FAO launches U.S$500,000 program to enhance livestock health, food security in Southern Africa

MOZAMBIQUE/ZIMBABWE – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, has unveiled a U.S$500,000 Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP). This initiative aims to bolster food and nutrition security and enhance access to markets for livestock and livestock products by improving control over two significant diseases: theileriosis and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)…

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Zimbabwe’s Government Analyst Laboratory achieves international recognition for food safety testing

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe’s Government Analyst Laboratory (GAL) has obtained the prestigious ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification marking a crucial turning point for the nation’s agrifood industry as it propels Zimbabwe’s analytical and laboratory testing facilities to international standards. The Government Analyst Laboratory plays a vital role in safeguarding public health by analyzing food, water, and other samples submitted for testing. Its contributions…

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Health concerns rise as only one ice maker meets quality standards, SAZ urges public caution

ZIMBABWE – Amidst rising concerns over food safety, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) has issued a stark warning, revealing that only one ice-producing company in Harare meets the required quality standards. The revelation comes after a recent study conducted by the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food Sciences unveiled alarming levels of potentially dangerous bacteria in…

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EU-funded project strengthens food safety, plant health capacities in Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe, along with 10 other countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), is set to benefit from a £5 million project funded by the European Union titled “Strengthening food control and phytosanitary capacities and governance”. The project aims to enhance food safety and plant health while fostering trade among African Union member states. It…

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Zimbabwe launches strategy to mitigate health and environmental risks of highly hazardous pesticides

ZIMBABWE – In an effort to enhance the protection of humans, animals, and the environment, Zimbabwe has taken significant strides toward improving its pesticide management system.  Acknowledging the crucial role pesticides play in agricultural development, the government, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), conducted a comprehensive study focused on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). …

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Madagascar signs deal with Zimbabwean seed company to produce new high-yield maize seeds

MADAGASCAR – The Madagascan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has signed a cooperation agreement with the Zimbabwean seed company for the local production of new high-yield maize seed aimed at boosting food security. According to the statement from the ministry, the maize variety called “Mukushi” is drought resistant and has a short production hence suitable for short-term remedies.  In addition,…

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Nigeria, Zimbabwe move to strengthen bilateral trade relations

NIGERIA – The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has recently hosted the Zimbabwean envoy team of three at the SON Corporate Headquarters in Abuja to strengthen bilateral trade relations within the South African Sub-Region. led by the Counselor and Head of Chancery Zimbabwean Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Tonderah Oscar Mutuke, The Director-General Mallam Farouk Salim, who was represented by the…

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ICRISAT, Seed Co develop high-yielding hybrid sorghum variety

ZIMBABWE – International research organization ICRISAT has together with the Pan African Seed Company Seed Co Group developed a new hybrid of white sorghum (great millet) that is high yielding and promises greater resilience to erratic rainfall. The new invention has a yield potential of up to 8 tonnes per hectare, offering farmers a 25% yield increase over existing varieties.…

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Zimbabwe adopts “One Health” strategy in tackling antimicrobial resistance

ZIMBABWE – The Zimbabwe AMR Country grant consortium consisting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as lead grantee, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI) have partnered to rehabilitate 14 human and animal health laboratories which were commissioned in May 2022. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon in…

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FAO Farmer Field Schools yield encouraging results in fighting antimicrobial resistance

AFRICA – FAO Farmer Field Schools (FFS) has shown that changes in animal production techniques can result in judicious antimicrobial use (AMU), safe food, and higher profit margins. Results from pilots in Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe reveal that farmers who took part in the FAO’s poultry FFS boosted their efforts in infection prevention and control while decreasing their usage…

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