Zimunda Issue 4

January/February 2019 1 ISSUE 4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 $5 Inspirational highlights for 2019 Agriculture in Zimbabwe

2 January/February 2019

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4 January/February 2019 CONTENTS ARTICLES 8 Agronomic Advice 12 Dam Maintenance 14 Dairibord On Drive to Increase Milk Production 15 Zimbabwe Flower Production Goes Global 23 Farm Cashflow Planning 26 Aerial Mapping and GPS Solutions to Farming 30 Sunn Hemp as a Rotation Crop 32 History of Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic 36 Blueberry Field Day On-Farm LIVESTOCK 11 Indigenous Pigs 16 Jambo Tuli Stud Turns Fifty 19 Brooding Essentials in Poultry Production 21 Dairy Farming Innovation 24 Indigenous Cattle Breeds 35 Church Helps to Set Up Egg Production Projects FISHING 39 The Scourge of the Nylon Net 40 Conservation: A Sustainable Approach to Fishing 42 Devastation on the Western shores of Kariba 43 Junior Bass League On Tour TIME OUT 46 Crossword and Sudoku

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6 January/February 2019 FROM THE EDITOR To our valued readers, As we start the new year, it’s time to look to the future and refl ect on what we would like to achieve in 2019. The Zimbabwean agricultural sector, in all its glorious, multi faceted diversity, is continuing to grow, slowly and steadily. ZiMunda will be celebrating its success stories and continuing to share with our readers, a mix of technical and agronomic opinion, expertise and analysis. Inside this issue of the magazine, there’s a mix of the old and the new, looking forward, whilst also looking back. This is a bit like farming: working within the age-old seasonal cycles, yet continuing to adapt to them in modern ways. In this issue, we visit a Marondera dairy farm and take a look at the exciting innovations the farmer is implementing; we commemorate the fi ftieth anniversary of a cattle stud, and we COVER PHOTO Mafuro Dairy Cows Photograph by Julie Havercroft investigate the underwater world of farm dam maintenance. We also look back at the history of one of Zimbabwe’s educational institutions, Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic. As the summer cropping season continues, with its associated rainfall challenges, an agronomist shares his top tips for improving crop productivity in the face of limited water supplies. As ZiMunda continues on its journey, we continue to be amazed and heartened by the success stories we fi nd in the farming community. The determination, hard work, resilience, persistence and sacrifi ce of farmers in Zimbabwe is inspirational and needs to be heralded. We hope that 2019 will be everything you wish it to be. Julie

January/February 2019 7 Have something to share? We are always happy to recieve articles, photos and letters. Please email us at: [email protected] DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort is made to check the content of any article, the directors will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions in such articles. We accept that all articles and photographs sent to us are the sole responsibility of the authors and we do not accept liability for any misrepresentation. Events listed, the dates thereof, and prices are printed using information supplied to us that we are satisfi ed is correct at the time of printing. Zimunda publication is the exclusive property of Ndeipi (Pvt) Ltd. OUR TEAM PUBLISHER Mike Garden [email protected] +263 (0) 772 209 162 EDITOR Julie Havercroft [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 024 278 2720 OFFICES 37 Victoria Drive, Newlands, Harare PRINTER Paragon Printing & Packaging (Pvt) Ltd 17035 Cedora Road, Graniteside Harare 024 773021-27 08677 006 177 [email protected] zimunda farming zimunda_mag ADVERTISING Rudo Nhamoinesu [email protected] Tel: 024 278 2720 Cell: +263 (0) 712 408 439 DESK TOP PUBLISHING Melissa Katunga [email protected] Cell: +263 (0) 773 972 776

8 January/February 2019 Improving crop productivity in the face of limited water supplies By Ronald Rusere AGRONOMIC ADVICE SOIL WATER MANAGEMENT The 2018-19 rainfall season has already started which is expected to have normal with a bias towards below normal rainfall, it is important that farmers take note of a key issue of increasing crop productivity through improving rainfall use efficiency in the wake of limited water supplies. Rainfed or dryland farming, this is a type of farming to which a larger proportion of Zimbabwean farmers are by-and-large tied to and this makes rainfall a critical input in many parts of the country in the production of staple grains. Crop production under rainfed farming is heavily dependent on in-season spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall. In Zimbabwe the crop growing period normally extends from November to April and rainfall normally occurs as short duration, heavy convective storms during this period. Already due to climate change we are now witnessing rainfall events which are poorly distributed during the growing period, taking more than three weeks between successive rainfall events in some seasons. Such mid-season dry spells are now a characteristic feature in some parts of Zimbabwe and the impact of such dry spells on farmers is sometimes more severe than that of drought. It is common knowledge that not all rainfall that falls in a field is effectively utilised by a crop for growth and development therefore it is important that farmers adopt measures to improve soil water management under rainfed farming as this has the potential of reducing the negative impact of mid-season dry spells. This implies that every little available raindrop should be converted to productive use to improve crop production. The challenge of water scarcity as a result of insufficient seasonal rainfall and dry spell occurrences during seasons is compounded by inefficient agricultural practices by farmers where insignificant soil moisture Maximizing rainfall-use efficiency of crops in dryland agriculture through agronomy. conservation efforts are applied. When these dry spells occur at critical growth stages, significant yield reductions occur even where the total seasonal rainfall may be considered good. Soil is the medium for water storage and supply to growing crops in farming systems, and sustainable soil water management is therefore critical in farming systems. It should be emphasised that the shortage of water in rainfed agriculture is not always caused by low rainfall as generally perceived but rather by lack of sustainable management and use of available rainwater. In Zimbabwe the growing-season rainfall can vary markedly from year to year. No two seasons are the same, this leads to rainfall variability from one year to the next. The goal for every farmer is capturing enough rain for crop growth and lengthening the period that moisture lasts in the soil. The more rainfall water that can be retained in the soil, the more there is available for crop production. It is important that farmers take measures to reduce losses which occur in fields through any of runoff, seepage, and evaporation and transpiration by weeds. A fraction of heavy, high intensity rains percolates into the soil and can be stored in the crop root zone, hence the efficacy of this type of rainfall is low. Approximately 8mm/day of rainfall can be lost via evaporation on soils surfaces which lack cover or crop residue. In the absence of effective moisture conservation in fields, even as much as 60% of rainfall can be lost through runoff and evaporation in areas which receive low rainfall. When rain falls on the soil surface, part of it will infiltrate into the soil to replenish soil water or flow through to recharge the groundwater, some will be lost via run off and the remainder will evaporate directly from unprotected soil surfaces and from crop leaves. Farmers can adopt practices that lengthen the duration of soil moisture availability in the soil, enhance infiltration of rainwater into the soil and they can also store surface and sub-surface runoff water for later use such as rainwater harvesting systems with storage for supplementary irrigation. Optimisation of soil moisture can be achieved adopting practices which ensure that the primary route for water out of the soil is through the crop through transpiration. The goal for soil water management, therefore, is a reduction in evaporation losses while increasing the flow of water via crop transpiration. Adoption of farming practices that promote this differential water movement enhances sustainability. The more rainfall water that can be retained in the soil, the more there is available for crop production. The goal for every farmer is capturing enough rain for crop growth and lengthening the period that moisture lasts in the soil. There are agronomic options in abundance that can aid in improving rainfall use efficiency under dryland farming. Cultural practices such as conservation/ minimum tillage, appropriate fertilizer use (application of fertilisers should be guided by ten day weather forecasts), improved weed control, timely planting, in conjunction with the use of drought tolerant varieties. VARIETAL CHOICE Farmers should select varieties that are adapted to the total amount and distribution of water available in their area. Drought tolerant varieties should be selected in a season like this. Selection of these varieties should take into consideration flowering days for instance in maize where hot and dry weather during this period results in poor pollination and seed set as it dehydrates maize silks (delay silking) and hastens pollen shed resulting in crop missing window for pollination.

January/February 2019 9 AGRONOMIC ADVICE SOIL WATER MANAGEMENT Figure 1. Susceptibility of maize to moisture stress Moisture deficiencies at this time will reduce yields 7% per day therefore it is important to select varieties whose flowering periods do not coincide with dry spells of the area. Figure 2. Effect of moisture stress during pollination PLANT POPULATION Planting population can be used as a way to offset limited water supply. Plant spacing referring to the distance between rows and between plants in the rows. The closer the spacing the higher the number of plants per hectare. In drier areas wider spacing’s are preferable in order to supply more soil water to the individual crop and in high rainfall areas closer spacing’s are possible. Efficient precipitation utilization also requires that the plant population density should be matched with the water supply, which is determined by the stored soil water at planting plus the expected rainfall. TILLAGE PRACTICES Tillage can be implemented that reduces runoff and increases infiltration. Conservation agriculture contributes to increases in soil moisture this is attributed to crop residue on the soil surfaces. The crop residue acts as a mulch which reduces evaporation from the soil and keeps soil surfaces cooler. Crop residue forms a barrier from wind and sunlight keeping soils moist which promotes better root development and more soil biological activity. Figure 3 No till Soybean crop Crop residues contributes to increased effective infiltration and soil storage of rainfall through absorbing the impact energy of rainfall drops thus reducing soil particle detachment, surface crusting and runoff. Reductions in soil temperature just by having crop residue on surfaces significantly reduces moisture loss. The percentage of rainfall effectiveness increases with an increase in crop residue or cover which acts as a mulch. As the crop develops a canopy and leaf area increases to cover the ground, frequent light rains can be intercepted by a crop canopy with the aid of residue to full ground cover this increases rainfall effectiveness. EFFECTIVE WEED MANAGEMENT ‘One years’ seeding, seven year’s weeding’ is an old farming saying which encapsulates two main ideas. First, that from small initial infestations, larger weed populations arise in subsequent years, and second, that the seeds survive for some time. The significance of the weed seeds in the soil is thus to create a continuing requirement for weed management. Figure 4. Effective weed management, it is important to start with a clean field Effective weed management is important in that a farmer has to start with a weed free field for at least 10 weeks in maize as weeds compete with crops for water, nutrients, and light. In dry areas, or in a drier season the main objective of weed management is to increase the water and nutrient supply availability to the crop. To minimize the competition between weeds and crops for water, it is therefore important to adopt an integrated approach to the control of weeds. A major problem contributing towards higher evapotranspiration values in crop production is ineffective control of weeds. When weeds are not controlled effectively, the advantage of planting at low densities is removed, and the practice may actually result in a reduction in yield. Timeliness of tillage for weed control is absolutely crucial for effective pre-plant water storage, as well as for reducing competition for the available soil water during the growing season. If herbicides are to be used then there is a need for optimising herbicide use. Optimising herbicide use implies that decision-making is improved. Effective use of pre emergence herbicides to eliminate the aggressiveness of early season competition between weeds and crops and timely applications of post emergence herbicides so as to protect yield potential. In a drier season weeds growing under soil moisture stress generally develop smaller leaves and thicker cuticles, deposit more wax and are generally more difficult to control than weeds growing under optimum soil moisture conditions. These changes in leaf surface characteristics may reduce Figure 5. Effect of weeds and moisture stress

10 January/February 2019 AGRONOMIC ADVICE SOIL WATER MANAGEMENT retention as well as uptake of herbicides. Furthermore, moisture-stressed weeds gradually close their stomata, leading to a decline in photosynthesis and phloem translocation of assimilates which subsequently reduces herbicide translocation in the phloem. The performance of foliage applied herbicides is generally reduced when they are applied to moisture-stressed plants and a severe soil moisture deficit affects the performance of foliage-applied herbicides more than any other climatic parameter. Farmers should use rainfall forecasts to time herbicide application if rain is forecast rather than to spray moisture-stressed plants. Rain may increase the activity of soil-applied herbicides by dissolving and moving the herbicide into the top few centimetres of soil where most weed seeds germinate. Adequate rain is necessary to maintain a high soil moisture content in the surface layers as this is important for maximising the activity of soil-applied herbicides. PLANT NUTRITION Proper plant nutrition is a good strategy to enhance water use efficiency and productivity in crop plants under a given amount of water availability. Plant nutrients play a very important role in enhancing water use efficiency under limited water supply. Therefore, a well-nourished crop plant is expected to produce more biomass per unit of transpired water than an under-nourished one. The provision of optimum plant nutrition is not only required for better crop growth and development, but is also critical in improving water use efficiency through enhancing the development of the root system in the cultivated 0-20 cm soil layer. The absorption and utilization of nutrients like nitrogen by crops growing under water stress is very critical for crop growth and productivity. Water stress results in a depression in nutrient uptake particularly of nitrogen which may contribute towards reduced yield. Optimum plant nutrition helps in early establishment of rainfed crops by developing the right canopy structure (increased leaf area) and root system. Adequate potassium has a role in crop water economy by regulating stomatal resistance. The adoption of such agronomic practices contribute to the success of rainfed agriculture and have the potential to cause yield increases as well as rainfall use efficiency. A combination of insitu soil moisture conservation, effective wed management, drought tolerant varieties and a balanced nutrient supply can boost productivity in dryland agriculture. These practices lead to a decrease water losses due to soil evaporation, overland flow, deep percolation, and effect of weeds competing for water, thereby increasing water availability for crop use. Maximizing rainfall use efficiency to produce high crop yields is of paramount importance. The basic principle of efficient utilization of precipitation for dryland plant production lies in maximizing the gains and minimizing the losses of water from the soil. It has been shown that crop production risks are lower with practices that assure good soil water storage before planting. Images provided by Ronald Rusere

