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…
Vendors are crying foul after the City council revealed proposed rental fees for trading space in rebuilt Mbare musika, accusing developers of profiteering and calling the charges exploitative and unaffordable for informal traders still recovering from a recent fire disaster. In October last year, the Mbare Musika was engulfed in flames. Traders suffered losses that…
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…
Climate change poses an imminent challenge, impacting the well-being of generations. Children, in particular, are at risk due to climate-related disasters, health issues, and food insecurity. In many parts of the world, people face multiple climate-related impacts such as severe droughts and flooding, air pollution, and water scarcity, leaving their children vulnerable to malnutrition and…
Human damage to the planet’s land is accelerating, with up to 40% now classed as degraded, while half of the world’s people are suffering the impacts. The then Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni, confirmed a severe and escalating threat of land degradation in Zimbabwe, primarily driven by over a million unregulated…
The City of Harare has confirmed a bedbug (tsikidzi) outbreak in the high-density suburb of Mbare, prompting an emergency pest control response set to begin on Monday, April 7, 2025. Stanley Gama, the City’s Corporate Communications Manager, announced that pest control teams have been deployed to evaluate the infestation and gather the necessary resources. He…
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…
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank approved the establishment of a fund to help put an end to hunger and malnutrition amongst school age-children in Africa. The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH) was approved on 20 March with the aim of bolstering school meal programmes in targeted African countries by expanding existing…
