ProAgri Africa/Zambia 100

ProAgri AFRICA

ProAgri Zambia’s 100th edition! Cover

Dear Readers,

It is with great joy and pride that we celebrate the 100th edition of our ProAgri Zambia/Africa magazine. This milestone marks a journey filled with inspiration, innovation, and the unwavering commitment to delivering quality content to our esteemed readership.

As I reflect on the past editions, I am reminded of the countless stories we have shared, the insightful interviews conducted, and the thought-provoking articles that have graced our pages. With each edition, we had the farmer and our farming community in mind, driving our passion behind it all, crafted with the aim of informing and engaging our farming community and audience.

Our magazine has evolved over the years, adapting to the changing times and embracing new trends and technologies. Thinking back on how we had to adapt during the COVID 19 pandemic, yet, amidst the changes, our core values have remained constant – a dedication to journalistic integrity, a passion for storytelling, and a deep appreciation for our readers' trust and support.

To reach this milestone would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our talented team of writers, editors, designers, clients and contributors. But most importantly, we owe a debt of gratitude to you, our loyal readers. Your continued support, feedback, and encouragement have been the fuel that has propelled us forward,

inspiring us to strive for excellence with each edition.

As we celebrate this momentous occasion, we also look ahead with excitement and anticipation for the future. With your continued support, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence, exploring new horizons, and delivering even more compelling content in the editions to come.

Smart crops are the way of the future and Advanta Seeds are changing agriculture with their climate-smart crops. During a historical day for Advanta Seeds they presented their new forage crop trials on Sugargraze to the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, at the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) of the Mount Makulu research station in Lusaka. The ProAgri media team also had the honour of being the official media partner of this historical event. Read more on page 2.

More highlights covered in this 100th edition include articles about the recent AgriTech expo which we attended in Zambia. We hope you enjoy this jam-packed edition. Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. Here's to the next 100 editions and beyond!

We wish our farmers all the best for the coming season.

Warmest regards, Bianca Henning bianca@proagri.co.za

Smart crops are the way of the future and Advanta Seeds are changing agriculture with their climate-smart crops. During a historical day for Advanta Seeds they presented their new forage crop trials on Sugargraze to the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, at the Zambia

in Lusaka. Read more on page 2.

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ProAgri Zambia

Editor

Bianca Henning >

Reporters

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Ashleigh Schubert

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Client Relations Manager

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Marketing Manager

Diane Grobler >

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Climate smart Sugargraze from Advanta seeds:

EasyWean® is all about the cow

diane@proagri.co.za

AgriTech Expo Zambia shapes the future of agriculture for Zambia and neighbouring African countries

Bayer's insecticides and maize stood out at AgriTech

Saro Agro has a wide range of equipment for your farm

Omnia supports farmers during climate change

Zimmatic/FieldNET technology revolutionises your entire operation

SAZAM Agri Distributors: The one-stop-shop for farmers, big or small Tata John Deere Zambia bridges gaps and breaks barriers in agriculture

FAW Trucks SA unveils the JK6 FD/FT variant, reinforcing its position as an industry pioneer

SunAgri drones won the war against fall army worms

John Deere’s SMART solution for Africa!

BSI Steel has the best deal (for you!)

Effects of litter on your broiler production

Marketing

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Head of Design

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Design

Erosion control: Old tyres to the rescue

Farmers welcome Advanta Seeds' drought tolerant high yielding crop varieties

Anja Oosthuizen

Enquiries

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Temperature management can make or break boiler production

UNECA: Agricultural innovation needed to aid food production in Africa

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Banana production in Africa part 5: Harvesting and Marketing

Hydroponics part 2: Passive and active hydroponics

Technews: The latest in agricultural technology from around the world

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Banana production in Africa part 4: Controlling weeds and pest control

Setting up your first hydroponic system: What you need to know Technews

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Zimbabwe's sugar industry weathers climate storm

Senter 360: The irrigation answer for Botswana’s farmers

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Managing water sources is key to water security

Boreholes dry up in Zimbabwe plots

Zimbabwe agri workers’ wage woes

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Business Manager

Research to drive agricultural sustainability in Zimbabwe

Drought tests Zimbabwe's disaster preparedness Zimbabwe's agriculture statistics dilemma

George Grobler

Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) of the Mount Makulu research station

Climate smart Sugargraze from Advanta Seeds: The sweet taste of success

by Natasha Pretorius

Smart crops are the way of the future and Advanta Seeds are changing agriculture with their climate smart crops. During a historical day for Advanta Seeds they presented their new forage crop trials on Sugargraze to the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, at the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) of the Mount Makulu research station in Lusaka.

What is Sugargraze?

Braam van der Berg, Advanta’s Product Portfolio Manager for field crops Southern Africa, explains Sugargraze as a sweet sorghum hybrid.

Sugargraze can be used for several purposes. He explains that the big advantage of using Sugargraze is that it is a climate smart crop. With Zambia experiencing a drought, Sugargraze is drought tolerant.

“It is a multipurpose crop; you can use it for green fodder throughout the season, as standing hay, and continue to grow it up until winter when you send your animals into the field,” lists Braam.

Because of the high sugar content

Duan Viljoen, Business Manager for Advanta Seeds Southern Africa, talks about the historical day for Advanta Seeds.

and brix level it, makes an excellent substitute for maize. When you compare it to maize, Sugargraze is higher in protein and energy, and is therefore more effective for silage.

Sugargraze grows quickly and takes about 110 days before it can be cut for silage. It also means it can be grazed three to four times per crop cycle.

“The main purpose of these trials was to compare Sugargraze with sugar cane to see if the former can be a substitute for bio-ethanol. It is a twelvemonth trial, because sugar cane takes twelve months to get to the stage of cutting. In this time the Sugargraze can be cut up to four times.”

Historical changes for Advanta and Zambia

in Zambia since 2018 and has mainly provided farmers with maize products. But they now also want to focus on their sorghum varieties.

“We have three varieties of maize; two white and one orange. As Advanta we want to focus on nutritional security.

Sorghum is very nutritious,” says Steven.

He adds that Advanta is investing in the advancement of both maize and grain sorghum which will mean more employment for the country. The varieties are developed by Advanta's world class research and development and are perfectly suitable for Zambian conditions.

Duan Viljoen, Business Manager for Advanta Seeds Southern Africa, says the purpose of the day was to show the benefits of growing forage sorghum as a dual-purpose crop compared to alternative crops.

“Forage sorghum is one of nature’s best gifts to farmers. It is versatile and can be used as standing hay for grazing, as silage for animal feed and alternative purpose like for instance bio-ethanol production. For Zambian farmers this is the perfect alternative, because Sugargraze is a climate smart crop,” he explains.

Advanta primarily provides seeds to the Zambian market and invests in research that assist the country to develop and diversify their crops.

“Of course we are here for the long run; we are here to see the Zambian system grow and to invest in the future of Zambia,” says Duan.

More than just food security

Steven Ngoma, Business Development Manager for Advanta in Zambia, explains they are looking at two different types of sorghum trials at ZARI: grain sorghum

Agriculture helping Zambia grow

After a round table discussion with Advanta representatives and various other stakeholders, President Hakainde Hichilema had the opportunity to see the Sugargraze trials for himself.

Speaking to the media he said: “Climate change is here to stay, and the ramifications of climate change are obvious: drought, and sometimes in the same year, floods as well. We need mitigation measures, and these are some of the measures we are taking, scientists and researchers cultivating drought resistant crop varieties.”

He added that doing the research is good, but this technology now needs to go the farmers and to the fields. During the discussion, President Hichilema said the government must make a checklist to ensure that they give the right support not only to Advanta but other research companies as well.

“The pantry now can have a myriad of crops that will be produced under different conditions triggered by climate change. Then the nation can benefit from food security, and industrial

applications to grow the economy and bio-ethanol."

He adds that he is a cattle man and one of the issues that livestock farmers face is feeding their animals. Sugargraze can help solve this problem.

“I want to encourage the citizens of Zambia to support these initiatives. Let us help them to quickly commercialise mass production of the outcomes of this research so that the economy can flourish, and the young people can get jobs.

“Agriculture is critical because it is food, it is industrial, and it creates jobs. Young people must realise that farming is not only for the older generation. The idea that farming does not pay is wrong. I want to send a clear message that farming is a business. It is not just a livelihood; it is a growth opportunity. This research will give you the right varieties to start. The agriculture sector is one of the few sectors that provide you with food, an income, shelter on the farm, and as an African you can look after many people.”

Switching from maize to sorghum Twice a year the Zambian government helps poor and vulnerable but viable farmers by providing them with seed and fertiliser for grain production.

They assist about 200 000 farmers but have added another 100 000 to accommodate all 85 districts suffering from the drought in Zambia.

Dr Chisangano Fransesca Zyanbo, Zambia’s Minister of Energy, says her team has been discussing and planning how they can migrate from giving their beneficiaries maize to giving them drought resistant seeds, like sorghum.

“Traditionally we give maize seed, but this year we have learned that we need to move away from the traditional maize and think smart, because if we don’t think smart and very quickly,

there will be serious hunger situations in the country,” she says.

Government working to promote sorghum

Reuben Mtolo, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, explains that they are already working on promoting sorghum for the export market.

“Part of my responsibilities is to make sure we have sufficient production to feed ourselves and for trade outside.

Maize is our food staple; we eat maize up to three times a day here in Zambia, and we are trying to encourage the community in Zambia to start changing their table habits by adding different types of food.”

He explains they have already been working on using bio-ethanol as an alternative fuel source.

They have also added millet production, which includes sorghum to their Farmer Input Support Programme which they use for exporting.

They now also support sorghum under their Credit Window, which is a sustainable financing facility they have introduced to banks.

Lastly, they are focusing on bringing in more private sector partners like Zambeef and Zambian breweries to make use of these new sorghum varieties for their products.

Advanta leaving their mark on Zambia and Africa

Ndavi Muia, Advanta’s Subregional Head for Africa and the Middle East, was very pleased with how the event played out.