January/February 2019 11 Mukotas And Their Potential In Zimbabwe’s Pig Farming INDIGENOUS SMALL LIVESTOCK Chris “Beefy” Grant has been farming small livestock in Matabeleland for some years now. What makes his enterprise, and indeed his approach, to this aspect of commercial farming in Zimbabwe unique is that he is actively selecting and promoting the adoption of lesser known, indigenous species of goats (Kalahari Reds) and pigs (Mukotas). He hopes that other small livestock producers can learn from his experience, and here, he shares his story with ZiMunda Farming. Beefy’s vision and passion for using indigenous breeds is driven by his conviction that they have an important part to play in Zimbabwe’s livestock industry. THRIVING IN HARSH CONDITIONS Beefy started this project nearly three years ago, in February 2016, with 10 sows and two boars. Research on indigenous pigs had led him to Mukotas. Why should potential Mukota breeders choose to raise a lesser-known indigenous domestic pig variety over the more well-known Duroc, Landrace and Large White breeds? Beefy’s answer: “Use a screw driver as a screw driver, not as a chisel.” By this he means that these pigs are hardy and disease resistant and well suited to climate conditions here. They cope with heat stress, and experience a wide range of temperature, from freezing in winter, extremely hot in summer with temperatures over 40’C. Beefy says “Our pigs get no heating during winter. They are outside in the open and we have extremely cold winters in Matabeleland. We have not had one death from exposure or cold. “We have had instances of sows giving birth at the beginning of July and neither sow nor piglet have died. We don’t use any modern medicine on the Mukotas. We regularly do faecal samples to control the internal parasites and dose accordingly, but no antibiotics are used. They do not have lice, ticks or fleas. Wallowing in mud baths help combat those skin parasites.” The vegetation on the property where Beefy rears them is dense thorn scrub bush with medium size acacia trees. It goes without saying that it is very dry and very hot during the day. So, how do these pigs fare in this environment? “They do well in the heat as long as there is shade for them and “wallows” for them to cool off and cover themselves with mud.” Unfortunately most of the stock Beefy has is interbred with other species and he is actively trying to breed them back to their former glory as pure Mukotas and has introduced new genetics to his existing herd from communal setups. They are initially penned in the electric fence hold pen for a week, before being introduced slowly to their new family. The pigs are free range and do thrive in terrible conditions. They convert feed to meat well but do grow slowly. “That’s an advantage of indigenous livestock and they have low mortality rates. They are suited to the environment,” Beefy says. They feed mainly on grasses and have the ability to convert very low protein grasses into pork, and they can survive in extremely poor conditions. This species of pig thrives in any habitat in Zimbabwe, and only needs six litres of drinking water a week to survive. They occur naturally in the less hospitable, more marginal areas of the country, from Binga and Hwange stretching up to most of the Zambezi valley and the north eastern parts of Zimbabwe. On Beefy’s setup, he admits that planted pastures, especially Lucerne, would be an advantage. But, water and terrain do not permit. Fortunately, it does not stop these creatures from thriving. Feed supplements for the boars and sows are given during the harsh dry months to maintain condition. “Once the rains start and the grass is green, a transformation occurs and nature at its finest shows why indigenous animals have evolved over time, and are far superior than introduced exotics,” Beefy says. BREED CHARACTERISTICS So, how do we know what a Mukota pig is? What are its characteristics? This is a formally recognised domestic pig breed and it is said to have come into the country with Chinese traders over 300 years ago and has since survived and thrived here. The characteristics of the breed include a long snout and pot belly. The pigs have black skin to avoid skin cancer caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. There must be no white, or spots on the skin. They have razor backs - a distinctive ridge of coarse hair along their spines. In terms of handling, they have a lively disposition, but as they are a domestic breed, they do have a calm temperament. Boars do tend to be a bit more wild. The sows are good mothers with a strong maternal instinct and are very protective of their young. Breeding is seasonal, with the sows producing two litters a year, one at the end of the year and one in April. THE FUTURE FOR MUKOTAS What is the future for this species in commercial farming here? Beefy believes “one hundred percent” that the Mukota breed has a place in commercial small livestock farming in Zimbabwe. However, he is not aware of any plans to regularise or promote this breed for commercial production and he goes on record as saying it is a hugely wasted potential resource. “I believe that commercially, Mukotas can have a very large impact on the pig industry, especially if promoted as free range as more and more markets are changing to prefer “free range” animal products. And Beefy’s last word on the matter? Mukota meat is known to be tasty and sweet. It tends to have less fat on it and the crackling - always the acid test for any pork lover - is as brittle as glass! Photograph provided by Chris Grant

12 January/February 2019 Dam Jobs and Recoveries COMMERCIAL DIVING ZIMBABWE Craig Kongkow tells ZiMunda Farming a bit about his unusual line of work involving what he does to repair farm dam inlet pipes and impeller pumps. Many years ago when droughts hit the farms, a lot of famers started building dams. Unfortunately, many of the dams’ inlet pipes were installed with the intake pipe, ranging from 1.5 to three metres above the ground near the dam wall, being the deepest point. Farmers hoped that silt, debris from broken trees etc would not be sucked through the pipes, even though various types of sieves were put in place above the intake pipe, which was either bolted or wedged in. Over the years, the sieves have rotted and disintegrated, causing damage to the impellers of the water pumps. “What you will fi nd in the pumps are small pieces of the steel grill which is supposed to be protecting the pumps from debris - hoping it has not damaged the impeller of the pump already. “The other issue we are coming across is silt rising way above the intake sieve - this can be as much as fi ve metres. Farmers are fi nding that the pipes to the drip irrigation block up due to the silt getting sucked in. Black spots are created on the leaves of tobacco and other crops. The water, where it is being sucked from, has very little oxygen content plus bacteria from the silt. Most crops need clean water. Yes, some crops thrive on dirty water using it as fertiliser so to speak. But the question is: is that water being sucked to irrigate have silt and pollution?” So, this is where Scubaworld & Universal Adventure come into solving these problems. They have an excellent team, headed by Craig Kongkow and Paul Sparkes, with over 30 years’ experience between them, using specialised equipment for various jobs. They can remove the existing rotted sieves and can manufacture and extend the inlet pipe up to a minimum height of three metres or more. They manufacture pipes up to six metres and are able to remove different levels of pipe accordingly to the level of water. At times where the sieve sits is bolted on. “But in many cases we have found that the previous farmers installing the pipes have used low quality steel pipe and the pipe completely rots and extensions are not possible. Without huge cost of uprooting the old pipes and losing valuable water reserves. We then recommend fl oating barges. This is a great idea as it drops with the level of the water accordingly, But like everything it is not safe to leave it on the water and can be a pain pulling it out every night even though we design a special trailer to do this.” “Working in this environment is no easy task as we literally are working blind.” When the silt is disturbed not even the best underwater light would make it possible to see. Everything is done buy feel which can be very deceiving if the silt is thick. The danger aspect would be the silt thickness and obviously crocodiles. “And if you have worked in Kariba, the electric Catfi sh!” They also do recoveries from boats, boat motors, aircraft and all types of vehicles. Replacement sieves Inlet pipe extensions Water Pump Pontoon Water Pump Pontoon Recovery Of Aircraft From Mazowe Dam If You Need Help, Call Them They repair and manufacture, install and remove valves, pipes, sieves and fi lters. They also do recovery operations of boats, boat motors, cars, pipes and pumps. “In fact,” Craig says, “we can recover practically anything. We have a Great team of Commercial Scuba Divers Ready to assist you with solving your problems.” Craig’s parting words are: “If you think hiring professionals to do the job is expensive, wait until you hire an amatuer...” Contact Craig on, cell: +263 77 2 226111, Email: [email protected]. Photographs provided by Craig Kongkow

14 January/February 2019 Getting the Dairy Farming Sector Back On Its Feet BUSINESS INSIGHT DAIRIBORD Beatrice dairy farmer Stoff Hawgood, who has been farming for over 30 years, has a wealth of knowledge and information to share with newer dairy farmers in Zimbabwe. He is playing a proactive role within the dairy industry, when it comes to sharing technical, farming and marketing information. This is not only as a farmer, but also in an official capacity as chairman of Dairibord’s Milk Supply Development Committee. Dairibord are on a drive to increase milk production in the country and to this end, set up the Milk Supply Development Committee, in 2017. “Basically, I chair this committee which is made up of both senior management and Board members of Dairibord, with the aim of supporting our Dairibord dairy farmers, and increasing the volumes of milk produced, along with improving milk quality, and improving farmer viability and profitability. “This committee, along with Dairibord have been, and continue to be very active, and are receiving good support from the Dairibord farmers.” Dairibord have been doing a very extensive strategic planning exercise with milk supply and growth being key to the strategic plan. After touring the country over the past year, the committee were able to target and identify a working plan on how to rapidly increase their raw milk intake and get operating levels back up to full capacity again. The aim of this is to introduce new products to the market and to develop those and aggressively re-enter the regional and international markets with world class products. The projected target is 260 million litres a year, and the task and responsibility of achieving this falls on the committee. In order to achieve this, Dairibord management acknowledge that they need to “understand the plans of our farmers who are key in producing the raw milk to make these plans reality.” Contracted farmers are being encouraged to share with Dairibord, their dreams, desires and intentions which they would like to plan and implement. “Dairibord is actively investigating financing options and models, for local and foreign inputs and funding; looking at strategies to bring in large numbers of animals and engaging with government to resolve ongoing farm issues which are limiting your ability to produce and expand your production.” These outlines, when received, will give the committee a good idea of: - How much milk they can anticipate, - A time frame for planned volumes, - Finance to meet the needs of the farmers, - Regionally where the milk will be produced so Dairibord can plan re-opening of its silent factories. “As we have heard loud and clear, Dairibord needs to walk with the farmers and these strategic plans are 100% dependent on the raw milk farmers can supply, and their ongoing viability and support.” Dairibord was set up in 1952, as DMB, and used to be a parastatal until it privatised in 1997. It has long been a familiar face in dairy farming in Zimbabwe and continues to be one of the big dairy players in the country. Logo provided by Dairibord, photograph by Julie Havercroft

January/February 2019 15 Putting Zimbabwean Flowers Back on the Map EXHIBITION NEWS HORTIFLOR EXPO Horticultural producers in Zimbabwe provide some of the best produce on the world market, from flowers and fruit through to vegetables. Between 2015 and 2016, exports from this sector topped $72 million. With renewed market research and development, this sector of the agricultural industry can once more be a key forex earner. Horticulture is not only a source of employment for many people in Zimbabwe, but feeds into other sectors of industry locally, be it greenhouse, shade cloth, seed, plant, irrigation or chemical providers. It also has a huge ready market, including local and international players. Export Flower Growers Association of Zimbabwe (EFGAZ) chairman, Gorden Makoni, told ZiMunda Farming that the organisers of Hortiflor saw opportunities opening up again for the revival of this industry. “We know the work that needs to be done and we know we can do it, together. It is with this in mind that organisers have brought together everyone with a stake in this industry, with the common goal of working together and rebuilding horticulture in Zimbabwe,” Makoni said. Makoni addressed the opening three-day Hortiflor Expo in October. This show, the first of its kind in over 18 years, brought together farmers, growers, breeders, investors and buyers with the singular purpose of increasing horticulture export in Zimbabwe. “The flower industry is going through remarkable growth, buoyed by the four rising stars - Colombia, Kenya, Ecuador and Ethiopia. The US market is on the upswing, the Russian market is declining but the Netherlands remains the fulcrum of the global flower trade. “In the late nineties to early 2000, Zimbabwe was only second to Kenya in Africa and third in the world in flower production. This exhibition reminds us that we have work to do - that is to take back our spot which was snatched by Ethiopia. “Global floral value was estimated at US55 Billion in 2016, and it is our sincere hope in the next five years we will also be part of that 55 billion-dollar market by contributing our fair share to global Flower trade. LOCAL CHALLENGES “Zimbabwe has some of the best climate in the world for cut-flower production and horticulture. We need to use this advantage against our competitors as it puts us in good stead. There is an abundance of land here and the government needs to spearhead land utilisation and ensure land suitable for flower production be allocated for such. “As we focus our efforts on summer cut flowers, it is essential to point out the beauty of our most suitable areas being Goromonzi, Ruwa, Marondera and Eastern Highlands as our own Navasha Region to spearhead a flower industry hub. “We call upon government to lead development by ensuring this beautiful industry is well-funded the way mining is funded; the land tenure issue is stabilised, as currently, we cannot use it as collateral to increase production. “We need all the value chain linkages to make sure a growth in one has the domino effect on all up- and downstream industries, including, but not limited to marketing, freight forwarding, finance, input suppliers, agro chemicals, greenhouse, packaging, irrigation, refrigerated trucks and cold room facilities,” Makoni said in conclusion. THE EXPO Colourful and exciting stands from nearly 50 exhibitors from all over the world displayed what they had to offer. All sectors of the horticultural industry were on hand to offer advice on the latest products and service available; from greenhouses, irrigation suppliers, fertiliser and chemicals dealers, rose breeders, and freighting and forwarding agents. Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General of Union Fleur & EFGAZ Chairman Gorden Makoni Photographs provided by Gorden Makoni

