UN pledges R37 billion towards Zimbabwe’s drought crisis
The UN has pledged to support Zimbabwe’s call to mobilise more than R37 billion after President Emmerson Mnangagwa recent declaration of a national State of Disaster following the devastating El Niño-induced drought.
Zimbabwe sees decline in crop production due to drought
El Niño continues its severe impact on Zimbabwe, with a marked decline in crop production. The total area planted to crops in Zimbabwe in the 2023/24 season declined 6% when compared to the previous season, that of cereals declined 6% and maize grain declined 12%.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco producers earn less despite increased exports
Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports increased markedly in the first two months of 2024. A total volume of 56 500t of tobacco was exported in January and February.
Zambia diversifies and revives cashew production
Zambia’s production of cashew nuts has stagnated since the early 1990s due to a lack of education, contact with extension officers and input costs such as fertiliser and pesticides.
New vaccine plant to help Zambia combat FMD
Zambia is mobilising US$22 million (about R415 million) to set up a veterinary medicine production plant to help mitigate the high rate of cattle and other animal fatalities that have affected local farms.
Kenya’s black rhino numbers quadruple since 1984
Black rhinos in Kenya were on the brink of extinction three decades ago, but their numbers have since quadrupled from 240 in 1984 to 966 in 2024.
Limit on animal feed imports from SA hampers Namibian livestock farmers
The strict regulations introduced by the Namibian government on the importation of animal feed from South Africa pose a serious challenge for livestock producers in the southern region of the country, according to Rina Hough, commodity analyst of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU).
Zimbabwe’s 2024 maize harvest expected to shrink by 50%
Zimbabwe's staple maize harvest is expected to halve to 1,1 million tons in 2024 due to an El Niño-induced drought, Reuters recently reported.
Botswana border shut could lead to cheaper fresh produce in SA
Botswana has extended its import ban on fresh produce from South Africa, continuing to defy the free trade agreement that is in place.
Namibia’s livestock industry excelled in third quarter of 2023
The Namibian meat industry recorded a top performance during the third quarter of 2023 in comparison with the third quarter of 2022.
Emphasis on collaboration highlighted at aquaculture conference
Africa should collaborate and share knowledge on agriculture best practices to nurture the aquaculture industry for enhanced and sustainable food security, says Zambia’s fisheries and livestock minister Makozo Chikote.
Namibian livestock producers propose Meatco split
Namibian livestock producers called on that country’s government to seriously consider the creation of two Meatco entities that would service producers north and south of Namibia’s veterinary cordon fence (VCF) as two independent subsidiaries.