He says like many others their entry into Zambia was with maize, but since 2018 they have been adding several crops to their portfolio.

“We have three varieties of maize which we sell in the local market, as well as an extensive portfolio of vegetables. We are dedicated to invest in Zambia. We see Zambia as a location for producing our varieties for multiple

geographies elsewhere on the African continent. We invest in other crops beyond just sorghum, and have a wide portfolio of vegetable seeds as well. We want to make Zambia an anchor country for our business in Africa.

Zambia anchors some of the neighbouring markets like Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. We plan on expanding in Zambia for the next ten years.”

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of sorghum, Advanta’s seed technologies, or wish get in touch with a representative, you can visit their website www.advantaseeds.com.

Braam van der Berg, Advanta’s Product Portfolio Manager for field crops Southern Africa, explains the benefits of Sugargraze.

President Hakainde Hichilema arriving for the round table discussion and field visit.

EasyWean® is all about the cow

by Izak Hofmeyr

Source: Stockfarm magazine

The use of the NoseRing® to wean calves is not new. It has been around since the mid-nineties and is one of the best methods producers can employ to reduce weaning stress.

In the early 1990’s, Dick Richardson and Judy Vercueil from Whole Concepts were responsible for weaning some 500 calves a year on a cattle farm in the Vryburg district. They also trained livestock producers from across Southern Africa in holistic management. They soon realised there must be a better way of reducing stress during calf weaning. And so, 27 years ago, the EasyWean® NoseRing® came into being.

They wanted to simplify management, says Judy. It is much easier in terms of veld and herd management to wean a calf at foot. It only took one weaning season for the stress relief benefits of the NoseRing® to prove itself.

Producer feedback

One producer who is well aware of the myriad advantages of the NoseRing® is Leo Roets from Leoma Bovelders. Leo and his father, Leo Snr, farm near Piet Plessis in the Kalahari. They began using NoseRings® to reduce weaning shock and associated weight loss

in their heifer calves, he says. They wanted their first calvers to calve down at 24 months of age. This means heifers must weigh 60% of their mature weight at the age of 14 to 15 months.

“Our replacement heifers need to keep gaining weight, but this upward curve is interrupted when calves are being weaned. We want to avoid this because in the extensive environment we farm in, it is near impossible to regain the weight lost between weaning and mating.

“Heifer calves gain between 250 and 300 g per day on our sweetveld, provided a good quality winter lick and decent winter pasture is also available. But let’s say she loses 8 kg during weaning, then you will have to keep her on the grazing a month longer so she can regain her original weight. The opposite is also true because the earlier a heifer reaches her target weight, the earlier she can be mated and enter the production line. Hence, weight loss at weaning has far-reaching implications for our system.”

Pay attention to cow weight

However, weight loss in calves during weaning is not the most vital aspect that needs managing, Leo found.

Weight loss in cows ranks much higher – some cows may lose up to 40 kg while weaning their calves, which has far-reaching implications for those cows’ fertility records.

“We only make use of natural veld, which makes it difficult to regain that 40 kg in winter. Weaning on our farm is in May and calving in September, which gives us only three and a half months to make up for the 40 kg that were lost. This is simply not doable in winter without the help of expensive complimentary feed. This means the cow will not be in top condition come the calving season. And, as everyone knows, this has implications for reconception the following season.”

Weaning shock and associated weight loss can be reduced with the help of the NoseRing®. Because they wean in the first two weeks of May, a fair amount of green grass is still available. The calves fitted with NoseRings® remain with their mothers, grazing alongside them in the veld for the first ten days of weaning. They lose minimal weight and when the calves are taken away, cows still have enough time to prepare for the next calving season in September and October. Within a month post weaning, says Leo, the

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cows look as though they’ve been given extra feed.

Table 1 shows data Leo collected during a trial in 2022 consisting of a group of 15 calves with NoseRings® and 15 without during the ten-day period. It contains a summary of the average difference in weight after the ten-day period. The calves and their mothers were weighed twice: when the NoseRings® were inserted and again upon removal.

shock and does not lose weight. As a result, she has no difficulty regaining condition and is ready to go to the bull three months later.

“Our first-calver reconception rate has been 92% the past eight or so years, which is directly attributable to our animals not losing condition. She has no trouble getting through the winter and has an optimal body condition score once the breeding period arrives, all without the need for extra forage.”

The ovum starts developing around 100 days prior to conception, explains Leo. Therefore, to guarantee that each cow’s ova are ready for fertilisation once it is time to calve, the cow must be in the best condition during the preceding 100 days. This brings you to shortly before calving, during which time the cow must have a condition score that supports the development of the ovum. It is far easier and cheaper to improve her condition score at the optimum time if she does not have a bodyweight deficit due to her weaning her calf.

“A NoseRing®, which can be used multiple times, costs around R25 – far cheaper than what a bag of feed would cost you. The NoseRing® is therefore an inexpensive tool that assists you in reaching your goals for cow productivity.”

For more information, contact Leo Roets on 082 820 6956 or Judy Vercueil on 082 459 9451 or judy@ nosering.co.za.

Advantages for the cow

“To maintain an intercalving period (ICP) of 365 days, your cows need to regain condition very quickly after weaning in order to be ready for the coming calving season. However, this is no easy task if the winter veld lacks nutrients and there is no extra forage nor crop residues. Cows that maintain condition during weaning will not only save you in terms of costs, but will also reconceive quicker post calving. And the NoseRing® is very handy in this regard.”

For many producers, the NoseRing® is about relieving the stress on the calf during weaning, when in fact it is all about the cow, explains Leo. She is, after all, the factory on which the entire production system is based.

For the region they farm in and to maintain an ICP of 365 days, the optimal condition score at calving is from 3,5 to 3,7, says Leo. Cows easily achieve this score without complimentary feed. They’ve been able to maintain these figures since implementing NoseRings® six years ago, despite the weather fluctuating between drier and wetter periods.

Good condition = good conception

“Heifers are bred for the first time when they are 13 to 15 months old; then they will basically calve before they are 24 months old. After that, skipping a year is not allowed. I find that NoseRings® and their stress alleviation effect during weaning contribute to heifers conceiving so early.

“The real test lies in getting that first calver to reconceive in time the following year. This is when the true value of the NoseRing® comes to light. That heifer experiences minimum weaning

Table 1: Mean weight difference during the ten-day weaning period, 2022 trial. (Source: Leo Roets)

Raising healthy pigs for prosperity!

High quality feed is critical for your piglets growth and health

Feeding program - Develop a feeding program that is either based on age or weight of the piglets to reduce variations and improve growth. Good nutrition - It is important that newborn piglets receive colostrum as soon as possible after birth. Make sure that the sow has enough teats for each piglet to feed on.

Iron deficiency - Inject your piglets with iron 2-3 days after birth as the sow’s milk does not contain enough iron. Creep ration - Introduce high quality creep ration week three after birth for maximum gain through to weaning. Weaner diet - Start your piglet on a weaner diet around seven to ten weeks. Weaner diets are lower in milk and animal by-products, to meet the needs of the piglet.

AgriTech Expo Zambia shapes the future of agriculture

for Zambia and neighbouring African countries

by Bianca Henning

More than 18 000 visitors poured through the gates of AgriTech Expo 2024 in Chisamba, Zambia, all eager to learn of the latest developments in agriculture.

The organiser, DLG Agriculture, along with the Zambian National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and venue hosts, Golden Valley Research Trust (GART), were very proud to open the gates for the 10th anniversary of AgriTech Expo Zambia.

The goal of the expo is establishing a marketplace for regional and international industry professionals, young agri entrepreneurs and farmers of all scales, to come together in one location to conduct exclusive agribusiness transactions while being informed on the latest global industry trends to advance into the next generation of food production.

The expo scored with outstanding exhibitor satisfaction and second-highest visitor numbers in its history with 18 800 attendees and 175 exhibitors displaying their latest products.

Networking, workshops, crop plots, machinery and several demonstrations were some of the highlights of the expo. The expo consistently presents cutting-

New seed varieties, fertilisers, agrochemicals and crop protection was on display from many top industry suppliers, offering real-time advice and guidance to farmers.

edge technology and machinery contributing to sustainable farming practices and agribusiness success.

The expo grounds comprises of 85 000 square metres of exhibition space and offered both small and emerging farmers as well as large-scale and commercial farmers a professional business platform where they experienced the latest offerings from world class suppliers of agriculture machinery. Minister Reuben Mutolo Phiri of Agriculture and Minister Mike E Mposha, of Water Development and Sanitation, also attended the expo.

Two new inclusions to the expo were an expanded drone zone with five exhibitors, and the insurance and finance zone where farmers and stakeholders were able to inform themselves on the latest products from well-known brands and explore financing options.

In addition to the expanded zones and technology, AgriTech Expo Zambia continued to keep its international flair with more country pavilions from Zim-

The Expo consistently presents cutting-edge technology and machinery contributing to sustainable farming practices and agribusiness success.

babwe and China. International suppliers from Germany, Czech Republic, South Africa, Mauritius, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, and Russia displayed their products and innovations from their parts of the world tailored to the needs of the farmers in the region.

The expo also included an irrigation zone, energy park, livestock zone, machinery and equipment demonstration area, and a SME and business zone.

Several well-known irrigation companies, such as Reinke Irrigation, exhibited their pivots at the expo.

We look forward to the AgriTech Expo of 2025, to see even more technological advancements and improvements that can benefit the farmer. For more information about the AgriTech expo, visit their website at https://agritech-expo. com/

AMAR MULTICROP THRESHER SARO

ENGINE MODEL

Designed for efficient threshing of various crops including Maize, Soyabean, Sunflower, Wheat and more. With its robust construction and precision engineering, this thresher streamlines harvesting processes, boosting productivity and reducing labor costs.