16 January/February 2019 Turning Fifty A SPECIAL MILESTONE CELEBRATION The Story Behind Jambo Tuli Stud In 2018, Jambo Tuli Stud celebrated a milestone in its own personal history and in that of cattle breeding in Zimbabwe. The Stud, run and owned by the Johnson family of Tengwe, turned the ripe old age of 50. It all began in 1968, when Chris and Margaret Johnson bought their first breeding stock and established a Tuli stud on Jambo farm. They started with 42 females and one bull from Kenilworth Estates, Shangani; H.Benny, Gwaai River; H.Barber, Filabusi; Miss Glasse, Shangani and Les Edwards, Arcturus. This herd, the basis of their stud, took months to find and put together. From these humble beginnings the Johnsons have consolidated their breeding program over the years and have spread far and wide globally, having now sold around 2000 Tuli bulls around Zimbabwe. Furthermore, they have exported live animals over the years to Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and embryos to Canada and Australia. THE TULI BREED What is it about the Tuli that makes it sought after? The Tuli is a hardy, indigenous breed of cattle to Zimbabwe, initiated by Len Harvey, near Gwanda. He was given the go ahead by the then-government, to develop Tuli cattle at The Tuli Breeding Station for small scale farmers. Previously, the government had supplied exotic bulls - like South Devon - to improve the indigenous breeds. Len Harvey then started his own commercial herd, Lebar, after Chris had started Jambo. The Johnsons subscribe to the “local is best” dictum, and they know that indigenous cattle can cope with harsh African conditions. Chris himself says “we strongly believe breeders should be able to breed what they believe is best for their climate and their market. “We have found our Tuli pretty easy to care for and handle. We try to bull our cows at two years old to calve at three years. They should weigh about 300kg at this stage and we try to get a cow to weigh 500kg at least once in her life. We use our bulls at two years old but believe 500kg is a better indication. Not just beauty, but selecting an animal that produces a strong calf every year that grows quickly and well in our natural environment, in order to be marketable at two years of age.” Furthermore, they are proud of the fact that their cows have good size, ease of calving, good milking and mothering ability. Tuli cattle are highly fertile, reasonably docile and live long, productive lives. “Our Tuli’s show good length and muscling. We select animals with good pigmentation and a well developed eye bank. We do not actively select for the polled factor and use both horned and polled bulls.” Over the years, Jambo Tuli Herd bulls have been purchased from all the leading herds in the country, besides using their own top bulls. Just recently, the Johnsons imported a bull from South Africa. PERFORMANCE TESTING AND RECORD KEEPING Oscar says Jambo Tuli Stud strongly believes in recording performance figures and fertility, and has done so from the start. “We are now accessing EBV’s for our animals thanks to the Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB) and BreedPlan, and we have over the years drawn hair follicles for DNA sampling. Our first selections are often done without even looking at the animals. “The importance of genetics on the industry cannot be ignored. If a stud breeder wishes to keep up the pace, Part of the Jambo Tuli cow herd Stand at the ZAS annual show

January/February 2019 17 A SPECIAL MILESTONE CELEBRATION he must realise that performance testing is essential. The good commercial cattleman today buys his bulls with a knowledge of the qualities he is looking to introduce into his herd and accurate realistic records of the bull he is interested in should be available to him. “Accurate records of each dam and her performance year by year will greatly assist the breeder in selecting those cows who are functional and culling those whose consistently show a poor performance.” Records have been meticulously kept since the inception of the Stud breeding programme. “We joined up with the Studmaster programme and entered all our animals starting from the very beginning. Years later, the ZHB introduced us to Herdmaster, also known as BreedPlan, which comes from Australia.” Oscar, Chris’s son and the second generation cattleman of the family, continues to develop the Jambo Tuli Stud business and maintain its ethos. He has brought the Stud into the 21st century, by putting the Stud’s breeding programme onto the Herdmaster programme. Oscar also works hard to promote the public profile of the business and is behind their catchy, colourful cattle pens at the National and Tuli production sales. More than being just Tuli producers, the Johnsons are actively involved in promoting the interests of this breed, in Zimbabwe. Chris and Margaret, well-known and respected for their cattlemanship, have both, over the years, served the Tuli Society in official capacities. Chris says the Tuli Society is currently very active and new, younger cattlemen are seeing the benefits of this breed, which incidentally has the second (to Brahman) largest number of registered animals in Zimbabwe. “Our business ethos is that honesty and truth will set one free based on figures we produce. We guarantee our bulls for working, through our confidence in the breed. Pedigree cattle are a long term venture that requires clients returning to you after some years. Learn to like a productive looking animal. “With today’s high costs and tight margins, one cannot afford not to have growth and fertility in the herd. We therefore focus on their figures to select for function that will lead to conformation. Work out your most fertile, productive animal and learn to love what they look like!” With these principles and values, the Jambo Stud herd is on course to continue on its successful journey for many years. Photographs provided by Oscar Johnson Chris & Margaret Johnson Chris & Oscar with Supreme Grand Champion Bull 2016 trophies Current Jambo Tuli herd sire 12-0719J

18 January/February 2019

January/February 2019 19 The Secret of Success in Broiler Production By General Beven Mundida Get the basics right – temperature management, feed and water management, air quality. The brooding period – the first 14 days of the broiler’s life is the most sensitive period because the bird is changing from an immature thermo regulation system to a mature one. It plays an essential role in laying the foundation of optimal flock performance. Without proper brooding, chicks can’t reach their genetic potential, resulting in reduced yield, poor flock uniformity, and higher mortality rates. Capitalising on this time period is critical as poor performance during brooding cannot be compensated for later on. Giving your chicks the best start in the brooding period helps maximise results during brooding, setting yourself up for a successful and profitable flock. One common mistake is producers think only of maintaining the proper temperature. They need to take care of other issues too. A way to define these other issues is the 80-20 rule (Pareto’s Law), which means that 80% of the consequences come from 20% of the causes. Producers should always think in their brooding about temperature management, air quality, feed and water management. Proper management of these areas will be the key factor to uniformity, which results in good performance. Below are a few basics that must be managed carefully to ensure successful broiler production. TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT When chicks hatch, they can’t control their own body temperature until they are 14 days old. Even then, because broilers are not fully feathered until after they are 25 days old, they are highly sensitive to air movement. Chicks always require extra heating for brooding. The house must be pre-heated for at least 48 hours for every new batch of chicks. The recommended brooder temperature is 32°C - 33°C. If the birds are exposed to cold temperature, they will try to save or make heat by huddling or by burning feed to keep warm, which affects feed conversion ratio and this is the most expensive way. In the opposite case, with high temperature, the birds will try to remove heat or avoid producing heat, pant to lose heat (losing FCR) and stop eating. The correct temperature will also influence the bird health and immunity because immune system development and stress is costing energy and when the birds are not comfortable during this development they will be more sensitive to infections and less immune competent. Reduced and elevated air temperature during the first period of rearing reduced the rate of growth, with clear differences observed in the group of birds reared at lower temperature. For the first two weeks the chicken house should feel too warm for the caretaker – if not, the temperature is likely to be too low for the chicks. Always use bird behaviour and effective temperature as the ultimate guide to determine the correct temperature for the birds. Also heat control sensors and thermometers should be hung above bird height in the centre of the room. Because the sensors become less accurate over time, they should be checked and recalibrated if necessary before every new flock is introduced. FEED AND WATER MANAGEMENT A chick must consume about 25% of its body weight in feed and 50% of its body weight in water 24 hours after placement. Failure to do so results in lower weight gain, higher mortality (due to increased culling for small, non-starter chicks) and poor flock uniformity. We suggest using paper in 50% of the brooding area. Use paper PRACTICAL POINTERS BROODING ESSENTIALS

20 January/February 2019 rolls or newspapers and not tissue papers, to ensure adequate time for feeding before the paper breaks down. The seven day weight is a good tool, but more crucial is uniformity. The best way to improve fl ock performance is not by increasing seven day weight of the faster starting chicks, but by decreasing the number of slower starters. A good tool to do is the chick-check evaluation by looking at the crop consistency. The crop is palpated after six hours (chick-check 1) and again at 24 hours post-placement (chick-check 2). A good goal is getting 95% of birds with water and feed in the crop. Water is an essential nutrient that impacts virtually all physiological functions. Water restriction decreases the feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio. Ensure the correct number of drinkers (water troughs) or nipples for the number of chicks, with a maximum of 100 birds per three drinkers and 12 birds per nipple for high fl ow-rate systems and 10 birds per nipple for low fl ow-rate systems PRACTICAL POINTERS BROODING ESSENTIALS AIR QUALITY Ventilation distributes heat throughout the house and maintains good air quality in the brooding area. The main purpose of minimum ventilation is to provide good air quality without air velocity at bird level. Inadequate minimum ventilation and the resulting poor air quality can cause increased levels of ammonia, carbon dioxide, and moisture levels and an increase in production related syndromes such as ascites. It is important to always evaluate ammonia levels at bird height. High ammonia levels in the house are detrimental for the birds. The negative effects of ammonia include foot pad burns, eye burns, breast blisters/skin irritations, decreased weights, poor uniformity, disease susceptibility and blindness. High levels of carbon dioxide will reduce activity and feed and water consumption, increase dehydration, lower weight gain and increase the chance of heart failure later in life. It is therefore vital to install a good ventilation system that can provide a continuous supply of fresh air and remove the carbon dioxide. Contact General Beven Mundida (Animal Production Specialist) for more information, +263 776420161, +263 717056597 Photographs provided by Beven Mundida & Melissa Katunga

January/February 2019 21 FARMING INNOVATION IN MARONDERA Doing Great Things in Dairy Economic Development At Its Best! The word “Mafuro” is the Shona word for Pasture. This name was carefully selected and chosen for the dairy enterprise that Sean Webster is building up. Quite simply, it encapsulates the ethos of his business. This Marondera farmer is young, energetic and driven. One of Zimbabwe’s new generation of commercial farmers, he is at the vanguard of our dairy industry. Webster leads by example and everyone in his team and management staff has been chosen for the passion and commitment they bring to the job, above and beyond their skills on paper. What started in January 2018, was an innovative dairy farm, built around a mobile commercial milking parlour. The first of its kind in Africa, it is loosely based on one seen in the UK, built by Dorset farmer Tom Foot. An engineering firm in Zimbabwe accepted the challenge to manufacture one locally, and created something workable, based on Webster’s vision. From the outset, the design behind farm operations was to minimise the fixed investments by creating as many moveable assets as possible; thus decreasing the risk if the land became contentious. This mobile, moveable model is built for those who intend to lease land, which gives the flexibility needed when moving to a new farm. The Mafuro mobile parlour is a herring-bone style, 11-a-side swing over. Don’t mistake it for a common bush dairy trailer you may have seen - this takes mobile milking to a whole new commercial level. It is designed to increase the cow flow during milking, making it efficient and productive. Each cow producing milk is recorded with Automatic Milk Meters, allowing the farmer to gather information quickly on his whole herd without having to stop after each cow is milked. The milk is then filtered and cooled down through a plate cooler, which is supported by an ice bank and then pumped into mobile insulated holding tanks. These are then kept on-farm until ProDairy collects. The outstanding feature of the parlour is that it is based on the outer circle of the pivot, in the field where the cows are. Twice daily, the cows walk from their allocated wedge of the pivot into the unit, eat their concentrates while they are being milked, and then return to their pasture. The downtime of walking to cows to and from a milking shed building in a central farm yard, has been eliminated. The cows, creatures of habit, now know what to do and happily walk up and down the stairs, to and from their grazing. It is truly a sight to see. Webster has simplified the nature of dairy farming in many ways but most importantly, the feed, as this is the biggest cost driver in the business. After a stint of dairy farming in New Zealand, he has adapted what he learned there to what is required here in Zimbabwe, with our climate and conditions. In doing so, he has created a new hybrid style of dairy farming. Most of the feed is grown on-farm, with a winter grazing programme consisting of an annual Mid Mar Rye grass and some legumes. In summer, the combination grass of Teff/Torro/Smuts Finger and Katambora is irrigated under a mobile 34-hectare pivot. The cows graze pie slice wedges that move daily through the use of mobile The moveable reservoir provides water for the herd Calves in the yard

