Latest farming and agriculture news from Africa

Outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Namibia

Glenneis Kriel — Tue, 30 May 2023 11:00:31 +0000

Namibia has declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Gobabis, after someone died of the disease in a hospital in Windhoek.

Water harvesting being promoted in Zambia

Staff Reporter — Wed, 17 May 2023 08:00:35 +0000

Climate change challenges have taken a toll on Zambia’s bumper harvests of recent years, prompting authorities to consider initiating countervailing measures to ensure sustained food security.

Zambia fights damaging cassava root rot outbreak

Staff Reporter — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:00:13 +0000

This virus threatens to cause widespread hunger as it devastates cassava plantations in Zambia.

‘Fair compensation needed to mitigate crop damage caused by wildlife’

Annelie Coleman — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:39:56 +0000

Small-scale crop farmers in the Zambezi region of Namibia recently called on the Namibian government to compensate them for the actual value of crops destroyed by wildlife such as elephants and hippos.

Severe drought in Namibia a cause for concern

Annelie Coleman — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:24:15 +0000

A major part of Namibia is experiencing an acute drought, with the situation particularly serious south of the capital, Windhoek, with little or no rain received during the 2022/23 rainy season. According to Thinus Pretorius, chairperson of Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation, some parts south of Keetmanshoop had not received any rain.

Despite easing, Zim’s food price inflation remains highest in the world

Annelie Coleman — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 11:59:02 +0000

Food price pressures that have beset Zimbabwe have persisted, giving the Southern African country the unenviable position of having the world’s worst inflation, despite some slight moderation, a recent report by the World Bank showed.

Beware of deregistered stud breeders, says Namibian Meat Board

Annelie Coleman — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:29:04 +0000

The Namibian Meat Board (NMB) recently issued a warning to livestock buyers in Namibia to beware of buying animals from stud breeders who have been deregistered and are no longer allowed to sell their animals as such.

Namibian mutton and lamb exports on the increase

Annelie Coleman — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:41:21 +0000

Since its reopening in the second half of 2022, the Farmers’ Meat Market export abattoir in Mariental, Namibia, has processed payment of R10,9 m, excluding VAT, to 46 sheep producers in that country.

Scepticism abounds over Zimbabwe’s compensation offer to farmers

Annelie Coleman — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 13:08:52 +0000

Zimbabwe’s few remaining commercial farmers who lost their land during that country’s large-scale expropriation of white-owned farms were sceptical about the Zimbabwean government’s recent compensation offer. This was according to Dr Theo de Jager, chairperson of the board at the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI).

Botswana optimistic about local apple production

Tshiamo Tabane — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:53:48 +0000

Farmers in Botswana are looking forward to starting the commercial production of apples, after the introduction of semi-arid varieties of apple trees suitable for local conditions.