Bayer’s insecticides and maize stood out at AgriTech

by Benine Ackermann

Bayer strives to provide farmers with what they need to thrive in their areas. Many of Bayer’s Dekalb maize cultivars are, for example, drought tolerant which is very important in a country like Zambia.

At the AgriTech Expo 2024 in Zambia Bayer showcased their different cultivars and crop protection solutions for farmers. The AgriTech Expo gives farmers the opportunity to see for themselves why they should choose Bayer’s Dekalb products.

Crop protection

ProagriMedia visited their stand and learnt a lot about Bayer’s crop protection products that farmers can use after planting to help combat insects and diseases.

“Farmers need something that protects their crops against stress. Due to high temperatures crops tend to lose water causing stress. The product Folicur ® helps with water loss and diseases,” says Hamakona Munjile, Bayer Sales Officer.

It is a systemic fungicide emulsion, for the control of diseases like crown rust, leaf rust, eye spot, leafspot, and net blotch.

The tomatoes in Bayer’s crop patch received a clean bill of health thanks to their crop protection programme.

Hamakona showed their tomato garden at the AgriTech Expo. “As you can see these tomatoes are clean from diseases. Directly after planting we applied Confidor ®.”

Confidor ® is a systemic water dispersible granule insecticide for the control of aphids, red scale, thrips, leafminer, and psylla on citrus trees; aphids on cotton, potatoes, cucurbits, tobacco, cruciferae, and roses; woolly aphid on apples, tobacco slug on tobacco, whitefly on tomatoes and mealybug on grapes.

Grain solutions

Dekalb white maize hybrids: “Dekalb cultivars all have good grain quality,” Hamakona says.

DK777 Shoma means trust. “Farmers trust that when they plant this variant they will have a good harvest. It is drought resistant and is a medium transitional hybrid maize variety with a yield potential of 8 to 10t/ha. It takes four to five months to reach maturity.

Key strengths:

• High and stable yielder with potential of up to 10 t/ha under good agronomic management.

• Tolerant to Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease.

• Good tolerance to leaf diseases.

• Double cobbing potential.

• Exceptional good grain texture (flint grain type) good for poundability.

• Strong stem and stands well.

• Uniform cob placement, ease when machine harvesting.

DKC90-89 (Ngao-Ngao)

DKC90-89 (Ngao-Ngao) is a reliable and stable variant. It takes four to four and a half months to mature.

Key strengths:

• High and stable yielder with potential of up to 10 t/ha under good

agronomic management.

• Good tolerance to leaf diseases.

• Double cobbing potential.

• Exceptional good grain texture (flint grain type) good for poundability.

• Strong stem and stands well.

DKC80-33 (Tamanga)

DKC80-33 (Tamanga) is a short season variant. To reach maturity takes 3,5 to four months.

Key strengths:

• Double cobbing potential.

• Tolerant to drought and leaf diseases.

• Early maturing.

• Stable yielder with potential of up to 7 t/ha under good agronomic management and widely adapted across environments.

• Strong stem and stands well.

• Drooping of mature ears.

Dekalb yellow maize hybrids: A new yellow maize hybrid in Zambia called DK7500 was also showcased.

Key strengths:

• Excellent colour and health.

• Maintains high yield and potential.

• High adaptability between environments.

• Maintains a texture and type of semi-crystalline grain.

• 120 days to maturity.

• Cob insertion height is 130 cm.

Visit Bayer in Zambia at Plot 10103, Mumbwa Road, Lusaka, Zambia or contact +26021-1286451/53 to find out more about their products.

by Benine Ackermann

Saro Agro has a wide range of equipment for your farm

Solar systems and generators, trac-

tors, construction equipment and irrigation systems could be admired and acquired from the Saro Agro stand at the AgriTech Expo in Zambia.

For all of the products Saro Agro sells, the company has developed a complete maintenance package at its various workshops. Their outlets are SARO Head Office & SARO Soweto in Lusaka (SARO Soweto), Mkushi, Kitwe, Choma, Solwezi, Chipata, Kasama, Kabwe, Livingstone, Mumbwa, Mongu, and Mpongwe where they provide a professional back-up service, offering technical expertise as well as parts.

Solar backup system and generators

With Saro Agro you do not have to experience power interruptions. The company supplies generator sets, diesel engines, electric motors and starters, and solar equipment.

“We have various types of inverters, from 850 VA up to 10kVA. The customers can connect them as backup or use them with solar systems if they want to go off the grid,” says Kafula Kabwibwi from Saro Agro. “We have the Zesco inverters and also have the hybrid ones with lithium batteries,” she added.

T hey also have solar streetlights to make sure your farm is illuminated at night for security reasons.

“We have smaller generators from 2,5 kVA up to 1 000 kVA that can be used at home, for pumping water or in hospitals or lodges,” Kafula said.

Tractor range

Saro Agro had the Kubota, Landini and TAFE tractor range to suit every farmer’s needs at the AgriTech Expo.

“We have the 67 kW Kubota brand, Landini models from 44 kW up to 223 kW, and the TAFE range. The TAFE range is our biggest seller,” says Lisbern Mangani, Workshop Manager at Saro Agro.

“We have branches countrywide which makes it easy for our team to get as quickly as possible to the customer in need.”

Saro Agro goes through a procedure of pre-delivery inspection before they

deliver a tractor where they make sure that everything is in perfect working order before they give it to the client. This will also determine the lifespan of the tractor. They want a happy costumer who gets a machine that will work for years.

Ser vice is very important in all tractors. “If it is not done properly, the lifespan of the machine will be affected. We make sure we have the right trained teams to work on this. Most of the time, the problems can be fixed in the field,” he added.

The popular TAFE tractor range at the AgriTech Expo. TAFE tractors are tough, durable and efficient.

Construction equipment – Bull TLB

Herman Rohm, Tractor and Construction Equipment Manager of Saro Agro, said the construction equipment was a new field that they entered.

“The Bull is a TLB from India and it is the ultimate solution for all your construction and farming needs. The big feature on this machine is the six-

in-one bucket. It can dig, grade, and clamp and is a very versatile machine. It is a 71 kW machine with four-wheel drive,” Herman says.

Features of the Bull:

• TLBs can perform multiple tasks such as digging, loading, and excavating.

• The compact size of TLBs makes them ideal for tight spaces and confined job sites.

• TLBs are mobile and can be easily transported to different job sites.

• TLBs are efficient machines that can perform tasks quickly and effectively.

• TLBs are equipped with powerful engines that provide high performance and productivity.

• TLBs are built to last and can

The Landini Discovery 60 tractor at the AgriTech Expo.

• withstand heavy use in tough working conditions.

• TLBs are designed with safety features such as rollover protection and operator restraint systems.

• TLBs are equipped with comfortable operator cabs that provide a safe and ergonomic working environment.

• TLBs require minimal maintenance and are easy to service, reducing downtime and repair costs.

• TLBs can be fitted with various attachments such as buckets, hammers, and augers, making them even more versatile and useful.

Irrigation

Steven Siisii, Assistant Manager in the Pumps and Irrigation Department of Saro Agro, says: “During the drought that Zambia faces, Saro came up with irrigation packages for small-scale, medium and large farmers.”

Saro has the complete package for irrigation like drip irrigation, micro sprinklers, centre pivots, and inline irrigation. They also have different size greenhouses. Their solar centre pivot is designed and manufactured by Saro and they have portable pump sets for flood irrigation.

“They have a quality solar pump that can pump 3 600 litres of water per hour,” Steven added.

Visit Saro’s website at www. sarozambia.com, contact Calvin Salah at +26 (0)97-571-4426 or +26 (0)21-138-7000-9/241477, or send him an e-mail to calvin.s@ saroagri.co.zm to find out more about their products.

Inline drip irrigation equipment.

The Saro Agro team at the AgriTech Expo 2024.

Saro Agro’s water pumps.

Omnia supports farmers during climate change

by Bianca Henning

Changes in climate cycles through drought and rainy seasons continue to affect farmers. In the never-ending quest for improved yields, farmers are constantly confronted with new products. However, the application of unproven new technology in a production situation can be a risky business.

At Omnia, new products are first tested in the chemical laboratory, where factors such as formulation stability, consistency, possible hazards, and quality are determined. Omnia has a large and well-known footprint in Zambia and is one of the oldest fertiliser companies in Zambia.

Who is Omnia Zambia Ltd?

“Omnia fertiliser is one of the oldest privately owned fertiliser companies in Zambia. We have been in operation for more than 32 years, and that is evidence of what a trusted brand we are for farmers,” Phidelis Mubagwe, Acting Business Development Manager at Omnia Zambia Ltd, explains. He elaborates: “At Omnia we are divided into mainly three departments. The first department is our commercial farmers which includes all commercial farmers across the country. We have agronomists in the northern, central and southern parts of the country who cater to and assist all commercial farmers. Our second department is our retail department which has our one-stopshop solutions where any farmer can go, visit and obtain any Ombia products and whatever agricultural inputs they need. Our last department takes care of all our emerging farmers, who cater for

Omnia at the recent AgriTech Expo 2024

Omnia actively pursues the science of growing all over the globe, but also in Zambia. The quest for growth and support to farmers were the reasons for Omnia’s presence at the recent Agritech Expo.

Jennipher Sichone, Marketing Coordinator of Omnia Zambia, says: “Year after year it is such an honour for us to take part in this expo because it enables us to engage with various stakeholders from different parts of the country. Omnia Fertiliser is one of the oldest privately owned fertiliser companies in Zambia and we are excited that our products are not compromised.

“As Omnia, we believe in a holistic

approach and doing things right from the start when it comes to crop production. You start with your soil before you decide to plant anything. Farming is a business and we at Omnia believe in taking hands with our farmers; we don't want them to take any risks,” Jessica adds.

“Omnia offers farmers various services at our laboratory, for instance soil and water testing as well as leaf analysis, and we gladly assist our farmers to help them increase and optimise their yields.

“One of the highlights for us at the recent AgriTech Expo was that we were blessed with the presence of Chief Chibwika of Mwinilunga, who was excited about our demonstrations and how our products are working.