22 January/February 2019 fencing units which are charged by solar energisers. All the pasture grown is carefully monitored and measured on a daily basis which gives Webster the growth in dry matter kilograms, samples of the grass are sent to a laboratory for analysing. With the information on how many kilograms of dry matter per hectare and the nutritional information from the results, he then calculates based on a few more factors such as protein and metabolic energy, how many kilograms he will need to feed the cows for that day. Once that is done, any nutritional shortfalls found in the grass results are supplemented in the concentrate which is fed during milking. This high level concentrate is formulated by National Foods, Webster working closely with their nutritionist, Swys Viviers. The basis of the herd was the starting link in the chain. Genetics were personally scrutinised by the farmer, for performance with the home environment in mind and the herd was chosen from a number of farms in the Eastern Cape. He emphasises that for this enterprise, it is not about the best genetics on sale, but about the best genetics that suit the climate of the farming area and the type of dairy operation you intend to run. Webster mentioned that like most farmers who boast about how much yield they produced in their tobacco, maize and other crops. “Dairy is the same, but it is important to understand your business and as yield is a major driver, it is the cost to produce a litre by understanding the feed conversion ratios. It is better to produce a smaller yield with a better margin than boast about a higher yield with a smaller profit,” he says. Currently, 240 cows are milked with an average, this season, of 22 litres per day per cow. Plans to expand the business and take it to the next level are afoot and as if this is not enough to keep the Mafuro team busy, Webster is adamant that they can contribute to the future of dairy farming in Zimbabwe by taking on young farmers keen to do dairy by introducing training internships. Mafuro is setting up another farm in Marondera in 2019, adding more dynamic, innovative systems that generate a better cost-effective model, with the aim of exporting to generate foreign currency. His personal mantra is “Dream, Plan, Achieve”. And this is exactly what he and his team are doing with Mafuro Farming. “Mafuro Farming has been embraced by the local dairy farmers and the contribution from other farmers such as Clive Heathcote and Ant Retzlaff have given Mafuro great support,” Webster says in conclusion. Sean demonstrating the Mafuro mobile parlour FARMING INNOVATION IN MARONDERA Photographs by Julie Havercroft

January/February 2019 23 Expectations for Agriculture and Farming 2018/2019 COLUMN KUGONA KURIMA Planning and Implementing By Mike Kok There is always hope in agriculture and this time it is no different to the history we have lived. Farmers are hoping for plentiful rains and good yields. This, against a background of good planning, should be easily achieved. The question asked is, where does it all start and what affects the outcome. The fi nancial planning of this year’s farm program goes back to August-September 2018. Farmers had the fi nal results for some of the enterprises and were looking at commitments for the next season. Planning and implementing is divided into stages. Each stage has to be carefully thought out, for the whole program to be successful. Stage One: Financial Planning: This starts off with a forecast of the Source of Income and is identifi ed as the Gross Margin Budget (GMB). Table One: is a summary of how the GMB is calculated: Table One: Gross Margin Budget There follows a break-down of Input Cost for each of the enterprises and this forms the basis of the Cash-Flow Budget. All this information should now be projected into the Whole Farm Cash-Flow. This projection is a visible map of when, where and why the money is going to be spent. The farmer’s bank would consider this cash-fl ow document as a priority document when deciding if the farmer is worth advancing money to. All physical input supplying providers, are aware of these planning documents and are concerned at the understanding farmers have. The season has advanced beyond this stage and is in the early implementation of an accepted program. The rains have started; farmers have to be ready to go! Early irrigated tobacco crops would have reached the reaping stage and other cropping programs are in the starting blocks if not already planted. In normal cropping areas the 80% probability of good planting rains is on or about 20 November. Season commences! Stage Two: There follows an understanding of the crop agronomy, and these questions should be addressed in order to achieve maximum yields: 1. The climate prevailing in the agro-ecological area in which the farm is located. Does the farmer understand the importance of planting dates for his cropping program? Does he know the season length? The important factor about season length is Heat Units (HU). This is an absolute requirement. If the crop is planted outside the recommended date there will be insuffi cient Heat Units for full growth and development. Yield is adversely affected. Farmers can make tactful choices of varieties for delayed or early planted crops. Long season varieties for maximum season length, short season varieties for delayed planting or for management purposes in handling tobacco. 2. Soil Texture and fertility: There are at least eight different soil types. The heavier the soil in terms of clay content the less suitable it is for tobacco and more suited to maize. Sandy type soils are recommended for tobacco for the near perfect control of tobacco nutrients, where the accuracy of application rates is a guarantee of good yield and leaf quality. Maize responds to fertility, therefore heavier soils are recommended and Nitrogen (N) can literally be poured on in conjunction with the other nutrients, Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), not forgetting trace elements of course. 3. Land slope and drainage: Ideally tobacco should be grown on well drained soils with a reasonable slope for controlled run-off of storm water. Stagnant water on tobacco land can adversely affect yield. Therefore slope and soil depth become important managerial considerations for high yielding crops. Maize, on the other hand, responds well to high soil moisture content for short periods. With extra Nitrogen, top-dressing, yields are guaranteed. Zimbabwe has lagged behind in the implementation of high-tech farming inputs, but this does not prevent implementation of standard practices. With a national average maize yield of 1000kg/ha, this is embarrassingly appalling. Farmers have an obligation to restore the industry to Africa’s bread-basket. Having already committed crop plans farmers are left with their management skills and ability to ensure that at least viable yields for input recovery must be achieved. Weed, insect, pest and disease control and prevention are paramount. The best management fertilisers, that must be distributed, are farmer’s foot-prints. Visits and inspect the crop on a daily basis. Individual crop diaries are encouraged. Record everything that is done on a crop, on a daily basis. The application of fertilisers, chemicals and whatever operation takes place on the crop must be recorded as part of good management practices. This information is recorded independently by the farmer, his manager and the foremen. When they meet, regularly, their records are consolidated, for the production of the seasonal farm diary. This document is analysed at the end of the season prior to the onset of the next farming cycle in the analytical process of establishing what went wrong and where change can be effected for improved production of subsequent programs. Look, see, investigate and interpret data for strategic and effective management! Image provided by Mike Kok

24 January/February 2019 Improved African Indigenous Breeds in Zimbabwe By Sekuru CATTLE TOPICS SPONSORED BY THE ZIMBABWE BORAN BREEDERS SOCIETY In recognition and appreciation of the ancient pastoralists who migrated throughout Africa for thousands of years; herding their hardy indigenous African cattle across the harsh diversity of the African landscape and thereby creating the progenitors of the perfectly adapted modern African Indigenous Breeds. ORIGIN OF AFRICAN INDIGENOUS BREEDS The three genetic groups that make up the indigenous cattle breeds in Zimbabwe arrived in Africa as follows: European Bos Taurus came from Europe in two waves, about 6,000BC and 2,500BC. Secondly Bos Indicus from the Indus Valley in Asia also arrived in two waves about 2,000BC and 700AD. Thirdly there is the African Bos Taurus which was domesticated in North Africa from 5,000BC to 500AD. The migration of Kohekohe and Bantu people southwards down the African continent brought with them cattle from the Ethiopian region where all African breeds originated and then dispersed. Sanga cattle came here in this way, firstly brought by the Kohekohe people 2000 years ago and later with the Bantu migrations in about 500-700AD. The African Zebus originated in the Indus Valley of Asia and were brought to Africa by Arabs and Arab Somalis; they dispersed through Africa, from the Ethiopian area around 1500 years ago and then later, in about 700AD, with Somali invaders down the East Coast of Africa to the Zambezi River and across to Madagascar. Approximate migration route of the origin of african domestic cattle MAJOR AFRICAN INDIGENOUS BREEDS IN ZIMBABWE There are five African Indigenous breeds established in Zimbabwe; the first three, the Mashona, Nguni (Nkone) and Tuli, which are all neck-humped Sanga cattle are from Zimbabwe, then fourth and fifth are the more recently introduced shoulder-humped Boran cattle from East Africa and, in smaller numbers the Angoni from Zambia, Malawi and Northern Mozambique, both are African Zebus. It is known that a number of Angoni cattle were brought across the Zambezi from Northern Rhodesia for restocking after herds in this country were decimated by the Rinderpest in the 1896. There are thought to be Angoni genes in some of the present day Zimbabwean breeds dating back to these introductions, particularly the Mashona. The Sanga breeds are originally a mixture of the African Bos taurus and the African Zebu. Likewise, the African Zebu also has Bos taurus blood. It is significant that the three main ancestral genetic groups of the modern African Indigenous Breeds, the European Bos taurus, Bos indicus and African Bos taurus, have all been in Africa for many thousands of years, continuously adapting and surviving in the harsh and diverse African environment. The three Zimbabwean Sanga breeds occur naturally in the following areas: Mashona in the sour grass Highveld region, the Tuli in the sweet grasses of the Lowveld and the Nguni in Middleveld regions. It is worth noting that a sixth breed indigenous to Africa, the Afrikaner, was also present in large numbers in this country in the early to mid 20th Century. The Afrikaner, also a Sanga breed, but with a difference, came from South Africa at the end of the 19th Century, primarily as a draught animal and was extensively used for transport purposes. The Afrikaner, when used for beef production, later became popular as a “Mother Cow” when crossed with exotic breeds such as the Sussex and the Hereford. BORAN The Boran is a true, pure African breed, originating in its present genetic makeup on the Borana Plateau in Southern Ethiopia over a thousand years ago. The Boran is thought to be made up of 24% European Bos taurus, 64% Bos indicus and 12% African Bos taurus. As happened in Zimbabwe with our three indigenous breeds, the Mashona, Nkone and Tuli, enlightened commercial cattlemen in the Laikipia, Rift Valley and Machakos districts of Kenya saw the potential of the Boran. They purchased breeding stock from nomadic pastoralists and started breeding selectively for the more important economic traits. This all happened at the beginning of the 20th Century and the Boran has steadily improved ever since. The Kenyan breeders have always been very careful to maintain the purity of their Boran genetics and Zimbabwean breeders are also very conscious of this. The Boran was introduced into Zimbabwe when, after an extensive embryo transplant programme, the first embryo calves from Kenya were born at Forrester Estates in December 1993. The original herd is still at Forrester and there are many other Boran herds now established. The Boran is shoulder humped, horned and generally white through grey to red in colour. The Zimbabwe Boran Breeders Society was originally formed in 1996 but only became really active in 2011. Boran cattle are a popular breed in Zimbabwe today and most Boran breeders are situated in the Highveld areas. Boran cow (Owned by Mark Hook) MASHONA The Mashona, a Sanga breed, is indigenous to the higher rainfall regions of Zimbabwe and originated from the Bantu migrations to

