Research

Welcome to the Department of Agricultural Research and Innovation Development!

The Department of Agricultural Research and Innovation Development (ARID) is one of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement’s departments that is participating in the ZAKIS project. ARID falls under Programme 3 which is focused on Crop and Livestock Research and Technology Development. The programme is headed by a chief director and a director for each division vis: Crops Research, Livestock Research, and Research services.

The programme has five sub programmes which are:

1. Crops Research, Biodiversity, and Variety Development
2. Livestock and Pastures Production Research
3. Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance
4. Analytical and Advisory Services
5. Migratory Pests Control and Surveillance

Programme 3 contributes to National Priority Areas 1, 2, 4 and 5
NPA 1. Inclusive Economic Growth
NPA 2. Social Development
NPA 3. Cross cutting enablers
NPA 4. Macroeconomic stability and financial reengagement

Within the three divisions are sub programmes with major activities or projects and sub activities designated to responsible officers. Each division is accountable to a number of research institutes /sections as follows:

Crops Research Division

1. Agronomy Research Institute.
2. Horticulture Research Institute.
3. Chiredzi Research Institute/ Lowveld Research Institute.
4. Coffee Research Institute.

5. Cotton Research Institute.
6. Crop Breeding Institute.

Division of Research and Specialist services

 7. Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute
 8. Chemistry and Soils Research Institute
 9. Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Institute
10. National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens
11. Plant Quarantine and Plant Protection Services Institute
12. Seed Services Institute [Adapted from DR&SS WoGPMS programme Performance management system 2020)

Livestock Research Division

13. Grasslands Research Institute
14. Henderson Research Institute
15. Makoholi Research Institute
16. Matopos Research Institute

Crop Research Division

Mandate

To provide research-based information, technology and products for supporting enhanced
productivity and production of various crops, including horticulture, cereals, oilseeds, legumes,
roots/tubers, coffee and cotton (except for tobacco, tea, sugarcane and forestry).

Major Functions

The division’s functions are important in ensuring successful crop production and they include
the following:

1. Developing new crop varieties that are adaptable to Zimbabwe’s five agro-ecological zones
2. Providing breeders’ seed to seed houses to support Foundation seed production and subsequently, Certified seed for the market
3. Carrying out research for developing appropriate field and horticultural crop production technologies for use by farmers
4. Packaging and disseminating research-based crop management technologies, knowledge and information aimed at increasing agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable manner
5. Collecting, characterising and conserving plant and crop genetic resources for input into future crop variety development and for propagation and distribution to growers as disease-free clean material
6. Developing and sharing technologies on crop produce handling, processing and value addition technologies
7. Providing advisory services on crop management

Human Resource

The Division of Crops Research consists of agricultural and applied science researchers with degrees. The mandate of the researchers is to develop new technologies, test them for their applicability and evolve these into usable information and knowledge. The researchers are supported by relevant technical staff with diplomas and certificates in agriculture, as well as support administrative and field staff.

Major Outputs

Major outputs of the Division of Crops Research include:

1. Products developed for increased crop productivity and production; examples include: crop varieties; breeders’ seed and propagated vegetative planting materials
2. Research-based information and knowledge on crop management to maximize yields and improve quality of products
3. Technologies that improve pest management and control, such as integrated weed management
4. Post-harvest product handling and value addition technologies
5. Farmer and agricultural industry support services through regular injection/supply of genetic resources into the farming communities and
6. Specialist advisory and training services related to crop production (Extracted from the DR&SS website (www.drss.gov.zim 08 July 2020)

Research Services Division

Mandate

To protect Zimbabwe’s agriculture through provision of a dependable, effective, efficient and competitive regulatory service that promotes cooperation among agro-industries, farmers, government and other relevant stakeholders and to assure the nation of quality agricultural inputs and products for sustainable agricultural and economic growth.

Major Functions

1. Carry out seed and crop pest assessments for national early warning purposes
2. Provide sanitary and phytosanitary services on plant imports & exports
3. Provide testing and advisory services on animal feeds, agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides), seeds and crop management technologies
4. Provide regulatory advisory services on seeds, crop production (residue destruction dates), registration and management of plant nurseries, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers.
5. Disseminate new technologies and relevant agricultural information generated from research

Human Resource

In the main, the Research Services Division consists of agricultural and applied science researchers, whose role is to develop and test new information that supports provision of regulatory and specialist services. The researchers are underpinned by appropriately qualified technical staff with diplomas and certificates in agriculture, as well as support administrative and field staff.

Major Outputs

Broad outputs of Division include:

1. Laboratory analytical support and advisory services to clients and stakeholders
2. Quality seed on the market due to an effective seed inspectorate
3. Managed and controlled migratory pests, resulting in reduced impact on crop- damage
4. Support technologies for improved management and control of various crop pests, both in the field and in storage
5. Reduced incidences of incursion into the country by plant pests of quarantine
6. Importance due to continuous quarantine support services to the agricultural industry
7. Plant germplasm conserved for future utilisation for food and agriculture (www.drss.gov.zim 08 July 2020)

Livestock Research Division

Mandate

The division generates appropriate and sustainable management technologies to support livestock productivity and production. The portfolio also includes research on pastures, forages (both planted and those naturally found in the rangelands) and cost effective feed formulations in support of the agricultural industry.

Major Functions

1. Conducting research and developing appropriate and sustainable technologies for livestock production in intensive, semi-intensive and extensive systems in the different agro- ecological zones
2. Conducting analyses of the constraints, challenges and opportunities for animal production and formulate appropriate research priorities and programmes to meet stakeholder requirements for information and technologies for animal production
3. Developing, producing, conserving and utilizing animal and plant genetic resources for distribution to livestock producers
4. Creating linkages and smart partnerships with stakeholders in the agricultural industry to facilitate joint identification, and responses to livestock production challenges.
5. Disseminating and up-scaling new technologies and relevant livestock production information
6. Commercial production of agricultural products to generate complementary revenue to support research activities and maintain capital items and infrastructure

Human Resource

The institutes in the Division are manned by researchers who are mainly qualified in animal husbandry with varying levels of qualification from degrees, diplomas, certificates and support staff with “O” levels. Staff competence is continually being strengthened through formal and informal training.

Major Outputs

1. Products developed for increased animal production and productivity in the various Agro- ecological zones. This is done through improvement in livestock breeds, nutrition, animal production systems, forage and rangeland production,
2. Enhanced knowledge and information dissemination in animal production
3. Value-addition to animal products
4. Laboratory and analytical services for the farming community.