The Chief has seen the power of our fertiliser, and that is the message that we would also like to get out there to our farmers and other stakeholders,” she concludes.

For more information, contact Kobus Smith by calling +(26)096676-4351, or by sending an e-mail to kobus.smith@omnia.co.za You can also visit Omnia’s website at www.fertilizer.co.za, or visit them at their offices at Omnia Fertilizer Zambia Plot number 397a/E/1/C Makeni Road off Kafue Road, Lusaka.

farmers who are in between commercial and small-scale farmers.”

Chief Chibwika of Mwinilunga addressed the crowd at the Omnia stand.

A happy and heartful Jennipher Sichone, Marketing Coordinator for Omnia Zambia.

Phidelis Mubagwe, Acting Business Development Manager for Omnia Zambia.

SAZAM Agri Distributors:

by Ashleigh Schubert

Envision this:

• The leading suppliers of second-hand farming equipment in Zambia as a one-stop-shop for all types of farmers.

• An outlet that understands that emerging farmers start their agricultural journey without loads of capital.

• A supplier that can aid in the transition from hand farming to mechanisation.

These are the goals of SAZAM Agri Distributors. This company is situated in Lusaka, and was established in the beginning of 2023.

Chrismar Mulder is the CEO of SAZAM Agri Distributors. He tells that their goal is to provide farmers with good-quality, mostly second-hand equipment. It is difficult to find second-hand equipment that is still in good condition in Zambia. Their aim is to fill this gap and to reach farmers in different regions, small-scale to commercial, and farming with various crops or animals.

“SAZAM Agri Distributors is not only interested in selling a tractor. We go out to the farmers, try to really understand their

needs and then see how we can best help them.” explains Innocent Chinonda, Sales and Marketing Manager for SAZAM Agri Distributors.

They always push to get the equipment to their farmers as quickly as possible. Most of the equipment comes from either South Africa or the UK. According to Chrismar, one of their current goals is to branch out to irrigation and fertiliser as well.

At the moment some of the products that are most in demand are second-hand tractors, mainly for small-scale farmers since they do not always have the capital to invest in a brand-new tractor. That is where SAZAM enters the scene, to provide them with reconditioned tractors or tractors as is. Other products currently in demand are new implements, reconditioned harvesting equipment like headers, spare parts, as well as big tractors and combines for commercial farmers.

SAZAM has been working with JBH from South Africa from the very beginning, and it is also mainly their products that are distributed. They have also recently taken hands with Afriq Water Irrigation, whose irrigation products they will soon supply.

Tata John Deere Zambia bridges gaps and breaks barriers in agriculture

by Bianca Henning

A valuable, dependable partner for farmers of all shapes and sizes in Zambia, is Tata John Deere Zambia, the official dealer for John Deere Agricultural, Construction and Forestry equipment in Zambia. The John Deere brand has been in Zambia for more than twenty years and has grown from strength to strength, mechanising farmers and large corporations.

In Zambia, like many other countries, John Deere equipment is used by farmers to enhance agricultural productivity. Their tractors, harvesters, and other machinery are popular choices among Zambian farmers due to their reliability and efficiency. The company regularly consults with local dealers and distributors to ensure that their products meet the specific needs of the Zambian agricultural industry.

Zwide Daka, Head of Sales for John Deere Equipment Zambia, explains: “Under Tata Zambia we run two portfolios, namely the John Deere construction portfolio which includes construction and mining equipment, and the John Deere agriculture equipment portfolio, which mainly include the tractors and other relevant agri equipment.

“We are proud to supply our farmers throughout Zambia with top quality equipment according to their specific needs. From small-scale, emerging farmers to commercial farmers, we cater for,” Zwide adds.

John Deere pride themselves on customer service and support, including their financial support through John Deere Financial.

“With our four branches strategically placed across the country, our initial focus is on availability and swift delivery of parts to our farmers, as well as products fit for purpose. Our deep customer understanding and focus on delivering customer value defines the way we do business, and our resourceful team is willing to go the extra mile to deliver proficient services,” he adds.

Zwide mentions: “We have an expert team of technicians with after sale service vans, ensuring that our farmers’ fleets are running smoothly and efficiently.

On all equipment that we have to offer, we also offer financing solutions to our farmers. We have our inhouse Tata Financing solutions where we also work with commercial banks like Stanbic

Innocent says that Zambian farmers can obtain products that are not easily accessible in the market from them. They supply tractors starting from 26 kW all the way up to, for example, the 8R 340 John Deere.

SAZAM Agri Distributors understand that it is not easy to gain capital in the Zambian market, and therefore try to make sure that whatever they supply, gives the farmer value for money. They also make sure that there are spare parts available for the products they supply.

Bank Zambia, FNB and of course John Deere Financial.

“Financing allows our emerging farmers to have a favourable amount of cashflow to put them one step ahead in their farming businesses. We take hands with our clients to assist them in growing their businesses,” Zwide concludes.

Reach out to Tata Zambia, your John Deere dealer, by calling them on (+260)76-217-2412, or visit them at plot 26593 Kafue Rd, Lusaka, Zambia.

Innocent Chinonda, Chrismar Mulder, and Kafute Walasa from SAZAM Agri Distributors will try their best to find what you need.

Zwide Daka, Head of Sales for John Deere Equipment Zambia, with an enormous John Deere 8R tractor.

More efficient crop spraying: SunAgri drones won the war against fall army worms

by Natasha Pretorius

Rapid progress is experienced in crop spraying. With SunAgri’s drone technologies you can now spray hundreds, even thousands, of hectares in only a couple of days.

SunAgri showcased their remarkable agricultural crop spraying drones at AgriTech recently, and Fraser Zhang, Managing Director of SunAgri, explained how drones can help to increase your yields.

In 2016 Zambian farmers had to face the infestation of Spodoptera fruigiperda, also known as fall army worms. The arrival of these worms soon led to major crop losses.

“A Fall Army worm’s life cycle is only 32 days, but in that time one worm can lay over 2 000 eggs,” Fraser explained. “The wind can transport these eggs up to 100 km, which means they spread quickly. They hide during the day, so if you spray in the daytime, you waste chemicals and time. We realised that by spraying at night we can eradicate them better. The drones can also deliver the insecticide directly to where the worms are.”

Benefits of using a drone

Eradicating fall army worms are not the only benefit to having these drones. With conventional spraying, Fraser said that a farmer can lose up to 20% of his soya bean yield and 8% of his maize yield, just because of wheel damage.

With a drone there is no damage, as there are no wheels in your field.

The XAG drones that SunAgri import from China have tanks of 40 to 50 litres, and the latest model has a 70-litre tank. Previous drones only had tanks of 16 to 18 litres. This means one of these drones can do the job of two or three of the previous models.

Where previous drones covered about 2 hectares in an eight-minute trip, the SunAgri drones can cover up to 50 hectares in one hour, Fraser explains that they need 4 days to cover 1 200 hectares of crops, using 4 p100 Pro fly.

Their drones also use a coolant technology to bring the temperature of the batteries down, and a SunAgri drone can fully recharge in ten to fifteen minutes.

SunAgri Zambia

SunAgri has been operating and assisting Zambian farmers for more than seven years. After seeing the devastation the fall army worms caused, Fraser started importing the XAG drones in 2016. In the past seven years they have proven time and time again that these drones are successful in the war against the fall army worms.

Drone models

SunAgri has a variety of drone models available to suit your needs, with the latest XAG P150 not only having a larger tank, but it can now also transport cargo.

SunAgri services:

• Drone crop spraying solutions

• Drone surveying technology

• Solar power home solutions

• Solar power farm solutions

• UPS emergency energy storage

• Battery powered motorbikes

• Crop harvesting services

If you would like to learn more about their drones or any of their other services, you can visit their website www.sunagri.co/, or send an e-mail to Fraser at 726843849@qq.com. You can also phone him on (+260)966-905-082.

One of SunAgri’s XAG drones.

Fraser Zhang, Managing Director of SunAgri, demonstrating a drone at AgriTech.

Fraser Zhang, Managing Director of SunAgri, with one of their drones.

AgriTech Zambia: Farmers welcome Advanta Seeds' drought tolerant high yielding crop varieties

by Natasha Pretorius

Advanta Seeds’ stand was a big attraction at this year’s AgriTech expo in Chisamba, Zambia. They had a wide variety of their field and vegetable crops on display for Zambian farmers. Advanta believes in seed technology and when using their seeds you get more than just a good yielding crop, you get a smart crop.

Sorghum, sunflowers and NutriFeed

Braam van den Berg, Advanta’s Portfolio Manager for Field Crops Southern Africa, told farmers about the different varieties of field crops they have available, one of them being their multipurpose Sugargraze sorghum.

Sugargraze is a sweet hybrid sorghum variety. It is a versatile product that can be used for silage, standing hay in the winter or as fodder throughout the summer season. It has a high sugar content and does not lose any of this sugar during the growth stage.

Sugargraze is a competitive product and if you plant it early in the season, it will give you a couple of feedings throughout the summer season.

Nutrifeed is a hybrid millet and an excellent choice for green fodder throughout the summer season. It has a more leaves compared to other pearl millets. It has good regrowth, meaning you can re-enter your animals after about three

Chanel Human, Advanta’s Portfolio Manager for Vegetables for Southern Africa, explaining the qualities of Advanta Seeds’ different okra varieties.

to four weeks and graze it down again. Advanta’s Hysun33 sunflower variety has high yielding potential and high adaptability. It is an excellent choice for crushing because it has a high oil content.

Vegetable crops

Advanta’s Portfolio Manager for Vegetables for Southern Africa, Chanel Human, shared insightful gardening tips with customers and spoke about their wide range of nutritious vegetables, one of these being their hybrid okra varieties that are more tolerant to most diseases like okra curl leaf virus, yellow mosaic vein, and powdery mildew.