January/February 2019 25 CATTLE TOPICS Southern Africa around 700AD. In 1941 F.B. Willoughby and E.A.B. McLeod saw the potential of the Mashona and began to select and purchase cattle from communal areas, Willoughby in the Buhera and Chirumanzi areas and McLeod in the Mhondoro area. They soon built up their herds and breeding herds were established by other commercial farmers and Government Research Stations. The modern Mashona is predominately solid black in colour although there are solid reds as well. A high percentage of Mashona are natural polls. The Mashona are the smallest of the three improved breeds in Zimbabwe but research has consistently shown that the Mashona often outperforms all other breeds when it comes to fertility and production per hectare. The Mashona Cattle Society was created in the 1950. Thanks to one breeder in particular and a few others, the Mashona breed has only just survived recent decimation and decline but overall numbers are still very low. Mashona bull (Owned by Carmen Stubbs) TULI Tuli cattle come from the low rainfall area in the south west of Zimbabwe. The Tuli is also a Sanga breed and probably arrived in Zimbabwe with the Kohekohe migrations down through Angola and the eastern extremities of the Kalahari Desert before 700AD. In 1942, Len Harvey, a Land Development Officer in the Tuli area obtained permission from Government to start a breeding herd from selected yellow cattle he found there. The Tuli herd went from strength to strength and became popular with both communal and commercial farmers. In a short time Tulis were competing and winning against other breeds at shows and block tests. Herds were also established at other Government Research Stations in addition to the parent herd at Tuli. Tuli are solid in colour and range from ivory through yellow to dark red. The majority are naturally polled. Tuli are medium sized cattle. The Tuli Cattle Society was formed in 1961. Today the Tuli is a popular no-nonsense breed which is rapidly growing in numbers and performs extremely well and is very productive under a variety of conditions. It has become very popular in South Africa where there are now large numbers throughout that country. Tuli cow (Owned by Anne Cooke) NGUNI The Nguni (previously known as Nkone) cattle in Zimbabwe come from the area around Bulawayo and Nyamandhlovu in Matabeleland. The original Nguni cattle migrated down Africa to Zululand in South Africa around 700AD before coming up to Matabeleland in 1838 when the Matabele tribe of King Msilikatse migrated northwards from Zululand, bringing their Nguni cattle with them. As happened with the modern Tuli, a herd was started by a Government employee, John Brownlee, at Tjolotjo in 1946. Another herd was started at Msengenzi Experimental Farm in 1953. A few commercial farmers became interested in the breed but never to the extent that they did in the Mashona and Tuli breeds, despite the Nguni breeds resilience and high productivity. Similar Nguni type cattle are found in the lower Savé Valley in Zimbabwe, where they came with the Tsonga people in the 1700’s and later with the Machangane tribe of King Soshangane from Zululand in 1836. The Nguni are multi coloured, horned and similar to Tuli in size. Their multi coloured hides were much favoured by the warlike Nguni tribes (Matabele and Machangane), and each fighting regiment had its unique cowhide shield colour from selectively bred herds. The Nkone Cattle Breeders Club was formed in 1966 and then renamed The Nguni Cattle Breeders Society in 1999, which is now dormant. Nguni (Nkone) bull (Owned by Ian Patullo) THE SITUATION TODAY Many of our Zimbabwean purebred improved indigenous herds were severely affected by Land Reform beginning in 2000, which reduced numbers dramatically. It is pleasing to see that numbers of both pedigree Tuli and Mashona are increasing again and new breeders are becoming established. Unfortunately this is not the case with the Nguni, which is pretty much an endangered breed due to very low numbers. The Boran is steadily increasing in numbers. Boran, Mashona and Tuli cattle are sought after in many countries in the world, including South Africa, Zambia, Australia, South America and the United States. They have had a tremendous impact when used in crossbreeding programmes. Many composite breeds in the Tropics carry varying amounts of African Indigenous Breed genetics. The African breeds have brought their many positive attributes to those countries where there is a move to keep functionally efficient, ‘easy care’, hardy, optimum sized beef cattle which do not require a large amount of artificial feeding. The African Indigenous Breeds female is the “Mother Cow” par excellence for both purebred breeding or crossbreeding, having the ability to remain efficient and productive for many years under harsh conditions with minimum maintenance requirements. Photographs provided by Mark Hook

26 January/February 2019 Helping Farmers Make Data-Backed Decisions PRECISION FARMING INCREASING CROP YIELDS Scout Aerial Africa specialises in remote sensing technology, from innovation to operation. Over the last two years we have worked with some of the largest mining and construction companies in Zimbabwe, delivering large scale projects on time and cost efficiently. Using highly accurate geo spatial data, we have become the premier remote sensing company in Zimbabwe, using our knowledge and experience to branch out in to one of the biggest drivers of the Zimbabwean economy – agriculture. The introduction and implementation of precision farming across the country has been met with much interest in the sector from individuals through to corporate and contract farming schemes. The use of our technology to monitor summer and winter crops, namely maize, soya beans and wheat to build databases of information that will in time assist the farmers with not only increasing their yields in the future but also make informed decisions that will allow them to be more proactive than reactive during their crop cycles. Winter wheat production has been on the increase for the past decade in Zimbabwe and due to the high cost of production there is an opportunity for us to promote the benefits of precision agriculture using drones, essentially guiding the growers to make decisions that will decrease their costs of production but increase their yields. Precision farming utilises multi spectral imagery of each plant combined with real time analytics to improve yields, optimise fertiliser and water applications Scout Aerial has just finished off two successful wheat mapping programs with some of the larger contract growing companies in Zimbabwe, with a total of over 4000Ha of winter wheat being mapped over the course of the season. Precision agriculture utilises high-tech Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) with specialised sensors which capture unique and high-resolution imagery. This imagery is then analysed, the data processed and combined with expert agronomic insights and geoinformatics to give the grower a comprehensive report on their crop. These reports can then be used by the farmer for land preparation in terms of fertiliser, chemical and seed requirements, breaking these requirements down to either a field by field basis or even more precisely, by zones within a field. Traditional methods used historical data which were broken down by season and region, or in some cases using blanket application rates for their entire crop. A Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis is one of the most powerful applications of UAV technology for agricultural practices. Through an NDVI analysis, quantification of the crop’s health can be performed. By measuring the difference between the amount of near-infrared (vegetation reflects) and red light (vegetation absorbs) a value between -1 to +1 shows which plants are healthy and unhealthy. In Layman’s terms, the greener the crop area the healthier the crop is, whereas yellow, orange and red highlight problem areas within a specific cropping zone.

January/February 2019 27 This allows the farmer to tackle problem areas that are under performing due to disease, pests or even abnormalities in irrigation. The NDVI analysis and report also gives the farmer ample time to react to these issues (approximately 1 week in advance), thus helping maintain higher yields. The use of UAV’s is becoming the norm throughout Europe, Australia and the America and it is our hope that Zimbabwe will follow suit, becoming the pioneers in the ever-evolving use of technology in agriculture within the region. As populations increase, food availability will become even more important and we as a collective need to be ahead of the game, farming smarter, to ensure that we make the best use possible out the resources we have available to us in an ever-changing environment. Hence our motto: if you want to move fast you move alone but if you want to move far you move together. We believe that by working together we can move the country in a new and exciting direction. Client testimonial: “We engaged Scout Aerial Africa as part of a wider more synergistic service offering to our growers. We as PHI see great value in precision agriculture and we believe that the data obtained from Scout Aerial Africa will help us monitor our growers and guide them in making decisions that will help produce higher yielding crops and at the same time, drive the costs of production downwards.” – PHI Commodities. Images provided by Scout Aerial PRECISION FARMING INCREASING CROP YIELDS

28 January/February 2019

January/February 2019 29 Poultry Indaba 2018 LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY CHICKENS ZIMBABWE POULTRY ASSOCIATION Old Show Office, Exhibition Park, Samora Machel Ave, Harare P O Box BE 209, Belvedere, Harare Phone: 756 600 / 772 915 / 777 391 Fax: 774 800 Email: [email protected] The Zimbabwe Poultry Association (ZPA) is leading the drive to expand commercial poultry production in rural areas for national economic development. With chicken and egg production in Zimbabwe largely concentrated in peri-urban areas, there is significant scope to develop commercial poultry production in rural Zimbabwe. Developing the country’s largest protein producing industry at village level has the potential to stimulate growth in the rural economy and contribute to national economic growth at the macro-level. The 2018 ZPA Poultry Indaba: ‘Gearing up for Inclusive Growth’ at the Agricultural Research Trust Farm, on 19 September, explored the enormous scope to develop the still largely untapped potential for rural broiler and egg production. As a short cycle quick return project, poultry is an ideal vehicle to stimulate rural economic growth. The ZPA Indaba highlighted opportunities for this in strong value chain development. “With day old chick production back on stream after the outbreak of Avian Influenza last year, our breeder industry is ready to supply strong, healthy chicks for rural as well as peri-urban production”, says ZPA Chairman, Solomon Zawe. “Here we are looking at inclusive value chain development, revolving around commercial poultry production at village level and going hand in hand with strong value chain development to build a sustainable industry.” Two innovative models already in operation in rural areas – a private sector contract grower initiative and community share trust funding investment into poultry, were highlighted at the Poultry Indaba. These are model examples of how the forging of strong business partnerships with contract growers is benefiting the rural economy. Sondelani Ranching’s contract grower scheme for small-scale broiler producers in Matabeleland has fostered the development of commercial poultry production in semi-arid regions where cropping alone may not adequately sustain communities. In Zimbabwe’s well-integrated poultry industry this is a fine example of private-sector driven contract partnership and Sondelani is exploring the scope to extend this scheme to other parts of the country in the future. Harnessing of community trust funding is another vehicle for developing rural poultry production. This was demonstrated by Zimplats Mhondoro-Ngezi-Chegutu-Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust which has entered into productive broiler and table egg contract partnerships with women and youth in the surrounding community. Birds are supplied on a loan basis, repayable over a year, with table eggs and ready-for-market broiler chickens in both schemes sold to the Trust for marketing. The Zimplats Mhondoro-NgeziChegutu-Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust is spearheading the prudent investment of community share ownership trust funding into agriculture as part of community development and wellbeing. Investment in agriculture yields one of the highest returns, with the added advantage that rural communities also benefit directly from the investment of community trust funding into agricultural projects in which they are partners. “There is exciting scope for replication of these private sector and community trust contract grower schemes, to grow rural poultry production”, notes Solomon Zawe. “As the farmer organisation driving chicken and egg production in Zimbabwe, we have an important role to play in identifying opportunities for growing poultry.” There was more innovation in a presentation on Poultry Waste beneficiation at the Poultry Indaba which showed how poultry manure and other farm residue can be converted into bio-methane gas. As well as being a convenient way to dispose of waste which is a potential disease or environmental hazard, this can be used to generate power and liquid fertiliser for farmers. Projects already in operation show that 1kg of chicken droppings can yield 70 litres of biogas. The Poultry Indaba brought private sector players, community trust share representatives, farmers and other poultry stakeholders together to explore options for rural poultry production. Around 180 participants attended the annual ZPA technical forum with sessions on key aspects of poultry management challenges, feed efficiency, understanding and handling of production and heat stress and curbing late mortality as well an opportunity to network with the many industry service providers exhibiting there. The productive potential of small-scale poultry farmers in Zimbabwe is well recognised. Peri-urban poultry production in Zimbabwe is predominantly small-scale, with hundreds of thousands of smallholders producing two out every three eggs in Zimbabwe and around 60% of national broiler meat output. Poultry production clustered around towns is providing livelihoods for producers and other value chain players, as well as generating millions of dollars annually through day old chick sales, stockfeed production and other inputs and services. There is potential to generate economic development through rural poultry production too, which would stimulate ‘commercial one stop hubs’ delivering inputs and services to rural areas. Establishment of rural processing centres can generate further value addition along the poultry chain. One year on after the outbreak of Avian Influenza triggered a shortage of eggs on the market, with production plummeting to its lowest point in several years, the table egg market is stabilising. Production currently stands at 3.1 million dozen eggs a month. Broiler production in Zimbabwe is currently at an all-time high of 12,278 mt per month, with small-scale production recording an increase of 81% and large-scale expanding by 31%.

30 January/February 2019 Sunn Hemp By Rob Garvin AGRONOMIC PRACTICE CROP ROTATION Sunn Hemp belongs to a genus of tropical flowering legumes known as Crotalaria spp. There are some 500 Crotalaria spp. world wide of which 400 of them are found in Africa. Crotalaria spp. are commonly known as “rattlepods” or “rattlebox” because of the noise the dry seeds make in the pods. (The name is derived from Ancient Greek word for “castanet” and has the same root as the name for Rattlesnakes (Crotalus)). Crotalaria spp. have a number of uses; as a food crop (stems, leaves and flowers are often edible although the seeds of many species are toxic), as a fodder crop for animals, as a fibre crop and as a green manure. More recently, a species (Crotalaria juncea) has been considered for biofuel. In Africa Crotalaria spp. are found mainly in damp grasslands, especially in floodplains and along the edges of swamps and rivers, and in deciduous bushland and along the edges of roads and fields. The species commonly used in Zimbabwe are Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Showy Crotalaria (Crotalaria spectablis), both of which originated in India. (For convenience both species will be referred to as Sunn hemp). Both are fast growing and produce a large amount of foliage under warm, moist conditions. They grow well on a range of soils from light (sandy) to heavy (clay), although they prefer well drained soils. They have the added advantage of tolerating a wide range of pH conditions from very acid soils to very alkaline. They prefer moist soils but can tolerate drought. As legumes they are capable of fixing nitrogen and both are resistant to root knot nematodes. (The alkaloid produced in Showy Crotalaria seeds and above ground parts are thought to be toxic to rootknot nematodes). Both have phytoremedial properties, i.e. they are capable of decontaminating soils contaminated with herbicides and some heavy metals and they also have allelopathic properties, reducing weeds and other noxious plants. The principle use of Sunn hemp in Zimbabwe is as a green manure. Green manure is a cover crop grown to add organic matter and nutrient to the soil. Land pressure in Zimbabwe has resulted in over utilisation of soils causing a significant deterioration of organic matter. This has led to loss of water holding capacity and fertility and thus crop yield decline. The deterioration is especially evident on the sandier soils where the majority of tobacco is grown. Historically, tobacco soils were preserved by grass ley rotations where intervals of 3 or more years of nematode resistant grass pasture were grown between a single year of tobacco production. In this way the soil organic matter was preserved and enhanced. Currently, this option is no longer available and, unless alternatives are employed, soils will continue to deteriorate. Green manuring is a fundamental tool used to manage soil quality, soil fertility, water, weeds, pests and diseases and therefore a vital aspect of agricultural sustainability. In this respect, Sunn hemp ticks all the boxes. - Sunn hemp can be used on its own as a green manure or in combination with other summer crops, specifically cereals like sorghums and millets. - As it is a warm season crop, it is planted between September and February. (Many tobacco farmers plant Sunn hemp following completion of reaping of the irrigated crop late February/early March.) Normally, prior to planting the green manure crop, the previous crop will be killed, either mechanically or chemically to break the life cycle of pests and diseases.

