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) conducted critical commissioning tests on Kariba Dam’s sluice gates last week, marking the final stages of a four-year rehabilitation project, the agency announced. Engineers released water equivalent to three seconds’ worth of power generation turbine operation through the gates over a four-minute period, directing it into the dam’s reshaped plunge…
Government has assured farmers that it has enough seeds for the 2025 /26 farming season. This statement was made by Deputy Minister Davis Marapira of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development following his tour of the Valley Seeds processing plant in Murehwa. The Deputy Minister expressed satisfaction with the current level of preparedness for…
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has extended temporary fishing restrictions on Lake Kariba until May 31, 2025, maintaining a reduced minimum allowable fishing depth of 17 meters instead of the standard 20 meters, officials announced Thursday. The move follows assessments showing persistently low catches of kapenta, a critical freshwater fish, amid drought-driven…
Agricultural firm Valley Seed has launched two new wheat varieties, dubbed Zambezi and Limpopo, designed to withstand climate extremes and boost yields for the 2025 winter season, The release coincides with the government’s confirmation that all agricultural inputs for the upcoming wheat season are available domestically. “We are happy to present the two new varieties…
The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (The Mechanism) is making significant strides toward closing Africa’s agricultural productivity gap. At its 14th Governing Council meeting, held on 20 March 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Mechanism reported that its initiatives had facilitated access to 18,448 tons of fertilizer for 115,535 smallholder farmers across Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe during 2024. These…
Every year, millions of people around the world get sick from foodborne illnesses, with many losing their lives to preventable diseases. Foodborne illnesses (also called food poisoning) happen when you eat or drink something contaminated with harmful germs, chemicals, or toxins. These can make you sick, causing stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The World Bank estimates…
In the drought-prone district of Mwenezi, Zimbabwe, farmers battle unpredictable rainfall and dwindling agricultural yields. Climate change has made traditional farming methods unreliable, forcing smallholder farmers to seek new solutions. For Chizivano Shava, a lead farmer in the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) project, innovation is not just an option, it’s a necessity. Supported by the…
African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has announced plans to launch a $500 million facility designed to unlock $10 billion in financing for smallholder farmers and small agribusiness enterprises across Africa. Speaking at the High-Level Conference on Scaling Finance for Smallholder Farmers in Nairobi, Adesina revealed that Bank management is currently consulting with…
Shamva Agricultural College has turned to smart agriculture in line with the current global push to boost agricultural productivity, food security and climate change mitigation. During a tour of the facilities, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water And Rural Development lead by Dr. Jotam Dondofema and a group of Chinese agricultural experts from China…
Shamva Agriculture College, in collaboration with AUSSIEZIM, has established a Climate Smart Farming Hub (CSFH) aimed at addressing the challenges of farming in the context of climate change. The initiative focuses on promoting environmental farming methods and sustainable food systems. AUSSIEZIM Technical Director Killian Ruzande explained that the project focuses on innovation and research to…