Although these plants can still contract these diseases, they are more tolerant and will still give you a profitable crop. Their three best performing varieties in Zambia are ADV814, ADV820, and ADV848. The okra ADV848 is Advanta’s red hybrid okra. It is very high in iron and has many health benefits, especially for people who suffer from anemia, fatigue and shortness of breath. Overall okra is packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate.

ADV848 is a prolific bearer in terms of the number of fruits a plant starts carrying from small. The stem and the fruit have a very attractive dark red colour and you can pick the pods small or leave them to grow up until about 14 cm long.

Chanel also discussed their Candyfloss F1 watermelon. This is a jubilee oval type watermelon with tiger stripe colours. It has an extremely high brix content of about 13% and good foliage coverage to help with sun scold. The fruit average is about 10 to 20 kg, and the fruit has a deep internal red flesh colour. The flesh is crispy and sweet on the tongue.

Chanel says there are three ways to check if your watermelon is ready for harvesting:

• Your watermelon is ready to harvest when you knock on the fruit, and it has a drum-like thump sound.

• You can also do an internal check, by cutting one fruit open and tasting it, before harvesting the whole crop.

• The most reliable sign of ripeness, is to look at the pigs-tail tendril closest to the fruit. Once your fruit is ripe for harvest, this tendril will dry up and turn brown.

harvest. It is drought tolerant and has a very good day maturity suitable for the northern parts of the country. This variety will be released to the market in the coming season.

Advanta’s other new baby, their ADV411 variety, is a short-day variety and is ready in 90 days. It can perform across all the Zambian regions, is high yielding and will deliver up to ten tonnes per hectare.

“This is an excellent performance for an early maturing variety,” says Steven. Tried and trusted, Advanta’s ADV637

Tomatoes will always be popular in the market and Advanta has many hybrid varieties to choose from.

Their ADV1299A hybrid tomato is an determinate round variety with an average fruit size between 180 to 200 g. It has very good field tolerance to the tomato leaf curl virus.

The hybrid ADV1247 tomato is a semideterminate square round. It has an average fruit size of 100 to 110 g and a good field tolerance to tomato leaf curl virus as well as some foliar diseases. It starts carrying fruit at a low point, which increases your yield.

The Advanta QuatraF1 hybrid tomato is also an determinate round tomato with a fruit average of 140 to 160 g. It has a very good shelf life and is also tolerant to tomato curl leaf and some foliar diseases.

Maize

Last on display was Advanta’s maize varieties, which Steven Ngoma, Advanta’s Business Development Manager for Zambia, introduced to farmers at the expo.

They have an orange maize variety called GV673A, which has Biofortified with Vitamin A. It a high yielding variety and can deliver between 9 and 10 t/ha harvests. It is a drought tolerant variety and can grow across region one and two of Zambia’s ecological zones.

The ADV713 is a new variety of maize developed for region three in Zambia. This was developed with high rainfall in mind. It is a high yielding variety and will deliver between 13 and 14 t/ha

variety has been performing very well on the market. It is a dual-purpose maize because its green colour makes it excellent for forage and it can retain moisture during dry periods.

“It is an excellent product; farmers know it and they love it,” says Steven.

Last is Advanta’s flagship maize variety, ADV2302. It has high yields, is drought tolerant, and has huge cobs. It will give you up to 12 t/ha at harvest, and is suited to be planted across the whole country.

“Advanta has been in Zambia since 2018 and we believe the future of agriculture is in our seed,” says Steven proudly.

You can find Advanta Seeds’ products in all Argo dealer shops or visit their website www.advantaseed.com for more information.

Chanel Human showing how to check if a watermelon is ready for harvest.

The fruits of the Advanta Seeds on display at AgriTech.

Advanta Seeds has several hybrid okra varieties.

Steven Ngoma explaining the different cultivars of maize developed by Advanta Seeds for Southern Africa.

Temperature plays a vital role in broiler production. The broiler bird will not perform to its full genetic potential if it is not provided with the right temperature whether during brooding or in the older stage.

The main objective in temperature management is to efficiently and economically provide a comfortable, healthy environment for growing birds.

Failure to provide a favourable environment during rearing will result in reduced growth and development, poor feed conversion and increased disease, condemnation of carcasses, and mortalities, thereby reducing profitability.

During brooding

This happens in the first 2 to 3 weeks of production. Temperatures must be regulated to provide an optimum environment for the chicks. Chicks during this stage are poor at regulating their body temperature, hence they require that an external heat source be provided.

If the house temperatures are low, the chicks get chilled and stressed. If the environment is too hot, they become inactive and will spend most of the time laying down instead of eating.

Use a thermometer and observe chick behaviour to ensure the temperature is kept within the chicks’ thermal comfort zone.

When chicks huddle together near a heat source, the temperature is too low. Provide more heat. If they stay far away from the heat source or move to the extremities of the room, then the pen is too hot. Reduce heat and drop the curtains to allow more cool air in.

Chicks that are within their thermal comfort zone are spread out all over the pen, eating, drinking, sleeping, playing!

Regulating brooding temperature

During brooding, temperatures are kept at an optimum level by providing heating by way of infrared bulbs, gas burners, braziers et cetera. Follow the recommended daily temperature to ensure regulated heat, and reduce instances of temperature fluctuations in the brooder. Regulate the temperature within the pen by providing a balance between

Temperature management can make or break broiler production

temperature and ventilation. Too much ventilation will cause the temperature to drop, and poor ventilation may result in increased temperatures within the pen. Balance the two to get the right temperature when dealing with either chicks or older birds.

Open curtains covering the windows from top to bottom and not from bottom to top. This will ensure a clear outlet for waste gases (carbon dioxide, ammonia, carbon monoxide et cetera) and a good inlet for fresh air. This is important because waste air that is warm will always rise to the top and find its way out through the opening at the top of the window.

Then the cool air full of quality oxygen getting into the pen from the top gets warmed up on its way down before it reaches chick level.

Effects of low temperatures during brooding

Low feed and water intake translate into poor growth and development of chicks.

Chilled chicks have a suppressed immunity, and therefore become susceptible to diseases resulting in high first week mortality.

High mortalities occur due to chicks huddling together and crushing each other to death.

If chicks do not eat or drink because they are chilled and uncomfortable, they will not digest feed and will not benefit from heat produced during the digestive process. The digestive tract is not stimulated, therefore its development is poor resulting in poor growth rates and low weights.

The chicks will not take up the carbohydrates they require to absorb the residual yolk sac quickly. If the yolk sac remains unabsorbed, it increases the risk of navel yolk sac infections such as omphalitis, which will result in increased mortalities in the first week.

The unabsorbed yolk sac has maternal antibodies that the chicks benefit from once they absorb it. If it is not absorbed, the chicks will not get the full benefit of the maternal antibodies. This may result in poor health.

Temperature management in older birds

Temperature management in older birds is also critical. Once birds get older, their body temperature range

between 40 and 440 C. The appropriate temperature in the house is between 13 and 250 C. The birds are constantly losing heat to their environment. To keep them comfortable, provide a balance between their body temperature and the house temperature. If the house temperature is lower than the body temperature, the chickens will lose body heat and become cooler. When kept in a hot, poorly ventilated pen, the birds may overheat and suffer heat stroke. We need to keep them cool with lots of fresh air and good quality oxygen.

This can be achieved by the following activities:

• Providing adequate ventilationwide open windows on either side of the house.

• Using an appropriate stocking density with emphasis on environmental temperatures.

• If the pen gets too cool, lift some curtains to reduce the draft entering to increase the temperature.

Results of poor heat regulation in older birds

If chicks are not kept in a cool, wellventilated pen, they may get heat stress and die due to heat stroke.

The feather cover on older birds is more useful in heat retention and not heat loss when the ambient temperature is too high. Help the birds cool off by providing a cooler environment.

Overheated birds will drink more water to cool themselves at the expense of feed intake resulting in delayed growth.

If temperatures are too low, the birds will consume more feed and use much of it to convert into body heat through the digestive process.

High temperature resulting from poor ventilation will cause poor litter quality leading to build up of ammonia, outbreak of diseases and skin lesions on the bodies of the birds.

Banana production in Africa part 5: Harvesting and Marketing

by Benine Ackermann

Harvesting

The right time to harvest bananas is quite important and tricky. It must be when they are swollen and green but before they become ripe (plump and yellow). Do not harvest too early (when the bananas are thin and dark green) or too late (when they are thick and turning yellow).

How to harvest

1. Get at least 2 people to help you cut the banana pseudostem half way across and half way down.

2. Let the plant fall down slowly and then remove the bunch from it by cutting the bunch stalk. Chop up the leaves and top part of the pseudostem and lay on the soil as a mulch.

3. Carry the bunches to the trailer and put them next to each other (not on top of each other).

• Do not work alone, always work in pairs

• Do not let the bunches fall to the ground

• Do not pack the bunches on top of each other

• Harvest early in the morning when the sun is not too hot

• Do not leave cut bunches in the sun

• Do not cut in the hot afternoon unless overcast

• Build a pack house in a cool location to hang bunches, remove hands, cut into clusters, pack into cartons and store (on southern side).

Marketing

Now your bananas are ready to be taken to different markets where they can be sold.

Local market

You can sell your bananas on the streets or at a roadside stall.

Municipal markets

You can arrange with the nearest local market to sell your bananas.

Contracts

You can have contracts with supermarkets and chain stores which can buy and sell your bananas on a regular basis.

Home use

You can use some bananas for food security at home.

This article is published with acknowledgement to the ARC Institute for the use of their manuals. For more information on banana production, visit the ARC’s website at www.arc.agric.za.

Setting up your first hydroponic system: What you need to know

S tarting your own hydroponic system can be a daunting task. There are so many different methods and so much information that it can make your head spin. But when it comes to hydroponics, starting off simple is the way to go, like many things in life you learn as you go. By investing in a simple hydroponic system at first you can see what works for you and what does not.

Any hydroponic system has the basics: you will need plants, a container, water, a way to anchor your plants, nutrients, and a light source.