January/February 2019 31 AGRONOMIC PRACTICE CROP ROTATION - Sunn hemp has a relatively small seed and is best sown by broadcasting. A shallow incorporation using a light disc, drag harrow or simply dragging tree branches over the land, is necessary to provide good seed/soil contact. - To minimise cost, fertiliser is not normally applied, often the residual fertiliser from the previous crop is sufficient. - As Sunn hemp is a legume, it relies on soil bacteria to form the nitrogen fixing nodules during the early stages of growth. If a legume has not been grown in the land prior to the green manuring, the Sunn hemp may tend to be weak in that first season, but with subsequent seasons it will improve significantly. - Depending on weather conditions, Sunn hemp takes between 60 and 75 days to grow to 10% flower at which point the crop has produced maximum nitrogen and significant organic bulk for incorporation into the soil. Timing of this is normally to ensure sufficient time for the incorporated organic mass to breakdown before the next crop. Photographs provided by Rob Garvin

32 January/February 2019 The History of Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS 1980 - PRESENT Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic is a technical and vocational multi-skills training institution. It is wholly owned by the Government of Zimbabwe under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. The institution offers training in Applied Science, Applied Arts, Engineering, Information Technology, Business Studies and Management Studies. Students who enrol with the institution acquire technical skills at National Certifi cate, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels. Within the Applied Science Discipline, the institution currently offers training in Horticulture, Environmental Health, Science Technology, and Water and Waste Management. In the Engineering Department, the institution offers technical training in Fabrication, Construction and Automotive Engineering. The Business Studies Department trains prospective students in Accounting Studies and Banking and Finance. The Management Department trains Health Services, Marketing, Human Resources, Secretarial Studies, Micro Enterprise, Transport, and Purchasing and Supply Management. The President at the time, Canaan Banana, purchased a farm in the early 80s and later donated it to government. Before doing so, he converted the farm into an Agricultural College “Kushinga Phikelela”. Archive photographs RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The Polytechnic is actively involved in research and development programmes. The institution participates in infl uential research and development platforms, such as the Research and Intellectual Outputs, Science, Engineering and Technology (RIO-SET) and the Tertiary Education Sports Association of Zimbabwe TESAZ). In addition to these, the polytechnic excels in various sporting disciplines which facilitate a holistic technical training environment. Students participate in campus Clubs, for example, Athletics, Chess, Debate, Public Speaking and the Writers Club, to name a few. These activities are key in building critical life skills for the Institution’s graduates in technical and vocational education through science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic is in the HEXCO regional examination centre. One of the main core mandates of the institution includes the supervision of all HEXCO centres in the region. The institution also promotes training in adult and continuing education through the Further Education Certifi cate and Diploma programs on a Block Release mode of study. They are in the process of introducing Auto Electrics, Civil Engineering and Tourism and Hospitality. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic may be considered a juggernaut of Mashonaland East and a potential holder of leading Information on research and innovation. The library department continues to develop more services that are at an advanced stage of implementation, namely: - The E-granary - E-brary - Research4life - Access to a number of reputable repositories through INSAP. A lot of work is still ongoing as the eLearning platform that will soon be added, will see students getting access to all learning services in one place. The institution seeks to reduce their carbon footprint in line with global best practices and welcome partners to join them in their endeavour to deliver quality education in line with the national 2030 vision, the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

January/February 2019 33 The Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic Library DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic developed from its humble beginnings to what it is today, and it has gained impetus to transform into an even bigger and better government institution. SHOWS AND SYMPOSIA The institution participates at annual events such as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Harare Agricultural Show and Mashonaland East Agricultural Show. As if that is not enough, Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic holds symposia, one every year, where partners in industry and training, secondary schools and other stakeholders are invited to attend and participate. AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS HORTICULTURE AND PRODUCTION The original concept of self-sufficiency will not just die at Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic. For the purpose of supporting the notion of national self-sufficiency, the institution is enrolling and training students in Horticulture where they practise modern methods of fresh food production. Construction work is still ongoing Images provided by Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic

January/February 2019 35 Eggs Improving the Lives Of Widows and Orphans OUTREACH CHURCH HELPS WOMEN START BUSINESSES As part of its community outreach programme, the Baptist Mission of Zimbabwe has reached out to widows and orphans in the surrounding Chiwundura area, assisting them to establish viable egg production projects. For these families, no longer able to rely on a breadwinner parent generation and struggling to survive, egg production is proving an important lifeline. Inspired by the success of the poultry operation it established on its Umambo Farm, the mission’s training headquarters in Zimbabwe, the Baptist Mission in partnership an egg production business in Gweru operated by AG Franceys & Sons, constructed 11 smaller- scale chicken houses across Chiwundura for the community. This has enabled individual households to create their own small egg production business. The project specifically targets vulnerable groups in the community, strengthening households where there are widows, orphans, child-headed households and abandoned women. Start-up funding was used to supply each project with 200 birds, in partnership with AG Franceys & Sons, whose Umhlali Farm also provides a ready market for the eggs produced. The project beneficiaries eagerly took up egg production, with young and old alike learning poultry management to ensure the success of the project and equip the younger generation with knowledge and confidence to also be able to provide for themselves in the future. Each individual business is generating from $80 – $120 in personal income per month. Eggs are collected three times a week by AG Franceys & Sons who deliver poultry feed at the same time, and are on hand to offer advice during these visits. “We are inspired by this project and the impact it is having. The beneficiaries have demonstrated how productive, well-cared for birds can be. Our mission is to expand it”, says Kevin Franceys. ‘Whilst donations are critical to start projects initially, we are convinced that the way forward for community and economic development in Zimbabwe is through sustainability projects, not simply through aid’’, says Pastor Nick Moore, Vice Principal at the Baptist Mission Seminary in Zimbabwe. Mrs Mangwanda (above), 38 years old, is caring for a family of nine, with all her grandchildren under 15. “Before this project, I was struggling to feed my grand- children. I now have money to buy food, take maize to the grinding mill. Some of my children are going to school and I am managing to pay off my arrears in school fees.” 46 year old Mrs Naume Jaheni (above) is mother to her orphaned grandchildren. “With no food and school fees for these children, we were suffering. I also had some debts. Now I can afford to pay school fees, buy books and pens, as well as food. As a diabetic, I can now afford to buy better food. We are all very happy the project is continuing and our kids can complete their schooling.” 81 year old widow, Anna Munyangadzi (above left) is also responsible for her grandchildren. “Things were hard before this project. I had no money to buy food for my grandkids, or money for school fees. For two years we relied on donations from other countries for school fees. I am very happy with this project, I am getting money for food, clothes, and school fees.” Babra Nyathi. 42 years old. “Now I am self-reliant. When I get money from this project, I can by food, clothes and pay school fees for my children. “ Eva Munodawafa, 63 years old. “As a widow, caring for 5 grand-kids. Before this project things were hard. I had no money for food, school fees, maize seeds, ploughing. Now I am no longer a beggar. I have money to buy all these things.” 50 year old, Audrey Jaheni. “Before this project we had problems of no money. I could not pay school fees for my son and grandkids. I had no money for food and clothes.Now I have got school fees, books and food. I am having a better life, I have got somethings to do and I am learning how to grow chickens. This project is good to me.” Photographs provided by Zimbabwe Poultry Association

36 January/February 2019 Blueberries Starting to Feature in Zimbabwean Farming INDUSTRY GROWTH WITHIN HORTICULTURE Local fi rm Twine and Cordage recently hosted fi eld days on blueberry farms in the districts surrounding Harare. ZiMunda Farming magazine attended the one held on New Blooms Farm. This fl edgling industry is poised to take off in Zimbabwe, with more and more farmers wanting to grow the high-value commodity. The farmer planted six hectares of blueberries two years ago and says it fi ts in well with his overall horticultural cropping schedule. Picking, done by hand, starts in August and peaks in September and October. Until harvest quantities pick up, the produce is sold locally and to South Africa. When volumes are suffi cient, the crop is air freighted to Europe. It is all about fi lling specifi c supply gaps in the market, and the pruning and growing schedule are tailored fi t in. The ability to control the timing of the ripening of the berries and maximising the yield is paramount. CROP POLLINATION AND BEES The blueberries were planted in an open fi eld, not in greenhouses. They can be a greenhouse crop, but the farmer opted to not outlay capital expenditure on greenhouses. Indeed, it seems that full sun conditions are best for this kind of fruit production and the plants like a well-drained, acidic soil, which suits the growing conditions on this farm. The land is also in a relatively frost-free zone. Four varieties were planted and one fl owers profusely, and is there to also attract the bees. Lavender plants interspersed also attract bees and the plot has 28 hives nearby to ensure the bees do their work and maintain high pollination levels among the blueberry fl owers. MANAGEMENT AND HARVESTING With this being a fairly new crop in Zimbabwe, its management and monitoring has been critical. As it is still in its infancy here, pioneer growers have had no option over the past two years, since planting, but to experiment and learn on their feet. However, there are consultants on hand to offer technical and agronomic advice and work hand in hand with the farmer. Weed-mats, supplied by Twine and Cordage, protect the plants’ delicate root systems and help with moisture management. An expensive outlay, it is nevertheless essential and does last for the duration of the plants’ life. Apart from marauding monkeys, fruit eating birds, and a slight outbreak of thrips, there have been no major issues so far with disease and pest control. Berries have be chilled within half an hour of picking to extend their shelf life. Initial grading is done in the fi eld and then the berries are further sorted (sizing, blemishes and colour) and packed in the pack house within this tight deadline. Although Zimbabwe trails behind Africa’s largest producers, Morocco and South Africa, it is an industry on the rise here and exciting times are ahead for this sector. Interestingly, South Africa and Morocco, combined, only amount to fi ve percent of the global market supply. The farmer is looking to expand his production in the future by planting more hectarage, and he will also intensify his production by increasing his plant population. A SUPERFOOD Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants, have a high potassium content and are a good source of fi bre. Furthermore, they are linked to the fi ght against cancer and heart diseases. This health and wellness factor sweeping the globe offers producers a price premium. The consumer preference and demand for this “super fruit” is growing and is giving producers worldwide a growing market to feed into. But the question is, can consumer demand continue to absorb growing supply? At some stage, prices may level out or even drop. The emphasis is therefore on growers to work together with knowledgeable consultants to recoup their investment as soon as possible. Furthermore, they should embrace new varieties, new production techniques and wisely and sustainably cost manage their inputs to remain fi nancially viable. Photographs by Julie Havercroft

