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The Zimbabwe Science News

ABSTRACTS Volume 33(4)

Agronomy research in theDepartment of Research and Specialist Services of Zimbabwe:Major Research Thrusts for the Period 1951-2000

D.Hikwa¹, P.Nyamudeza² and T.T. Mashavira³

^[1] Agronomy Research Institute, P. O. Box CY 550, Causeway, Harare; ² Save Valley Experiment Station, P. Bag 2037, Chipinge; ³Cotton Training Centre, P. O. Box 530, Kadoma

Before its re-organization on 1 April, 1948, the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DRSS) consisted of several “Branches” and “Departments” including nine research units. From the turn of the 20^th Century, most of the agronomic research in Zimbabwe was carried out at stations that constitute the present day DRSS. Notable among these, in the earlier part of the Century was the then Salisbury Experiment Station (present day Harare Research Station) where research had been going on since 1909 (Anon., 1969). The major focus of the research between 1909 and 1950 is well covered by Weinmann (1972 and 1975). This paper reviews the development of research stations and institutes in DRSS and the evolvement of their generic research thrusts between 1951 and 2000. The paper, however, does not give details of actual experiments due to space limitations. Annual reports of the different stations and institutions are referred to by the year of research rather than by the year of publication, as many of them were combined and printed some years after the original work was done.

The Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station:Major Agronomy Research Thrusts for the period 1966 to 2000

C. Nyathi

Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station, P. Bag 7006, Chiredzi

The sugar industry is situated mainly in the south eastern part of Zimbabwe, (21^oS, 28^oE), at an altitude of between 400 and 500 metres above sea level (lowveld). The south eastern lowveld is semi-arid and therefore unsuitable for rainfed commercial sugarcane production. A secure supply of water is essential for crops to flourish and the sugar industry is very dependent on stored water. Irrigation development in the lowveld began in 1923 (Saunders, 1989) when Thomas Murray MacDougall constructed the Jatala Weir on the Mutirikwi river. The first stick of sugarcane brought in from South Africa was planted in 1934. MacDougall purchased, transported and erected a mill from South Africa and in 1938 produced his first ten tons of raw sugar for refinery in Bulawayo.