Getting started

First you need to decide what you want to plant. Because some plants grow better with certain systems, it is important to know what will work for you, what lighting you will need and how much space you need.

Get your lighting right

Next you must choose a light source. Light is one of the most important factors of your hydroponic system. These systems can be placed either indoors or outdoors. If you are using your system indoors and do not have the sun as a light source, you will need an adequate alternative.

You must determine your light spectrum. Different plants require a

Different types of grow mediums.

(Image: www.gardeningchores.com)

different light spectrum. Leafy greens require a cooler spectrum while fruit plants require a warmer spectrum.

A few different light options are:

• LED grow lights – They are energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan. They also come in a range of colours which allows you to customise the light to the specific needs of your plants. They might initially be more expensive but will save you money in in the long run.

• High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) grow lights – They are popular for hydroponic container farms and produce a high-intensity light. They are more affordable than LED lights.

• Metal Halide grow lights - They are like HPS lights, but produce a cooler spectrum of light. They are less energy-efficient than LED lights and more expensive than HPS lights.

• Fluorescent grow lights – These are cost effective for smaller hydroponic systems. They are best for seedlings and vegetative growth.

• Plasma grow light –These are a newer type of grow light and produce a full spectrum of light, like natural sunlight. They are energy efficient and long lasting, but their initial costs are high.

Also keep in mind how you are going to mount your lights:

• Ceiling-mounted –These lights are typically mounted to the ceiling and allow you to maximise the use of vertical space. They are easy to adjust and move.

• Wall-mounted – These are attached to the

by Natasha Pretorius

wall and are a good option for smaller systems.

• Free-standing – These lights are mounted on a movable object and placed next to the system.

Aspects to consider when choosing your lights are the cost, the intensity, the light spectrum, and the area coverage.

What makes plants grow?

Next on your list is a grow medium. Once again, the type of plant will determine your grow medium, but also keep in mind the water retention, cost, aeration levels and pH stability.

Types of grow mediums include:

• Rockwool

• Expanded clay pebbles

• Oasis cube

• Coco fibre/chips

• Perlite

• Vermiculite

• Rock

• Feeding your plants: The most important part to make your plants grow are the nutrients. The function of the nutrients solution is to supply the plant roots with water, oxygen, and essential mineral elements in soluble form.

The basic nutrients are:

• Nitrogen (N): Promotes healthy leaf growth and aids in the production of proteins and enzymes.

• Phosphorus (P): Helps root development and flower formation

• Potassium (K): Helps with overall plant health and disease resistance.

Secondary nutrients are:

• Calcium (Ca): Essential for cell wall structure and stability.

• Magnesium (Mg): Involved in chlorophyll production.

• Sulphur (S): Helps with protein synthesis and enzyme activity.

Micronutrients are also essential for plant growth but are only required in small quantities.

These are:

• Iron (Fe): For chlorophyll production and energy transfer within cells.

• Manganese (Mn): Involved in enzyme activation and helps plants withstand stress conditions.

• Zinc (Zn): Needed for the synthesis of growth hormones and promotes root development.

• Copper (Cu): Aids in the formation of lignin, which strengthens cell walls.

• Boron (B): Influences cell division and carbohydrate metabolism.

• Molybdenum (Mo): Necessary for nitrogen fixation and helps convert nitrate into ammonia.

• Chlorine (Cl): Involved in photosynthesis and osmotic regulation.

You can buy a premade solution and there is a wide range of these available. All you need to do with a premade solution is dilute it with water and it is ready. These are also formulated by experts and ensure your plant receives a balanced diet. If you are starting out

this may be the best option for you. Home-made nutrients however offer more flexibility and gives you control over what you feed your plants. This will help if you are growing a variety of crops which each has its own nutrient requirements.

Keep that pH balanced

Plants can only take in nutrients within a specific pH balance, so ensuring your pH is balanced, is crucial.

To check your pH levels, you can get:

• An electronic meter

• Litmus test strips

• A liquid test kit

Build your own

If you want to try out hydroponics, why not start with a Deep-Water Culture (DWC) system at home.

These systems are the easiest which you can build and maintain at home. With the DWC, plants grow with their roots submerged directly in nutrientrich water.

At home you can use storage containers or buckets. The water in a DWC system does not need to recirculate and remains sitting in the reservoir for the entire duration of the plant’s life. This means you have to aerate the water to replenish the oxygen.

In other soil-based systems air pore spaces provide oxygen for roots. With recirculating systems, the water is aerated by being pumped around. With a home DWC system, this can be done by using an air pump with an air stone attached, same as the ones used in fish tanks.

For this system you will need:

• Storage container or bucket

• Net pots

• Air pump with air stone

• Hard-water liquid nutrients

• pH Down

• pH meter

• Measuring beaker

• Pipettes

• Hole saw

• Drill

First start with your container or bucket. The deeper the container, the more stable the nutrient solution will be. Light should not be able to penetrate your container because this could lead to the growth of algae in your water.

Next drill holes in the container lid. The plants will grow in net pots; these are pots with plenty of holes for roots to grow through. You will have to drill holes in the lid to make space for the pots. The pots need to be bigger than the holes, so they do not fall through. Keep the size of the mature plants in mind when measuring the spaces between the holes.

Assemble your air pump. It should remain outside your container.

Now you can fill your container, add your nutrients, and ensure the pH level is balanced. Do this once you have placed your container where you want it. Fill it almost to the top with water and leave a one to two centimetre space at the top.

Follow the instructions on your nutrient bottle. Measure your pH balance because tap water will have a pH balance of its own and this may not be suitable for your plant’s growth.

Phosphoric acid can bring your pH balance down. Ensure you wear gloves and mix the solution well after adding the phosphoric acid.

Now you assemble your system. Plug in your pump and place the air stone in the container, then secure the lid. Place your plants in the net pots and add them to the solution.

Keep up with your maintenance by ensuring the water level does not drop. The roots must have sufficient contact with the water. Keep an eye on your pH level; you can do this every time you top up your water. You can clean the container and replace the water every 14 to 21 days.

References: www.thespruce.com www.nosoilsolutions.com; www.puregreenaz.com; www.Atlas-scientific.com; & www.squaremilefarms.com

Nutrients will help your plant grow. (Image: www.depositphotos.com)

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DK777 Shoma

BSi Steel has the best deal (for you!)

by Ashleigh Schubert

“ Customers all over Zambia think they are receiving a good deal but are getting ripped off.”

This warning comes from Michael Mukuka, Senior Sales Representative of BSi Steel in Lusaka who says that people are not always getting exactly what they ordered. At BSi Steel they are determined to make sure their clients are informed and do not pay more than they ought to.

As their motto states: Choose BSi Steel: The best deal in quality steel.

BSi Steel offers a wide range of services and products including universal beams, tubing, light sections, roofing, wire rods, and fencing. Furthermore, their services include cut and bend facilities for rebar (reinforcing bar). This is a metal rod used to strengthen and support concrete structures when they are under tension. They also offer liner kits for mines.

World-renowned, this company has several branches in Sub-Saharan Africa. Zambians are able to visit BSi Steel at either the Kitwe branch (targeting the mining sector) or the Copperbelt branch. The Lusaka branch targets multiple sectors, like construction and agriculture.

Gary Hodgkinson is the Senior Trader and Head of Marketing at BSi Steel Lusaka. He mentions that BSi Steel has been

in Zambia since 1997. The fact that they are still producing and thriving today, is testament to their excellent quality and service. He says: “One of the reasons why BSi Steel is still around is because we are trustworthy. Our steel quality is high, and we pride ourselves on excellent service.”

According to Gary, BSi Steel always tries to get their customers the best possible deal. They reduce steel costs by offering direct loads from South Africa, which can be done through their exports department. Manufacturers who decide to take this route, will ultimately save a lot of money.

Through their concern for their customers, Gary and Michael share some wisdom to their customers on what to look out for to not get scammed. Two of the biggest threats are undergauging and poor quality steel.

Michael explains what undergauging is: “It is when a steel supplier sells you less steel than you ordered. A good example is, you agree to buy 50 mm square tube with 2 mm thickness. In reality, the steel supplier sells you 50 mm square tube with only 1,6 mm thickness.”

Other ways in which undergauging can happen, is when a supplier sells a roll of wire that is shorter than agreed upon, or wire that is thinner than it is supposed to be.

“If it seems too good to be true, it is. Steel is about weight selling price gets worked out according to it. If you receive a quote from a few different companies and one of them costs a lot less than the rest, you will

most probably receive less steel than you asked for,” is Gary’s warning.

Undergauging is especially plentiful in tubing, rebar and IPEAA groups.

Michael also adds that although some steel is more affordable, in the long run the lower quality will cost you more. “It is also dangerous and a safety hazard.”

Some of the solutions they recommend include asking the sales representative to measure the steel with a vernier calliper to ensure that it is the correct thickness, or to insist on a test certificate. If they do not provide a certificate, the quality of steel is most likely poor.

Gary sums it all up: “If there is one thing I want you to remember from all of this: cheap is expensive!”

BSi Steel is the top steel supplier in Zambia.

Michael Mukuka and Gary Hodgkinson wear the BSi Steel branding proudly.

Technews

The latest in agricultural technology from around the world

CNH

and Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s best established integrated satellite and terrestrial communication networks, is entering into a collaboration that will provide farmers unlimited access to the internet via a satellite communications (SATCOM) service.

This follows shortly after John Deere announced its collaboration with Starlink. It seems farmers will have another feature to consider when choosing equipment.

Based on a new memorandum of understanding, Intelsat will provide multi-orbit internet access to connect CNH equipment working in remote locations and easy-to-use satellite terminals ready to handle the challenging environment on a farm.

Intelsat’s industrial-grade terminals already serve critical industrial applications, including for the military and airlines. Case IH, Steyr and New Holland customers will use a rigorously tested terminal that connects easily and is proven to withstand extreme weather conditions and the vibration and shock produced by farming equipment and activities.