January/February 2019 37

38 January/February 2019 Beef School: 2018 LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY LOBBY Zimbabwe Herd Book Old Show Office P O Box BE 209 Belvedere Exhibition Park Harare Tel: 04 - 756 600, 772 915 | Fax: 04 - 774 800 Email: [email protected] Commencing in 2012 the Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB), CCSales, National Foods and more recently Nurture Finance came together to organise the Beef School. Hosting this event was stimulated by the huge success of the Aldam (South Africa) Stockman’s School which is also an annual event. The Beef School brings together local, regional and international experts to discuss a wide range of topics that influence beef production. This year, ZHB hosted the seventh annual Beef School in October. For the first time, this two-day event was held in Bulawayo and was the largest school to date, attracting 150 participants from all over the country. Held at Mystique, the conference venue and spacious garden were beautifully set-up for both the participants and eight exhibitors who supported the event. Although the weather was unusually cold and cloudy, the atmosphere was convivial and friendly and there was plenty of time during the School to ask questions and interact with the guest speakers. Dr Mario Beffa, Manager of Zimbabwe Herd Book presented an overview of the stud industry which continues to attract new breeders and over the past year, three new goat studs and 13 beef studs were registered, increasing the total number of registered studs to 134. Brahman accounts for 57 of the 123 registered beef studs, followed by Boran with 19 and Tuli with 15 studs This year’s theme was Reproduction, the Foundation of Profitability, and participants were treated to a wide range of presentations by some of the world’s leading specialists in the field of cattle fertility. Professor Cliff Lamb grew up in Beatrice, Zimbabwe, and is now the current head of the Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, United States, started the proceedings with a presentation of applied reproductive strategies in beef cattle. He noted that one of the most important benchmarks in a beef cattle operation is the percentage of cows that calve early in the season. He emphasised that pregnancy has 4 times greater economic impact in the operation than any other production trait and that the rate of successful, full-term pregnancies should be improved. Prof Lamb summarised the tremendous impact that fixed time artificial insemination and oestrous synchronisation offers to ensure that cows calve early in the season. Implementing these strategies on several farms resulted in a doubling of cows that calved early (before 31 days) from 44% to 88% and increased calving rate and value of the calf from 81 to 93% and by $176 respectively. Dr Reuben Mapletoft from Canada, world renowned for his work in bovine embryo transfer, oestrus synchronisation and superovulation, presented an in-depth overview of the technologies being used in cattle fertility, while Prof Michael McGowan from Australia gave a series of presentations on practical applications of the use of these technologies based on research carried out on commercial farms. Dr Brad Crook, manager of the Genetics and Research Development team, Agricultural Business Research Institute, Australia, which markets BREEDPLAN®, one of the world’s leading animal performance evaluation platforms, discussed multi-country and multi-breed genetic evaluations for beef cattle. He complimented ‘Team Tuli’ for being the first breed in the country to record performance information to enable genetic evaluations and encouraged other breeds to follow suit. Dr Crook also gave a presentation on the use of genomics, the study of the genome, to improve accuracy of selection of breeding animals. Llewellyn Angus, Simmental stud breeder and current Chairman of the Livestock Registration Federation in South Africa, discussed the practicalities of selection for fertility, both in the lecture hall and in the field with a sample of stud Simmental bulls, cows and calves supplied by Obert Chinhamo of Biano Simmental Stud. For the past three years, Bobby Lawrence has been developing Kemin’s Nutrisave forage programme throughout South Africa and Zimbabwe and gave an in-depth review on practical aspects of silage making and hay preservation at the Beef School. Prof Cliff Lamb closed the proceedings with a review of utilising reproductive management technologies to enhance production efficiency in beef cattle operations. By all accounts, Beef School 2018 was a wonderful success and ZHB sincerely thank the guest speakers for their excellent presentations and for sharing their expertise and knowledge with Zimbabwean beef cattle producers. Photographs provided by Zimbabwe Herd Book Practical demonstrations were provided

January/February 2019 39 FISHING SECTION Leaving a Heritage for Future Fishing The Scourge of the Nylon Net By MacGyver GPC When asked to write this article in the first instance it was tempting to do so along the lines of how blessed we are, to have such an abundance of wonderful fishing waters throughout the country, that more often than not, come with an added bonus of some of the finest bird- and wildlife in Africa. We are certainly privileged here as anglers, birders and naturalists alike, yet it is a part of our heritage that we have sadly taken for granted for way too long now, in many ways insulting the vision of our forefathers. When one looks at Kariba and the thousands of acres cleared to make for a sustainable resource, looking way into the future as they saw it, at the time of building the dam. The disappointment for those still alive today, whom shared and implemented these visions, must be considerable. Memories of setting up a campsite with a “Tin hut” for stores and doubling up as the pantry on the shores of Kariba, when the Lake first filled, ring loud, as do the stories around the camp fire of where to find Irvine and Johnson the next day. It was simple: find those places where they cleaned the fish and bingo, there was a Tiger Fish frenzy of any fisherman’s dream. A mere couple of decades later the memories of Tiger Fish boiling, upon scatterings of dried Kapenta, remain dear to the “fisherman’s heart” in many of us, who remember those days. They often ask to this day, can you imagine having a fancy micro-lite Shimano on a modern day carbon-fibre rod, when back then one had to make do with, the stipulated Ultra-Light Tackle regulations only allowed for, a maximum of a 3/8 oz. rod and reel combo, which normally comprised of a Mitchell 308 (Line capacity of 4lb line around the 120 yard mark) and a fibre-glass blank, with hand tied special ceramic line guides, eyes. In stark contrast to the I&J era where big Penn reels and 40lb line were the order of the day (remembering of course to leave the reel on ratchet and not locked) fishing in the gorge with Kapenta, was practised by some of the most passionate and avid Anglers this Country and the world for that matter has seen. They mastered the art of, and set the foundation for future generations of ultra-light line angling, chalking up a number of world records in the process with many a near miss. I remember to this day, many a smack on the back of the head for reeling in too short or pointing the rod at the fish, along with a reprimand “lad if you want to be an angler” for “Pete’s sake” (or worse) listen to me and let your rod do the work! It was an obsession for a number fisherman then and to this day. However sadly, none of us thought about standing up at the time and saying, “hey what is going on here”, when the gorge was alight with fires, drying fish on racks by the thousands every night of the year. It is now 40 years on from when those tiger fish were like tuna smacking the sardine run and present day gorge visits are becoming more and more, memory of the past orientated, rather than memorable fishing experiences in the present. Back to sustainability: yes we have bream farms that do their best to do a good job of utilising the water resource. However there are the vast expanses of bush cleared waters that have been plundered to the extent where the rivers are now the only easy target, which then depletes the fish stock as they obviously cannot breed to enable a sustainable and healthy fishery and ecosystem. Thus there is a burning need for us all to become far more “conservation minded” in our attitude and approach towards our fisheries and the wildlife reserves. Frankly put, the “Scourge of the Nylon Net” and the hunger-driven motives behind the poaching industry, needs to be of serious concern to us all, and in turn those that have the authority and mandate to do something about it. Conservation and Sustainability can only meet with any form of success when it works in tandem with creating a greater awareness and stiffer legislation. We all talk a lot, about doing a lot in the name of Conservation, I imagine simply to ease our conscience. Yet in reality, how much do we actually care about it, for when it gets down to the tough part of dedicating just a little of our spare time to the cause, we are too selfish to consider it important enough in the bigger scheme of things. We continue to kill fish, year in and year out, at our Annual Invitational Tiger Tournament (this competition ranks at the top of any avid fresh water anglers bucket list) in full view of the world. As a result we operate from a diminished moral high ground and then claim foul at the “explosion of nylon nets” invading our waters. How crazy is that? If we are to meet with any success in campaigning Conservation and Sustainability, we have to come from an angle of some form of integrity and legitimacy. A “greater awareness” has to be brought into play as fast as possible, in order that stiffer legislation comes to bear, in constricting the continuous supply of low cost nylon netting to the poachers. There will otherwise be little chance of the likes of Kariba and the many other waters and rivers that abound in Zimbabwe, being able to provide for a sustainable food source, recreational and tournament fishing. Tragically it may be a case of “Let Hunger be the Teacher”… And “Bamba-Zonk!” Photograph provided by Grim Cooke

40 January/February 2019 FISHING SECTION Conservation: Sustainability, Key Words To Keep Fishing Alive CAST was set-up on the back of a large group of concerned anglers getting together, after dismal catches at the 2016 Kariba Invitational Tiger Fish Tournament (KITFT). A committee was elected at the meeting and thereafter, a Trust was set-up, along with a Constitution and five Trustee’s. The Conservation Angling Sustainability Trust then set about putting a boat on the water, with an employed Captain in tandem with National Parks, ZRP and Border Control, to conduct patrols to combat the “Scourge of the Nylon Net” in the Eastern Basin of Kariba. These patrols have been ongoing over the last 2 years with another boat due to be based at the Gache on a permanent basis. The energy and dedication of a number of people towards this cause has been immense at all levels, from financial down to the actual burning of illegal nets. River Mouths were marked off with “no netting” signs in order protect the spawn up the rivers, amongst other initiatives such as procuring a night vision scope, for which funds still need to be raised. A huge amount of time and effort, too, was put into the vision, of introducing “Catch and Release” of and for the iconic “Tiger Fish”, at the KITF Tournament. An app was thereafter developed as a result these debates and brain-storming sessions, to allow for such and with that, KeepNet was born. CAST and KeepNet then trialed the app with great success at an Invitational Pro/Am “All Species Fundraiser” held at Spurwing Island in March of this year. It is trusted that the app will next feature at KITFT 2019, after being trialed again at the March 2019 “Test Of The Best”. Given all the dedicated effort and hard work, with considerable success, by those associated with CAST and in turn KeepNet, it is at times quite disheartening when one considers the general lack of awareness and apathy within the fraternity, as to the extent of the plight of our fisheries (as a result of the nylon net). To have had another KITFT go by without “Catch and Release” in 2018, was just as sad. However we must soldier on and have those who had much to say back at the meeting in 2016, to once again come forward in support of the aforementioned initiatives. Recently the Bass Fraternity joined up in partnership with CAST and KeepNet, by setting up their own patrols at Darwendale, as well as trialing the KeepNet app at various Tournaments. Photographs provided by Grim Cooke

January/February 2019 41 FISHING SECTION Conservation: Catch, Record and Release Fishing The Keepnet App Keepnet is a suite of solutions aimed at promoting the proactive conservation of fisheries, leveraging technology to do so. Born out of a dismal Kariba Invitational Tiger Tournament in 2016, it was apparent that there needed to be a shift in thinking in the way we conducted ourselves as tournament and recreational anglers. Zimbabwe surprisingly is a little behind the times when it comes to a catch and release and sustainable harvest, compared to the region. KEEPNET WEIGH BAY As a collective we got together to see if we could provide some tangible solutions to promoting catch and release leveraging app based technologies, apps are as much a part of our everyday lives now as is the phone itself, as such we started with tournament fishing, “Keepnet Weigh Bay solutions” being our first product to launch, offering tournaments and participating anglers a catch, video, release experience using our app, Basically you catch your fish video the weighing process and the release of the fish, then entering the relevant data, such as angler name, species and weight / Length of the fish. With this data now captured on your phone through our app, which operates offline (No network required), at the end of the day your information is then uploaded to our server system, shore side, this includes all the information specific to the fish you have caught as well as the video relating to that specific fish you have released. Once all of this information has been captured from the anglers, it is then collated and displayed by way of leader board and videos, projected onto a big screen. The videos are validated at the end of the day, as certain video standards must be met. Keepnet Weigh bay app based weighbay solution, both online and offline An example of where we are looking to go with our Weigh bay presentation. We launched this solution, in March of 2018 at the CAST Pro / Am held out of Spurwing Island, this being an all species event with 20 teams over two days, with over 1900 fish caught weighed and released on this solution, The whole experience convinced some hardened anglers that there is an alternative to the “Catch and Kill” weigh bays of old. On the back of that we were approached by CADSAS (Central African Deep Sea Angling Society), to run our solution at both their Inhassuro and Beira competitions respectively, the translated to a tournament that had a 50 – 60 % kill rate to a 80% release rate, for both competitions. This is not only a testament to the solutions but also the appetite and motivation of the anglers to move away from killing fish for the sake of tournament angling. We have subsequently run a few more competitions for 2018 namely: - CAST PRO / AM – Spurwing Island - CADSAS – Inhassuro - CADSAS – Beira - MAL League - Mongwe - Toyota All species – Olive Beedle - Tiger Fish Zambezi – Olive Beedle - Capital City Bass Chapter – Leagues - Harare Bass Chapter – Leagues - Zimbabwe / Zambia International – Charara We continue to engage with all the relevant stakeholders, Fly Fishing Zimbabwe, BASS Zimbabwe, National Anglers Union, CADSAS, KITFT all of which have shown a big interest in taking this forward as a viable catch and release solution for tournament angling. The solutions we offer are paid for through a sponsorship/advertising model, allowing us to pass this on at no extra cost to the fishing fraternity, without them none of this would be possible as I am sure we can all appreciate the costs involved with the development, Huge thanks has to go to C2 Media our developers, who have done great job in getting a lot of the difficult boxes ticked. Isuzu for coming on board as our Title sponsor along with AMP Meats, Bronson, Lowrance, St Elmos, Husqvarna, all in support of our preferred conservation trust being CAST. KEEPNET SOCIAL We have now also launched a new app called “Keepnet” which is a social media platform targeting anglers, with an emphasis on catch and release, it is a platform to share your fishing experiences through photo / video, with online Leader boards, and the ability to create online competitions, with other anglers around the world. This is in Beta testing and should be launching to the public in the new year on both android and IOS so do keep an eye out for that. As we have set out as a collective our objective is to promote sustainability by creating awareness in philosophies such as catch and release, something that needs to be a part of our fishing experiences, as we are heading down a bleak road when it comes to the plight of our fisheries, if we do not adopt a morally higher position. We hope what we have to offer here gives people in the space that we are targeting the means to be a pro active part of the solution, as well as having a little fun while doing it. Keepnet social feed on the platform

