Lima Farms Limited

30/04/2026

Cutting-edge dental imaging technologies are transforming oral care by moving away from invasive traditional methods toward high-precision, digital-first solutions. These advancements prioritize patient comfort, drastically reduce radiation exposure, and provide dentists with comprehensive 3D views for more accurate diagnoses.

The rise in adoption of imaging systems by hospitals and private clinics over traditional systems drive the market growth. In addition, the increase in prevalence of dental diseases such as dental …

06/04/2026

Farmers, what are the most effective chemicals for controlling this insect? And new farmers gain valuable knowledge from the comments section?

11/03/2026

Zambia’s E-Voucher Transition Catalyzes Smallholder Productivity

LUSAKA – Zambia is witnessing a structural transformation of its agricultural economy as the government completes its nationwide rollout of the Electronic Voucher (e-voucher) system under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP).
Moving away from a decade of inefficient direct supply models, the initiative is successfully decentralising the procurement of inputs, effectively breaking the state-led monopoly on seed and fertiliser distribution. The shift has not only empowered over one million smallholder farmers to diversify beyond maize but has also stimulated a robust private-sector response among rural agro-dealers.
The legacy “one-size-fits-all” model, which often delivered ill-suited fertilisers to remote regions, has been replaced by a streamlined digital process where farmers make a bank deposit to trigger a government-backed credit. This credit is then redeemable via mobile codes at any of the 650 registered private agro-dealers. For the Business Times reader, the significance lies in the market efficiency gains; according to an independent survey by Kivu International, 86% of agro-dealers reported hiring additional staff to manage the surge in demand, signalling a significant “crowding in” of private capital into the rural economy.
The impact on individual productivity is already visible in hubs like Kapiri Mposhi, where farmers have recovered from the devastating 2023-2024 drought with record yields. Zacchaeus Saleh Mwale, a local producer, noted that his harvest jumped from fewer than 30 bags of maize to nearly one hundred since transitioning to the e-voucher system. This recovery is attributed to the timeliness of the new system, with over 97% of farmers successfully redeeming their inputs by the end of December 2024, ensuring that planting synchronised perfectly with the onset of the rains.
“What we’re seeing is that the government has repurposed the input subsidy program to transform agriculture and crowd in the private sector in line with our AgriConnect initiative,” stated Sergiy Zorya, Lead Agricultural Economist for Farming and Agribusiness at the World Bank Group. Zorya highlighted that this market-oriented approach is now being viewed as a blueprint for the continent, with the World Bank launching a Knowledge Academy to help seven other African nations replicate Zambia’s success in repurposing public expenditures for better value and soil health.
The 2025-2026 season marks the final phase of the rollout, with the system expanding to cover all remaining districts. Beyond simple crop yields, the data shows a high level of user satisfaction, with 90% of farmers finding the digital deposit process straightforward. As the Ministry of Agriculture reduces its logistical burden, the fiscal space created is being redirected toward long-term soil replenishment and climate-smart agricultural research. This transition from a state-delivered subsidy to a digital market facilitator is positioning Zambia as a regional leader in agritech-led development.

09/03/2026

Zambia's government is reportedly losing between K400 million and K500 million annually in tax revenue due to the surge in illicit to***co trade. This illicit market now accounts for approximately 25% to 30% of national cigarette consumption.

Zambia’s to***co industry faces significant challenges from illicit trade, leading to substantial tax revenue losses estimated at K400 million. Learn about the impact and industry responses.

22/06/2025

Imagine harvesting two crops from one plant, that’s exactly what the Pomato offers. This unique creation grows tomatoes above ground and potatoes below, making it a space-saving solution for gardeners looking to maximize their yield.

The Pomato isn’t a naturally occurring hybrid but rather the result of grafting, where a tomato plant is fused with a potato plant. Since both belong to the Solanaceae family, they share similar growing requirements, allowing them to thrive as a single organism. While the plant doesn’t produce a new type of fruit, it provides an efficient way to cultivate two staple crops in one container or garden bed.

Gardeners have found the Pomato to be an excellent option for urban spaces, although some report that the flavor and yield of both crops can vary, as the plant splits its energy between growing potatoes and tomatoes. Still, it remains a fascinating innovation in sustainable gardening, showing how plant science can reshape food production.

12/06/2025

Let's Talk Raised Grow Beds ☘️ 🌵

Dear farmers , let's today learn briefly about raised beds.

What is a raised bed?

A raised bed is gardening technique that involves creating an elevated area for planting

Raised beds can be made of boxes, bricks and most commonly heaping of soils.

In most cases ,when primary and secondary cultivation is done, the field is lined using pegs with a width of 1 m and a hight of 30 cm to 50cm and apath way of 50cm.

It's in most cases better to heap at hight of 40 to 50 cm during rain season to avoid erosion.

Advantages of raised beds.

>Accessibility. It's easy to carry out agronomic practices, such as weeding , spraying since there are path ways for easy movements.

>Drainage, raised beds creates better drainage and prevents water logging places since water is allowed to drain along the path ways.

>Versatile, raised beds can be made using different forms ,sizes and at different areas.

>Aesthetic appeal, it provides neat and
organized appearance to the field.

>Pest and disease management. It reduces the risk of certain soil born diseases as it's easier to implement preventive measures by applying targeted treatments.

Crop grown using the method

The method is best for growing of tubers like potatoes, cassava, carrots, onions, flowers and vegetables.

It helps to facilitate easy expansion of tubers and also check on drainage and conservation of moisture.

Action photo taken during making raised beds.

12/06/2025

We asked AI this: Hybrid seeds vs. Indigenous varieties, which one is better for farmers?

As the debate continues, many farmers are torn between growing hybrid seeds or sticking to indigenous (open-pollinated) varieties. So, we asked AI: which side should farmers lean toward?

Here’s what AI had to say:

If your goal is maximum yield and market ready produce, hybrids are hard to beat. They’re bred for high productivity, uniform maturity, and disease resistance, making them ideal for commercial farmers targeting larger markets. However, you’ll need to buy new seed each season and often provide more fertilizer and water.

On the other hand, indigenous or open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) offer seed-saving freedom, adaptability to local conditions, and lower input costs. These are excellent for farmers focused on food security, sustainability, and traditional nutrition especially in unpredictable or resource limited environments.

Many experienced growers actually plant both, depending on the season, crop, and market demand.

So, farmers what about you? Which seed do you lean toward, and why?

28/05/2025

What an amazing discovery! Scientists have discovered that ants, after collecting the grains and seeds that they need for winter break those seeds down into halves before storing in their nests because breaking them in half keeps them from germinating even through rain and the most perfect germinating conditions. But scientists were stunned when they discovered that coriander seeds stored in the ant nest were broken down into 4 pieces instead of 2 pieces. After lab research, scientists discovered that a coriander seed will still germinate after being divided into two, but it won’t germinate after it’s divided into four parts. So how do these tiny tiny creatures know all this? Humans know very little, there's a lot to learn from other creatures.

14/02/2025

If you want chemical free, poison free and pest/disease free vegetables please embrace Agroecology. It's a holistic and self-sufficient system.

Companion planting is a silver bullet to the stubborn pest and disease.

Let's work with Mother Nature and Mimic her instead of working against her!