This offering will be first available in the second half of 2024 to farmers in Brazil, where ConectarAgro’s Rural Connectivity Indicator found only 19% of the area available for agricultural use has high-speed internet access. Customers will be able to rely on their Case IH and New Holland dealers to install and support Intelsat’s hardware and service

activation. Subsequently, the companies plan to expand their collaboration to the USA, Australia, and other regions.

“Satellite technology helps solve complex connectivity challenges for hard-to-reach farms, but not all providers are equal. Intelsat stands out for their depth of experience as well as the quality and reliability of their service and industrial terminal offerings. They get what it means to be rugged. We look forward to serving customers around the world with their solution,” said Marc Kermisch, Chief Digital and Information Officer at CNH.

In 2016 Intelsat successfully launched Intelsat 33e and Intelsat 36 which is designed to enhance the Intelsat media neighbourhoods serving Africa and the Indian Ocean regions.

(Source: World-Agritech.com)

Greeneye Technology, specialist in AIenabled precision spraying technology, completed a $20 million funding round, to be used for expanding the company’s activities in America. Greeneye Technology reduces herbicide use in farming by an average of 88%.

The round is supported by existing investors Syngenta Group Ventures, JVP, Orbia Ventures, and Eyal Waldman, the founder and former CEO of Mellanox (now part of Nvidia), as

by Annemarie Bremner

well as other new investors including Iron Nation and Amol Deshpande, the founder and former CEO of FBN.

The investment will be used to scale Greeneye’s operation in America and to advance the technology’s analytical capabilities and extend its usage to new inputs and crops. The next phase of expansion will see dozens more systems deployed in farmers’ fields this year, targeting the 81 million hectares of maize, soya beans and cotton grown in the USA.

“Securing this round of capital in today’s challenging economic climate is further validation of Greeneye’s mission to drive mainstream adoption of precision spraying technology in the USA and, ultimately, globally,” comments Nadav Bocher, CEO, Greeneye Technology.

Greeneye’s mission is to significantly reduce agricultural chemicals that are applied to farmers’ fields globally each year, the majority of which are sprayed onto bare soil or crops. This overuse of chemicals results in soil and water pollution, causes weeds to develop resistance to herbicides, increases chemical levels in food, and creates a large financial burden for farmers.

Greeneye’s solution harnesses AI in combination with hardware to identify weeds among crops with high accuracy and spray chemicals only where they are needed, directly onto the weeds. It is designed to integrate with any brand, model or size of commercial

CNH expands network connectivity using satellites

sprayer, enabling farmers to perform precision spraying without having to invest in costly new sprayers. In addition, its dual line/tank configuration enables precision and broadcast spraying to be carried out simultaneously, increasing both productivity and efficacy. (Source: World-Agritech.com)

AI can reduce the use of chemicals in farming and seems to attract investors.

Seed rate calculator from Väderstad

Väderstad has introduced a seed rate calculator. It enables farmers to easily find their correct seed rate and convert between seed volume and seed population. The calculator is available on Vaderstad.com and can be used from a computer, as well as from a mobile device, like a smartphone or iPad.

In the calculator the operator can either target the actual seed rate in kg/ha (seed volume), or the target seed rate of yielding plants in the field measured as plants/m2 (seed population).

After entering the data, matching seeds and conditions, the operator enters the thousand kernel weight and germination rate for the seed, numbers

that are normally depicted on the seed bag. Then he fills in an estimation of projected field losses in percentage due to factors such as weather, conditions in the field and pests, and finally enter the size of the field.

For maximum ease of use, if you do not want to enter all figures manually, you can also select between nine commonly used crops where standard values for TKW and germination rate are already prefilled. When all the data

Drones and AI in the battle against alternaria in potato crops

have been entered you get a calculated seed rate to reach your chosen target.

By employing ultra-high-resolution drone imagery combined with AI, a new method has been developed for the early detection of alternaria – a fungal pathogen (early blight) that can cause significant damage to potato crops by infecting the leaves, stems, and sometimes even the tubers. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement in precision agriculture, enabling growers to intervene more precisely and efficiently, resulting in healthier crops and a more sustainable agricultural practice.

“With this technology, we can detect the disease before it is visible to the naked eye, which can significantly increase the effectiveness of control measures,” explains researcher Jana Wieme from Belgium.

Specific form of AI

The approach utilises a specific form of AI which can recognise patterns –in this case, small spots on infrared images – by learning from examples, much like the human brain learns from experience. This enables the network to detect even the smallest indications of the disease before they are visible to the naked eye.

The team tested this model on datasets collected over multiple growing

seasons. “What makes our research unique, is that we repeated the trials for four different growing seasons, and our model also works on datasets it has not been trained on. So, our model is already capable of being applied in practice. Moreover, our model achieves an accuracy comparable to current state-of-the-art models, but it is much faster and more efficient in processing the images,” emphasises Jana.

The new method offers the possibility of detecting the disease early and locally, enabling a more targeted and therefore more sustainable use of resources.

Jana explains: “This technology

allows us to create detailed ‘disease maps’ of the fields. Farmers can use this information to treat only those parts of the field where the disease actually occurs.” This not only saves costs but also reduces the environmental impact of agricultural practices.

The research team is optimistic about the future applications of their work. “Although we have focused on alternaria in potato fields, the methodology is broadly applicable for the detection of various diseases in different crops,” says Jana. “This opens new doors to more efficient and sustainable agriculture.” (Source: FutureFarming.com)

Väderstad is taking the pain out of working out seed rates.

AI can assist to catch alternaria in potatoes before it becomes a problem.

(Photo: Peter Roek)

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Zimbabwe’s sugar industry

weathers climate storm

by Marko Phiri

Zimbabwe’s sugar industry is making strides to weather climate uncertainty after a long dry spell that has affected the agriculture sector.

Sugar production is one of the agriculture sectors that are water intensive, and with low water levels in dams that feed irrigation, officials say low rainfall could curtail the sector’s performance.

To boost the country’s irrigation, government has been on a drive to rehabilitate small dams, with the President also committing to build more dams across the country as a response to efforts to boost food production.

Late last month sugar industry officials were forced to issue a statement assuring both government and the public that there was no cause for alarm because the country was consuming sugar from last season.

This came as sugar – like many basic commodities – saw a sharp price increase in recent weeks. Such developments are usually seen as a sign of looming commodity shortages.

“As sugar cane is a 12-month crop grown under irrigation, the sugar that is currently on sale was produced from the sugar cane crop harvested during the last milling season which ended in December 2023,” said Willard Zireva, the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Chairman.

The statement highlighted the delicate conditions the sector is operating under as the country battles drought and low agriculture performance due to poor rainfall and poor investment in irrigation.

Last year, the industry reported a four percent drop in sugar production, from 290 000 tonnes to 280 000 tonnes, citing various factors that included the government decision to lift import tariffs on basic commodities that included sugar.

Government also gazetted minimum wages for sugar industry workers, and according to industry executives, this had an impact on production as producers diverted resources to meet salaries.

However, El Niño concerns have loomed large in the sugar industry with low rainfall threatening irrigation viability which is affecting agriculture performance, especially water-intensive sectors such as sugar production.

“Due to the good rainfall received in the previous agricultural season, the major dams that supply water for sugar cane irrigation in the Lowveld have sufficient water to last at least the next two seasons,” Willard said in a statement.

“There will be adequate sugar supply for both household and industrial consumption despite the current El Niño-

Last December, Hippo Valley Estates, the country’s major sugar producer, reported a seven percent drop of production, citing among other things farmers failing to deliver sugar cane in time.

Farmers have long demanded irrigation rehabilitation in a sector that has seen infrastructure vandalism and decline after the controversial land reform programme more than two decades ago.

At peak, the country produced up to 400 000 tonnes of sugar and has been a major exporter to countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Despite enough irrigation water currently, concerns remain about the sector’s performance in the event of another drought cycle in the coming years which could further lower dam water levels.

The agriculture ministry says it is projecting a multibillion-dollar agriculture

assuring both government and the public that there was no cause for alarm because the country was consuming sugar from last season.

Zimbabwe’s long dry season is being felt by plot owners who sunk boreholes to counter water shortages.

For years, plot owners in Bulawayo, the country’s second city, have utilised their land for thriving horticulture and agriculture projects, and these have been sustained by groundwater.

The ubiquity of boreholes in plots on the edges of the city limits has become a symbol of resilience in Bulawayo where the local municipality has for years struggled to provide water to residents.

Without water, income-generating projects such as growing tomatoes, cabbages, cucumbers, and other greens has suffered as some residents relied on rain and municipality water.

But at the beginning of the year, Barbara Nxumalo who owns a plot in one of Bulawayo’s areas once known for thriving agriculture projects, noticed that her borehole was not pumping as efficiently as it used to.

“I realised the water was coming in dribs and drabs, and thought perhaps the electricity was too low to pump the water as before,” Barbara said. “But it persisted for weeks and I realised maybe there was no water underground anymore,” she said.

She had to confirm it with a borehole drilling company.

Zimbabwe has experienced a long dry season that has affected thousands of farmers across the country.

Zimbabwe’s farming sector is largely rain-fed, and low rainfall has led to countrywide crop failure at a time the government is turning to boreholes for relief.

For plot owners however, some of whom sunk their boreholes decades earlier, their investment to produce food on their land has become a casualty of climate uncertainty, and it came as a surprise that the boreholes have gone dry.

Maxwell Bhebhe shakes his head, failing to understand that he has to hire drillers to sink his borehole deeper.

“There are things that you never consider, and I never expected that the borehole would dry up,” said Maxwell, who grows maize, peas and butternuts on his plot.

“What it means is that I will take a break from growing any new crops while I decide what to do. Sinking a borehole is expensive. The deeper the drillers go, the more expensive it becomes,” he said.

Groundwater has for a long time been viewed as an infinite resource by some farmers, but the disruption of traditional rainy season by climate change is forcing a rethink as hundreds of boreholes dry up.

