Journal articles Open Access A gendered approach to the goat value chain analysis: A case study of Mbire District, Zimbabwe J. Musovi · T. Mutibvu · B Rusawo This study evaluated the functionality of the goat value chain from a gender perspective in a rural district of Zimbabwe prone to crop failure due to droughts and flooding in some parts. Using KII and a semi-structured questionnaire, data … RUF-40848 2024 CC BY 4.0 5 Mar 2024
Working Document Series Open Access Report on the implementation of the RUFORUM Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Enhancing crop productivity and household food security among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe J.T. Rugare Eliminating hunger and food insecurity is top on Africa’s development Agenda because it is perceived to be a key factor in promoting economic growth. Africa continues to experience food shortages due to a mismatch between crop productivity… RUF-40813 2019 CC BY 4.0 22 Nov 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Refocusing the Direction of Agricultural Research and Education in Zimbabwe E. Nyakudya This paper highlights on-going transformatic changes taking place at the University of Zimbabwe, which aligns to the Government of Zimbabwe Vision 2030. It focuses on efforts by the Faculty of Agriculture to create inter-diciplinary resear… RUF-40787 2019 CC BY 4.0 21 Nov 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Managing Agriculture Risk through Commodity Exchanges: An opportunity for Zimbabwe and other emerging economies E. Chikodza · T. Makoni Zimbabwe is an agro-ecological area and its economy is backed by agriculture. Managing agricultural activities is important as this will impact positively on the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). There are risks associated with agric… RUF-40734 2019 CC BY 4.0 20 Nov 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Mobile Night Kraals in Crop Fields: Sustainably Improving Soil Productivity P. C. Nyamusamba Rutendo Soil productivity is positively related to soil pH. Animal manure is good alternative for improving soil pH over time. “Impacting” is a term used to refer to the establishing of mobile kraals in crop fields, to create nutrient hot spots. T… RUF-40550 2018 CC BY 4.0 28 Jul 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Factors affecting the adoption of woodlots by smallholder tobacco farmers: A case of Mutoko district, Zimbabwe E. Mutandwa · N. Nyakapene Tobacco in Zimbabwe is ranked among the top major crops which give foreign currency to the country and is also a major cash crop among smallholder farmers. Deforestation in Zimbabwe has been a country-wide problem most tobacco farmers are … RUF-40171 2023 CC BY 4.0 31 May 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Challenges and opportunities faced in Sesame production in Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe R. Mandumbu · R.F. Mapfeka · G. Nyamadzawo · T. Zengeza The Kaitano area of the Zambezi Valley is one of the few main producers of sesame (Sesamum indicum) in Zimbabwe. The soils are fertile, alluvial in nature, and the temperatures are usually high, making them suitable for sesame production. … RUF-39798 2019 CC BY 4.0 17 Feb 2023
Working Document Series Open Access Impact of crop management practices and soil type of Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe S Mabasa · K. Mukomberanwa · J.T. Rugare The impact of crop management practices and soil type on weeds is only partially understood in Zimbabwe. A weed survey was carried out in Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe during the 2014/2015 agricultural seaso… RUF-39353 2018 CC BY 4.0 28 Jul 2021
Journal articles Open Access Influence of soil organic carbon, fertiliser management, and weeding regime on weed dynamics and maize productivity on sandy soils in eastern Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · J. Chipomho · S Mabasa · A. B. Mashingaidze +2 more Labour bottlenecks and multiple operations at the start of a cropping season often result in inadequate early weed control and subsequent poor crop performance. Therefore, there is a need to establish management practices that provide the … RUF-39302 2021 CC BY 4.0 21 Jun 2021
Journal articles Open Access Effect of Botanical Extracts on Late Blight (Phytopthora infestans) and Productivity of Tomato (Solanum esculentum) S. Chikuta · T. Choga · V. O. Gwatidzo · Gabriel Karubanga +4 more Late blight is caused by Phytopthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary which establishes quickly in Solanum esculentum L. (tomato); as a result, it makes the pathogen one of the most devastating plant diseases across the world. )e control of late … RUF-39298 2021 CC BY 4.0 15 Jun 2021
Working Document Series Open Access Impact of crop management practices and soil type of Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe S Mabasa · K. Mukomberanwa · J.T. Rugare The impact of crop management practices and soil type on weeds is only partially understood in Zimbabwe. A weed survey was carried out in Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe during the 2014/2015 agricultural seaso… RUF-39175 2018 CC BY 4.0 2 Mar 2021
Working Document Series Open Access Impact of crop management practices and soil type of Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe S Mabasa · K. Mukomberanwa · J.T. Rugare The impact of crop management practices and soil type on weeds is only partially understood in Zimbabwe. A weed survey was carried out in Hwedza communal area of Mashonaland East Province in Zimbabwe during the 2014/2015 agricultural seaso… RUF-39174 2018 CC BY 4.0 2 Mar 2021
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of uptake of drip irrigation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe: Case study of Mutare District M. Chiwa · K. Mukumbi The use of drip irrigation has the potential to increase yields but uptake by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe has been low. This study was conducted to determine the factors influencing the adoption of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The … RUF-38661 2018 CC BY 4.0 12 Sep 2020
