Drought is a huge limiting factor in maize production, mainly in the rain-fed agriculture of sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this threat, drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties have been developed with an aim to ensure maize production under mild drought conditions. We conducted a study to assess the impact of smallholder farmers’ adoption of DT maize varieties on total maize production. Data for the study came from a survey of 200 randomly sampled households in two districts of Chiredzi and Chipinge in southeastern Zimbabwe. The study found that 93% of the households were growing improved maize varieties and that 30% of the sampled households were growing DT maize varieties. Total maize yield was 436.5 kg/ha for a household that did not grow DT maize varieties and 680.5 kg/ha for households that grew DT maize varieties. We control for the endogeneity of the DT adoption variable, by using the control function approach to estimate total maize production in a Cobb–Douglas model. The results show that households that grew DT maize varieties had 617 kg/ha more maize than households that did not grow the DT maize varieties. Given that almost all farmers buy their seeds in the market, a change in varieties to DT maize seeds gives an extra income of US$240/ha or more than nine months of food at no additional cost. This has huge implications in curbing food insecurity and simultaneously saving huge amounts of resources at the household and national levels, which are used to buy extra food during the lean season.

Micronutrient deficiencies have been identified as major public health problems affecting a large part of the world's population. Biofortification of staple crops like maize has been proposed as one of the most cost effective and feasible approaches to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Studies have shown that provitamin A from biofortified crops is highly bioavailable and has the capacity to improve vitamin A status of vulnerable groups. Most people in sub-Saharan Africa subsist on maize and many people may benefit from consumption of provitamin A carotenoid biofortified maize, especially women and children. With the exception of transgenic golden rice, biofortified crops have received considerable acceptance by most communities. Negative perceptions associated with yellow maize do not affect orange maize, which is, for example, well-liked in rural Zambia. With proper policy frameworks and full commercialization, provitamin A maize can address the problem of vitamin A deficiencies among poor nations with maize-based diets.

The genotype by environment interaction (GEI) reduces the success of genotype selection and recommendations by breeders, thus slowing down the progress of plant breeding. The understanding of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) multi-locational yield trials (MLYT) enables researchers to identify locations which are efficient in distinguishing tested genotypes, which are ideal across the testlocations as well as environments which are good representatives of the target regions of interest. The main objective of the study was to assess the genotype by environment interaction on grain yield stability of promising sorghum genotypes across five diverse environments of Zimbabwe. Sorghum yield data of twenty-seven cultivars was obtained from the replicated trials. After performing a pooled analysis of variance for grain yield across five diverse environments during the 2013/14 rainy season, the GxE interaction was significant (P<0.001), and this justified need for testing for GEI components using the GGE biplot analysis to enhance the understanding the effects of components. The results revealed that three mega-environments were identifiable which are Matopos, Save-Valley and Kadoma falling in one mega-environment, then Makoholi was identified as a second mega-environment and then Gwebi was identified as the third mega-environment. Gwebi had the most discriminating ability and good representativeness whereby Save Valley had a poor discriminating ability as well as least representativeness.

On 14 March 2019, Zimbabwe was hit by Cyclone Idai, leaving immeasurable destruction of unprecedented magnitude in its wake. In Chimanimani District, many lives were lost, many people were reported missing, and others were displaced. The question that immediately comes to mind is: Was the country prepared to manage the Cyclone Idai disaster? Reflecting on the community experiences, the purpose of this research was to interrogate the strength of the disaster risk reduction legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe in the face of meteorological hazards. The research also evaluated the extent of the impact Cyclone Idai had on the Chimanimani communities and the factors that increased the vulnerability to the cyclone. A mixed method approach that involved 1180 participants was used. The study found that disaster risk management legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe are weak. Cyclone Idai resulted in the loss of many human lives, loss of livelihoods, and massive damage to infrastructure. The cyclone exposed capacity and policy gaps in Zimbabwe’s disaster risk management system. The study makes a number of recommendations, including strengthening disaster legislation and policy, and disaster risk governance. Given the communities’ response to the disaster occurrence, the study also recommends strengthening social capital.

The efficacy of different rates of abamectin for the control of root knot nematodes in tobacco soil-based seed beds was evaluated in this study. Different incorporation methods of abamectin in the soil were also evaluated. A combination of 45 ml worked into the soil to a depth of 20 cm using hoes was effective in controlling root knot nematodes. The efficacy was comparable (p = 0.05) to methyl bromide and 1.3 D. The other treatments evaluated did not give control and were comparable to the untreated control. Based on the results, abamectin can be a suitable replacement for methyl bromide for root knot nematode management in the tobacco seedbed.

The potential of different water hyacinth compost application rates in influencing growth attributes, yield and heavy metal accumulation of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in tomato fruit was studied in Masvingo. Four treatments of water hyacinth compost rates of 0, 37, 55.6 and 74.1 t·ha −1 were each replicated three times and applied in a randomized complete block design set up. Results showed that water hyacinth compost application rates significantly affected plant height, days to maturity and yield but had no influence on the number of tomato fruits per plant. The plant height at application rate of 74.1 t·ha −1 was 25%, 56% and 63% higher than the control at week 6, 9 and 12, respectively. At application rates of 56.6 t·ha −1 , plant heights were 11%, 13% and 12% higher than the control whilst marginal plant height differences of −4%, 6% and 4% were recorded between application rate of 34.7 t·ha −1 and the control at week 6, 9 and 12, respectively. Tomato plants under compost rates of 34.7, 56.6 and 74.1 t·ha −1 in comparison to the control delayed maturity by 10, 17 and 20 days, respectively. Yields of 52, 55, 60 and 68 t·ha −1 were realized from hyacinth compost rates of 0, 34.7, 56.6 and 74.1 t·ha −1 , respectively. Heavy metal concentrations increased with increase in the water hyacinth compost rate but at all application rates, the average concentrations were 85%, 93% and 86% lower than the Codex Alimentarious Com-* Corresponding author. M. Mashavira et al. 546mission permissible levels for Pb, Cu and Zn. Water hyacinth compost at a rate of 74 t·ha −1 therefore can be used for increased tomato yield without exposing consumers to heavy metal toxicity.

Cotton yield and fibre quality parameters are dependent on the environment in which the crop is grown. A major challenge in crop genotype recommendations is genotype × environment interaction. The identification of cultivars with high adaptability and stability is one of the best ways to address this challenge. Genotype × Environmental interaction on Gosypium hirsutum was investigated. Ten genotypes were planted in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Collected data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with genotype and location as factors. Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction model which combines standard analysis of variance with principal component analysis was used to investigate the genotype main effects, environment main effects and the GE interactions. Significant genotype × environment interactions existed for lint yield, boll weights, staple length, and fuzzy seed grade. There were no significant cultivar × site interactions on total seed cotton yield. Cotton cultivars respond differently to different growing conditions implying that, correct choice of varieties by growers for specific production conditions, must be a must to avoid losses due to genotype × environment interactions.

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