The country says it plans to sink thousands of boreholes as a response to climate change, but concerns remain that the uncoordinated drilling could lead to unintended consequences such as depleting the groundwater table.

Boreholes dry up in Zimbabwe p lo ts

by Marko Phiri

Critics have long called a better groundwater policy, with borehole sinking companies in recent years registering brisk business, according to industry officials.

In 2021, it was estimated that the capital city had over 28 000 boreholes, while the Zimbabwe National Water authority says it is aiming to drill 35 000 boreholes by 2025.

This has highlighted the country’s reliance on the resource, but with little groundwater management policy in place at a time of poor rainfall.

During the country’s government of national unity which ran between 2009 and 2013, the then Water Affairs

sink another borehole – which we cannot afford – the project is a complete write-off,” Nxumalo said.

Community boreholes that have long offered relief to parched residents in the country’s metropolitan areas are also drying up at a time local authorities are struggling to provide water owing to low dam levels.

The Climate Ministry has also raised concerns about the impact of rainfall variability on groundwater levels, noting that Zimbabwe

Minister called for a ban on the sinking of new boreholes, citing concerns that there was no census to know exactly how many boreholes the country had.

Other concerns were that the haphazard sinking of boreholes threatened to deplete the groundwater resource, but in recent years, boreholes have been sunk across the country including in the cities.

For plot holders who saw boreholes as the answer to their agriculture production ambitions, it has become a story of unexpected heartbreak as existing crops suddenly have no water.

“We watch our crops wilt; there is nothing we can do for now. Unless we

faces overall annual rainfall decrease.

The Ministry says short, intense rain, while providing a lot of water, fails to provide enough to infiltrate and percolate aquifers as more is lost to runoff.

Zimbabwe has not seen any significant rainfall since the onset of the traditional rainy season last year, which could mean more trouble ahead for plot holders whose farming activities have long relied on groundwater.

Community boreholes that have long offered relief to parched residents in Zimbabwe’s metropolitan areas are drying up at a time local authorities are struggling to provide water owing to low dam levels.

Drought tests Zimbabwe’s disaster preparedness

by Marko Phiri

Zimbabwe’s disaster preparedness has returned to haunt the country in the aftermath of a devastating drought. Questions have long been asked about the reliability and efficacy of the country’s early warning systems to forecast pending disasters such as below normal rainfall that will lead to drought.

While other Southern African countries have also been affected by El Niño, Zimbabwe appears to be the hardest hit.

in December last year that the country had lost more than seven thousand cattle to drought, while the Veterinary Services Department announced in April that twelve thousand cattle had died in two months due to hunger and disease.

Agriculture is a capital-intensive undertaking, a fact that Zimbabwe has embraced as seen by the figures that have been thrown about by the authorities regarding investments in irrigation and mechanisation to drive the sector’s growth.

Yet, it is the preparedness to deal with natural climate shifts that have tested the country’s commitment and limitations to put in place mechanisms that will cushion farmers and help keep the country fed.

This is also happening at a time when least developed countries continue to lobby the world’s richest economies, who are also the largest emitters, to meet their obligations towards financing climate adaptation and mitigation programmes of countries such as Zimbabwe.

Agencies are stepping in to help address these shortcomings.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it is upping its resilience strategy in the Southern African region to deal with challenges in the agriculture.

The announcement came as a response to the drought that Zimbabwe and other countries are experiencing, but it is of interest that the FAO initiative will be most needed in Zimbabwe where agriculture resilience has been found wanting.

“FAO Zimbabwe is implementing

diverse initiatives across the agriculture sector as a contribution to FAO’s Resilience Strategy Southern Africa,” the agency said in an April update.

“The initiatives include taking a proactive approach to support timely information use in the agricultural and food security sector. This not only enables better hazard detection but also enhances the sector's overall resilience in responding to emerging challenges,” the brief continued.

Zimbabwe has struggled with reliable short-term weather forecasts, and climate change has presented challenges for long-term monitoring, with farmers left to rely on traditional knowledge about when to plant their crops.

In that regard, the Food and Agriculture Organisation says its interventions will “establish interventions that establish robust frameworks for anticipatory action coordination as well as early warning surveillance systems.”

Last year, agencies working in Zimbabwe requested the activation of the Early Action Protocol for Drought as El Niño loomed.

This would help communities affected by El Niño with “early warning information to support at-risk communities when planning their own actions to mitigate the impacts of the drought,” according to a Zimbabwe Red Cross Society brief.

“A forecast of an El Niño event, with an impact level corresponding to once-in-six-year event, will act as the first trigger for low investment Early Actions (early warning disseminations, drought tolerant seed distributions and livestock dosing),” the International Federation of the Red Cross said in its Early Action Protocol Notification in September last year.

September marks the onset of land preparation as the rainy season approaches in most parts of Zimbabwe.

Agriculture is a capital-intensive undertaking, a fact that Zimbabwe has embraced as seen by the figures that have been thrown about by the authorities regarding investments in irrigation and mechanisation to drive the sector’s growth.

Other agencies have also noted the urgent need for policy development and programme implementation to guide agriculture performance and food production.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) says at least one million four hundred thousand cattle in Zimbabwe could be lost to drought, this is despite the Ministry of Agriculture’s drive to increase the country’s national herd.

Zimbabwe has failed to attend to the structural deficits that will drive that repopulating of the national herd even as international agencies warned about the pending El Niño phenomenon.

It is that preparedness which analysts say would help cushion cattle deaths estimated by agencies such as FEWSNET. The Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Service (ARDAS), a government agency, announced in December last year that the country had lost more than seven thousand cattle to drought, while the Veterinary Services Department announced in April that twelve thousand cattle had died in two months due to hunger and disease. More cattle are expected to succumb to drought this year, again raising questions about disaster preparedness especially after the Agriculture Ministry said it had embarked on a countrywide borehole drilling drive to help alleviate water stress that has affected both humans and livestock.

However, the limits of those interventions are being felt across the country especially after earlier declarations by the government that Zimbabwe would not be importing any food as it had enough to feed itself.

Only weeks later, the President would

declare the country needed upwards of USD2 billion in food assistance, and critics say there is little to show that the country has learnt from its past disaster preparedness shortcomings.

Zimbabwe’s agriculture statistics dilemma

by Marko Phiri

Since the beginning of the year, numerous reports confirmed that 2024 is a drought year for Zimbabwe after the failure of large swathes of crops across the country.

This was weeks before an official drought declaration was made by the President last month, bringing to focus the country’s agriculture statistics dilemma where government routinely tweaks the numbers to paint a positive food security outlook.

Smallholder and subsistence farmers who by the month of May would have been enjoying maize, groundnuts, sweet potatoes and other crops they grow themselves have been left counting their losses and facing the reality of hunger.

As the half-year mark approaches, there appears to be little hope for the winter crop expected to add to the coun try’s food reserves.

Climate researchers have warned that there are no signs that the 2024/25 cropping season will be any better.

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has for years complained that even during normal to above rainfall, smallholders withhold their maize citing poor prices offered by the state-owned enterprise.

Despite this, government has continued to insist that the country has “excess” grain. It has however never been clear where that excess grain comes from.

Analysts say the devastation of the drought has been worsened by lack of government transparency, with for example the Ministry of Agriculture for months painting a hopeful picture while the Ministry of Economy has declared that it is revising downwards economic growth projections because of the drought.

Last month, days before the

official drought declaration by the President, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Mthuli Ncube, conceded the “negative impact of El Niño, and naturally it is affecting our agricultural output where we are expecting negative economic growth from agriculture”.

Zimbabwe has historically banked on agriculture performance to drive gross domestic product growth, but the authorities have in recent years been at odds with independent experts who have cast doubt on upbeat economic figures released by the treasury.

While the Finance Minister declared

that government would ensure no one goes hungry because of El Niño, agencies such as the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) have warned that the inability to produce their own food will lead to millions facing starvation.

A FEWSNET assessment recently warned that food prices will remain beyond the reach of many as a direct result of El Niño.

“But clearly we have been impacted by El Niño and as government, we are always ready to respond to make sure that citizens are cushioned against the possibilities of hunger and ensure that

no one goes hungry,” Minister Mthuli told state media.

The country has routinely shown lack of capacity to feed itself despite regular assurances that it has enough grain reserves, and FEWSNET warned that runaway prices of basic commodities will drive many into hunger.

In 2021, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that poor agriculture performance driven by COVID-19 had left two million four hundred urban residents failing to access basic food commodities.

The country is yet to recover from those COVID-19 disruptions, and food needs in the aftermath of El Niño have only worsened despite the Agriculture Ministry declaring last year that the country had produced enough grain from the previous cropping season.

Amid such disparities, the Ministry of Agriculture has touted the cropping of crop varieties outside grains such as maize and wheat as the panacea that will drive economic growth.

But such appeals have found few takers as smallholder farmers who grow the bulk of the country’s grain still stick to maize, the country’s staple, and cash crops such as tobacco and cotton.

While Zimbabwe has also received grain donations from abroad, food security experts and humanitarian agencies have said this has never been enough to cushion millions from other macroeconomic pressures that have reflected the unreliable official statistics regarding the food security situation.

Such forecasts will have a bearing on

The bulk of the country’s grain producers still stick to maize, the country’s staple, and cash crops such as tobacco and cotton.

the country’s food production and food security statistics which have been contentious for years, casting further doubt on whether smallholders will continue to anchor the self-sufficiency ambitions of the agriculture sector.

“We have successfully climate-proofed and invested in irrigation, and that is why we are now wheat self-sufficient, but we need to do more in terms of maize where we will have a deficit,” Minister Mthuli said, exposing the discrepancy between economic updates issued by cabinet ministers.

“When it comes to investment in irrigation, again we are going to accelerate investments now that we have the water bodies. We have to impound water. So, it is an ongoing programme to complete dams under construction,” the Minister added, again revealing the country’s deficits in putting in place long-term bulwarks to ensure agriculture is cushioned against climate induced water-stress.

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