Zimbabwean Varsities Shine at RUFORUM Conference With Climate Smart Innovations

Zimbabwean universities are attracting strong attention at the 21st Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) conference in Gaborone, Botswana, where more than 100 institutions are showcasing cutting edge technologies designed to tackle Africa’s pressing agricultural challenges.

The exhibition hall has become one of the busiest spaces at the event, with delegates flocking to Zimbabwe’s stands to explore innovations aligned with climate resilience, food security and digital agriculture.

The University of Zimbabwe is presenting its drought tolerant VN seed varieties, a product of extensive research aimed at improving food and nutrition security in dry regions.

“These VN seeds were developed to withstand drought while supporting household food and nutrition security. They are a direct product of Education 5.0, which emphasises innovation and industrialisation,” said UZ plant breeder and biotechnologist Professor Edmore Gasira.

Chinhoyi University of Technology is showcasing the Hurudza AI app, a digital advisory platform that provides farmers with instant agronomic guidance in local languages.

“The Hurudza AI application gives farmers on the go solutions. With just a click, they can access agronomist level support in their own languages. The goal is to address agricultural challenges quickly and improve productivity in line with Vision 2030,” explained student innovator Frank Makeba.

The displays have earned praise from regional institutions attending the conference.

“I’m impressed by the hands-on approach. Zimbabwe’s exhibits demonstrate a clear link between student innovation and real community impact. Their climate-smart agriculture models are especially relevant to our region. As Makerere University, we are eager to explore partnerships,” said student delegate Emiu Denis.

The growing interest in Zimbabwe’s innovations underscores the demand for home-grown technologies designed for African conditions. For Zimbabwean institutions, the conference serves as a platform to attract investment, build regional collaborations and commercialise research driven solutions.