Journal articles Open Access Micropropagation of Livingstone Potato (Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br) T. C. Chitendera · G. T. Kujeke · R. T. Masekesa · A. Matikiti +3 more Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br) is an underutilised indigenous root vegetable grown by communal farmers in the eastern provinces of Zimbabwe. It is vegetatively propagated using unimproved retained tubers from the previ… RUF-38331 2020 CC BY 4.0 24 Jun 2020
Theses & Dissertations Open Access RESPONSE OF GROUNDNUT (Acharis hypogea L.) GENOTYPES TO YELLOW WITCHWEED (Alectra vogelii (Benth.) INFESTATIONS William Makaza Witch weed (Alectra vogelii Benth) is a parasitic weed of legumes which causes severe decrease in yield of groundnut in Africa, where the crop is an important source of protein for resource poor farmers. The use of Alectra resistant groun… RUF-38165 2019 CC BY 4.0 1 Mar 2020
Theses & Dissertations Open Access IN VITRО АND IN VIVО EVАLUАTIОN ОF АNTIFUNGАL АCTIVITY ОF BОTАNICАL EXTRАCTS IN THE CОNTRОL ОF LАTE BLIGHT (Phythоpthоrа infestаns) ОF TОMАTО (Solanum esculentum) Choga Tedious Late blight caused by Phythopthora infestans establishes quickly in tomato (Solanum esculentum) as a result, it is one of the most devastating plant diseases across the world. The control of late blight is not easy because P.infestans has… RUF-38163 2019 CC BY 4.0 1 Mar 2020
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Screening finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) genotypes for resistance to witch weed (Striga asiatica L. Kuntze) infection under controlled environments Makani Kudzai Witch weed (Striga asiatica L. Kuntze) is an obligate hemi-parasitic weed that causes severe yield losses in cereals. The use of tolerant or resistant genotypes is perceived to be the most economically feasible and effective method of cont… RUF-38161 2019 CC BY 4.0 1 Mar 2020
Working Document Series Open Access Community/stakeholder linkages in agroforestry development: Experiences from Zimbabwe M. Dube · W. Kurangwa · D. Mwenye The need for tertiary institutions’ involvement in agroforestry development is relevant now more than ever due to limited funding within the national research and extension institutions and weak community/stakeholder linkages. A study was … RUF-37755 2016 CC BY 4.0 29 Oct 2018
Working Document Series Open Access Ex-ante benefit-cost analysis of an animal production and forage centre for a smallholder dairy value chain in Zimbabwe T. Chamboko · P. Mugabe · E. Mwakiwa Many smallholder dairy schemes in Africa face sustainability constraints due to shortages of feed resources and poor productivity. Extension supported dairy animal production and forage centres constructed alongside the milk collection cen… RUF-37508 2016 CC BY 4.0 10 Apr 2018
TAGDev Resources Open Access A compelling case for seed enterprises as a tool for rural development in the smallholder farming sector U. Mazarura · N. Munyaka · B.M. Mvumi This study analysed the community seed business developed by the Seeds and Markets Project (SAMP) managed by GRM International. The community seed business developed was named Zaka Super Seeds and was later named Zimbabwe Super Seeds as it… RUF-37186 2017 CC BY 4.0 27 Sep 2017
Working Document Series Open Access A review of the nutritive value and utilisation of quality protein maize in indigenous chicken production T.N. Bidi · A.B. Dube · E. Gasura · S. Ncube +1 more Indigenous chickens play an important role in African rural households particularly in improving their livelihoods. However, indigenous chicken production is characterised by low productivity due to poor management practises, particularly … RUF-37114 2016 CC BY 4.0 19 Sep 2017
Working Document Series Open Access Strengthening quality protein maize development and utilisation for indigenous chickens in Zimbabwe T.N. Bidi · A.B. Dube · E. Gasura · N.A. Maibvisira +4 more Increasing household nutrition is a top priority in Zimbabwe where protein energy malnutrition is rampant among women and children. In rural areas, most people do not afford protein rich foods that include meat, meat products and other alt… RUF-37036 2016 CC BY 4.0 18 Sep 2017
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of organic and inorganic ammendments on soil chemical and maize yield characteristics in Zimbabwe S. Angombe · T. Chitata · R.L. Mhindu · A. Munodawafa +1 more Performance evaluation of five treatments on soil chemical characteristics and yield of maize was carried out in Lower Gweru, Zimbabwe. The treatments were gypsum, mopane ash, green manure, combined gypsum and green manure (green manure + … RUF-36977 2016 CC BY 4.0 18 Sep 2017
Working Document Series Open Access Applications and benefits of marker-assisted introgression of the opaque-2 gene in quality protein maize breeding E. Gasura · N.A. Maibvisira · M. Maphosa · A. Tarekegne Maize (Zea mays) is a crucial crop in Africa serving as one of the chief carbohydrate sources used as food and feed. However, maize is deficient in essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan. Protein malnutrition is a major challenge as … RUF-36948 2016 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2017
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Identification of soft rot species found in the Harare area of Zimbabwe and an evaluation of the susceptibility of selected potato cultivars to the pathogens Vongai M. Paradza Experiments were conducted at the University of Zimbabwe, Crop Science Department from 2012- 2014 with the overall aim of identifying soft rot pathogens in the peri-urban Harare area and to screen some of the locally grown potato cultivars… RUF-36528 2015 CC BY 4.0 24 Nov 2016