42 January/February 2019 FISHING SECTION The West End of Lake Kariba By Roger Macdonald The West end of Lake Kariba... A conservation “wake up for us all”! I was fortunate last month (October 2018) to be invited on a house boat trip from Msuna, Western Kariba to Bumi Hills. A 270km trip traveling West to East. On first impression looking out over the waters of the Zambezi , everything looks normal and the deep waters get your imagination started as to what must be beneath this mass of water and what wildlife is living on the banks of this huge Lake? After the first half hour of travel towards the East , I can say that the “buoys” of plastic beer bottles tied together as floats for nylon nets seem to never stop... for kilometers they seem as if they are joined to make one long net for the entire 60km’s of the Msuna river/gorge that leads into the main lake, what is interesting is the small population of groups of people living every few kilometers who are surviving from the netting. The nets are on both sides of the river / gorge and people cross the river without care as to which country you come from... or live in. What is noticeable is the number of small Baobab trees sprouting on the hillsides and the edge of the river, a clear sign of no elephants. However when we got to the main lake, the nets got even worse with vast kilometers of nets left to float across the lake catching everything and anything in their path ala Cabora Basa style! Drift netting. To cut a long story short and to come to the point , after four days travel with stops all the length of the 270km and continuous glassing with binos from the top deck and several trips on the small boats into various bays and river lines we did not record a single animal, on either side of the lake shore or in the river lines. Not a sound from a hippo or a trumpet from an elephant, not an impala or Zebra, not a buffalo or a single night noise to indicate a living animal, not even a croc was seen even with spot lights to pick up night eyes... the word I can use best to describe this is “sterile” and dead! However the nets do not stop for the entire length of the western end of the lake and on many of the islands arguably in Zimbabwe waters , there are communes of people living on the islands with tens of kilometers of nets laid out for repair or in preparation for the next day. Many of the communities have got live stock on the islands and there are fish drying racks openly displayed. It was only by the time we had reached Chete Island that we saw seven Impala on the shoreline, other than those, which bolted for the tree line we did not see another animal until the Bumi Shore line. However again I reiterate the nets did not subside for the entire journey... only getting less as we got closer to Bumi Hills. Thanks to The Bumi Foundation, Mapp and CAST in the Eastern part of the lake for the unwavering dedication to saving the enviroment, animals and controlling the fish poaching from Charara through to Bumi Hills. Please support these three anti poaching trusts by sending a small donation via ecocash to help these three operations. CAST, MAPP & The Bumi Foundation is the difference of what is left between the West end and the Eastern Basin of Lake Kariba. Your anti poaching efforts stop with these three units... So your help would be very appreciated. Even a $10 eco cash would be very helpful. Roger MacDonald Trustee. Conservation Angling Sustainability Trust (CAST) CAST Merchant number Eco cash 234303 Bumi Foundation Ecocash (Mark Brightman) 0773669603 Mapp Ecocash 0784526872 Photographs provided by Grim Cooke Kariba sunset

January/February 2019 43 FISHING SECTION Zimbabwe Junior Bass Fishing Junior Bass fishing was started in Zimbabwe in 1999 by Kevin Elkington, who was and still is a national angler. Team selection was done by first acquiring provincial colours and then being selected for the National team. Unfortunately the selection process did not last long, due to the upheaval in the country with many people moving around or leaving the country. Selectors then relied on information from registered Bass clubs to select a team each year. This process was used until 2017 when new selection criteria was introduced, which included three fish off competitions per year. First Zimbabwe Junior Angling competition in 1999 which was won by South Africa at Lake Mturikwe. The return leg at Hartebeestepoort Dam in South Africa was then won by Zimbabwe. Every year in the December holidays a test match occurs between South Africa and Zimbabwe, alternating countries each year, so each country gets a home match every second year. Zimbabwe junior anglers compete exceptionally well against South Africa, considering we have a handful of youngsters to choose from whilst South Africa have over 1000 active junior members. Barry Groves, President of SABA Juniors (South African Bass Association) awarding the trophy for biggest small mouth bass caught at Clan William Dam in the Cape to Shayne Crause. At the end of 2016 Zimbabwe received an invitation to compete in America in a High School competition which is held annually in July. Due to the amount of organizing involved and the short notice of the invitation it was agreed to compete in 2018. This also prompted the selection process to be reinstated. One of the rules for this competition is that Junior anglers must still be at school and 18/under at the start of the tournament. Zimbabwe Junior team 2017 at Witbank holding the award for biggest bass which was caught by Joshua Ferreira. Standing from left to right: D Ferreira, K Curle, A Bingley, R Fraser, P Woodhouse, M Benade, B Bingley, S Harvey, D Goven, D French. Front row: D Jennings, K Barnes, J Ferreira In July this year, two Peterhouse students Kirk Barnes and Michael Benade who were the top two qualifiers , my wife Sheelah and I left for the home of Bass Fishing (USA). The competition was held on both Lake Kentucky and Lake Berkely which do join together. First stop was Bass Pro Shops in Nashville Tennessee where we needed to stock up on correct tackle for this tournament. Fishing in America is very different to home waters. Most fishing is done in hydro electric lakes which incorporates much current and lake level fluctuations on a daily basis. We were fortunate to have an ex-Zimbabwean Junior living in America and he offered to tow his boat to Lake Kentucky for us to use. This was an eight hour journey and a great help to us – thanks to Dean Lewis! Dean was a great help in bringing with the latest depth finders and mapping systems. Lake Kentucky has very little structure and had dropped four foot, therefore we needed to find sand bars with muscle beds on them. Practice was hard but we did manage to find fish. Unfortunately the size limit for a keeper on Lake Kentucky is 15 inches long in comparison to our Zimbabwe limit and many other American states of 12 inches (300mm). Kirk Barnes – Bass caught in practice Lake Kentucky 2018 Michael Benade, Kirk Barnes and Dean Lewis – Parys Landing Marina, Lake Kentucky, Tennessee 2018 Tournament registration took place at Bethel University. Bethel University were the official sponsors and as prizes offered scholarships to the value of $50 000 to the winners with lesser value scholarships/bursaries to the 2nd and 3rd placed teams. We were informed that there were 347 high school teams fishing, meaning 347 competition boats on the water, never mind the local fishermen and recreational boat users. Only then did we realize the difficulty of this type of tournament. By Darren Crause

44 January/February 2019 FISHING SECTION The tournament was held out of Paris Landing and thank goodness it was a huge marina. Fishing times started at 6am but due to the number of boats to be launched, teams were launching at 4am and getting into their prescribed fl ights for the start. An unbelievable sight to see so many boats and anglers waiting to go. Most bass tournaments do not begin with a mass start and boats go off one at a time. The entire start, from fl ight one to fl ight eleven took one and a half hours. On the second day the order of the draw was reversed. High School bass tournament 2018 – fi rst day start line View of some of the 347 boats getting ready to leave the Marina – High School Bass comp 2018 As mentioned earlier, 15 inches minimum proved to be diffi cult for us and another 126 teams who all failed to catch during the competition. Despite this the experience Kirk and Michael gained from both fi shing new waters and interviews with the media, especially coming from Africa, cannot be bought in any fi shing shop. I am very proud of the way these two young men conducted themselves and this is a great tribute to their parents and and Peterhouse School. Thanks must go to Hank Weldon and his team from Bassmasters.com for going out of their way to welcome and accommodate us. Interview with Hank Weldon of Bassmasters.com at the end of the tournament. Pictured (left to right) K Barnes, M Benade, D Crause, D Lewis As with all tours fi nance is a major issue especially in our local environment and I would like to thank all companies and individuals who so generously contributed. My advice to all young Zimbabwe junior anglers is to join a club and start fi shing seriously. The High School Bass tournament in USA is a tour of a lifetime and something you will never forget. In the next couple of weeks our Junior angling team will be competing against South Africa at Darwendale Dam. Best of luck to you all... Fish hard, be fair and bring home the Honours. Images provided by Darren Crause

January/February 2019 45 Zimbabwe Lake Levels Supplied by ZINWA COUNTRYWIDE MAJOR LAKES DAM NAME FULL SUPPLY CAPACITY CURRENT % FULL DAILY TREND millions of cubic metres Kariba 64800.00 38194.7 55 down Tugwe Mukosi 1802.6 1190 64 down Mutirikwe 1378.08 711.921 50 down Manyame 480.23 407.119 86 down Osborne 401.64 285.426 71 up Mazvikadei 343.815 310.214 90 down Manyuchi 309.06 248.889 78 down Manjirenji 274.17 211.445 75 down Sebakwe 265.733 204.535 74 down Chivero 247.18 191.639 77 down Insiza 173.49 118.596 67 down Zhovhe 130.46 89.61 67 down Siya 105.45 69.973 65 down Inyankuni 74.52 46.923 62 down Mtshabezi 51.99 47.102 90 down Upper Ncema 43.57 11.225 25 down Mzingwane 42.17 17.758 40 down Mazowe 39.35 29.319 74 down Bubi-Lupani 39.09 29.977 75 down Silalabuwha 23.22 13.543 54 down Lower Ncema 14.87 10.028 63 down Harava 9.02 1.976 16 down Upper Insiza 7.81 2.011 23 down Seke 3.38 0.157 3 down Lake levels as at 10 December 2018 PLEASE NOTE: The capacity levels for Lake Kariba relate to the volume available for power generation, not to the full capacity of the lake. The levels of all other lakes relate to the full capacity available for irrigation or domestic use. For the benefi t of Kariba watchers, a more thorough analysis of the situation pertaining at Kariba will be presented in the next issue. Watch this space!

46 January/February 2019 TIME OUT CROSSWORD & SUDOKU Crossword Sudoku ACROSS 1. The cad gets ahead by begging (5) 4. Is it really that easy? (3) 6. Warts in the back provide stable bedding (5) 9. Age roll is lively (7) 10. Stressed? Without a head is sweet. (7) 11. Used a lint for protection (9) 14. Does money come from this herb (4) 15. Pleased to hold the rental agreement (5) 16. A new hip helps to beat eggs (4) 18. The measure of this part of the farm (4) 19. Were these girls also sugar and all things nice? (5) 22. A mess of fruit (4) 26. Not animal or mineral (9) 30. This little creature hides in a mound (7) 31. and 8 down The pit worker Al fi nds liquid (7,5) 32. 1.76 pints (5) 33. The fi nale (3) 34. Jane paired it with sensibility (5) ACROSS 1. Cadge 4. Pie 6. Straw 9. Allegro 10. Dessert 11. Insulated 14. Mint 15. Lease 16. Whip 18. Yard 19. Spice 22. Pulp 26. Vegetable 30. Termite 31. Mineral 32. Litre 33. End 34. Sense DOWN 1. Sounds like this variety of beet is scorched (5) 2. Australian idiot fl avours pickles (2) 3. Northern genie keeps things runing (6) 4. The crop due is the yield (7) 5. Near Des makes him beloved (7) 6. The order needed to make things work (6) 7. The deer hides in the grass (4) 8. See 31 across 12. Earns a trap (5) 13. Yell the answer (5) 14. Theresa’s month (3) 17. Dickens’ hero at the centre of fruit (3) 20. Please go in front (7) 21. Lame dic demanded his due (7) 23. Sounds like I’ll abuse Rev (6) 24. Beats meat into sawn timbers (6) 25. I met Al to get iron and copper (5) 27. Peas and beans provide heartbeat (5) 28. Write, less the east, for a sealed document (4) 29. My brain loses me for cereal husks (4) DOWN 1. Chard 2. Dill 3. Engine 4. Produce 5. Endears 6. System 7. Reed 8. Water 12. Snare 13. Shout 14. May 17. Pip 20. Precede 21. Claimed 23. Revile 24. Planks 25. Metal 27. Pulse 28. Writ 29. Bran 5 3 9 5 1 4 4 7 5 4 2 9 8 5 9 3 3 4 7 1 3 9 1 4 8 4 9 9 6 7 5 6 8 2 7 8 Photograph by Lesley Ferreira

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48 January/February 2019