The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) predicts a drop in maize production for this year’s farming season. Farmers are likely to shun the crop due to poor returns. ZNFU President Jervis Zimba said many farmers say they will not grow commercial maize because of the meagre price offered by the…
A new training academy which recently opened in Zimbabwe will provide the opportunity for local farmers to embrace mechanization in on-field experiences. The Case IH Training Academy is on the BlueSky Farms and will be run in partnership with Case IH, its Zimbabwean distributor Agricon and BlueSky Farms. The Academy,…
This family’s vegetable farming enterprise in the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa has expanded over the past nine years from a quarter hectare to nearly 40 hectares of vegetable production. They attribute their success to their willingness to exceed their customers’ demands and expectations. As…
British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane said his government has invested US$5 million to support white (Irish) potato production. “This will boost agriculture production and contribute to the country’s economic diversification programme,” the British envoy told local media. Cochrane said the money will benefit a farm in Northern Province’s…
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has signed a US$39 million deal with the Zambian government to implement a programme that will aim to help small-scale rural farmers increase production. This is as the African Consumer Union (ACU) called on government to create a more enabling…
South Africa’s Crop Estimate Committee raised the expected soya harvest to record levels. It kept the expected maize harvest for 2017 the same in the fifth crop estimate for the summer season. The soya crop was raised with 8.7% to 1.34 million tons from the previous estimate of 1.233 million…
Zambia’s tobacco production has decreased with 50%, slashing US$100 million of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. According to the Tobacco Association of Zambia (TAZ), the slump from last year’s 45 000 tons to 22 000 tons was due to continued pressure from anti-tobacco lobbyists. The decline worries government, who pledged…
Small- to medium-sized poultry producers should keep a close eye on production costs - particularly on how much feed, and what type, they’re using – without compromising optimal nutrition. Feed is one of a poultry producer’s biggest expenses, contributing 60% to 70% of total broiler production costs. Although feed prices…
Price volatility has pushed out thousands of smallholder cotton growers, says the Cotton Board of Zambia (CBZ). According to CBZ, pricing remained a major issue since 2011 when global markets experienced a spike in lint prices. “Lack of a predictable pricing model has contributed to the decrease in the number…
It’s futile trying to get farming out of your blood when your family has been dyed-in-the-wool cattle farmers in the Vryburg area in the North West province of South Africa for many years. Hinner and Heino Koster, brothers and animal scientists, decided to establish an intensive farming enterprise on a…
Zambia’s coffee production for the 2017/2018 farming season will reach 2 300 tons. This is an increase of more 1 400 tons compared to last year. Zambia Coffee Growers Association (ZCGA) chief executive officer Joseph Taguma said the bulk of the projected output is from Northern Province. “At the current…
If you have a serious interest in your animals, and in making a profit, you must measure and record. These are essential livestock management tools. Don’t skip this because the very sound of the words record keeping is enough to make you cringe. Rather cringe if you are not keeping…
If you have a serious interest in your animals, and in making a profit, you must measure and record. These are essential livestock management tools. Don’t skip this because the very sound of the words record keeping is enough to make you cringe. Rather cringe if you are not keeping…
