China-Aid Juncao Technology Project in Zimbabwe

04/09/2026

🌱🍄 Skills Keep Growing as Nyabira Farmer Takes the Initiative to Collect Maize Cobs for Mushroom Production

On September 3, the China-Aid Juncao Technology Project expert team conducted a post-training follow-up visit in Nyabira, providing on-site technical guidance to Ms. Lizzie Chara and reviewing the progress of her Juncao and mushroom production.

Through previous training and continued hands-on practice, Ms. Chara has steadily improved her mushroom cultivation and management skills and gained a better understanding of the different stages of mushroom production. She is currently renovating her mushroom fruiting house and actively collecting locally available agricultural by-products, such as maize cobs, for use as mushroom cultivation substrate, in preparation for expanding mushroom production.

Meanwhile, she is harvesting mature Juncao grass and preparing the stems as planting materials to further expand her Juncao cultivation area. This will provide additional resources to support her future plans for mushroom production and livestock farming.

As her technical skills continue to improve, the application of Juncao Technology is gradually extending from mushroom cultivation to Juncao planting, agricultural by-product utilization, and livestock farming. With continued technical guidance and practical experience, an integrated development approach combining Juncao, mushrooms, and livestock farming is gradually taking shape, laying a foundation for future production expansion and green agricultural development. 🌽🍄🌱🐄

04/09/2026

🍄🌱 Training Goes Beyond the Classroom — Technical Support Continues!

On August 31, the China-Aid Juncao Technology Project expert team conducted a post-training follow-up visit in Harare, visiting the household demonstration site of Mr. and Mrs. Shenje. Their mushrooms were growing well. After identifying areas for improvement in water and humidity management, the experts provided on-site technical guidance to help them further improve mushroom fruiting management.

Encouragingly, after mastering Juncao-based mushroom cultivation techniques, Mr. and Mrs. Shenje have begun exploring broader applications of Juncao. They hope to use Juncao as livestock feed and integrate mushroom production, Juncao-based animal feeding, and green agriculture.

From learning the technology to applying it, and now exploring new opportunities, Juncao Technology is taking root and expanding through the hands-on practices of local farmers. 🌱🍄🐑

19/08/2026

On 18 August 2026, the project team visited a farmer demonstration site in Nyabira to provide on-site technical guidance on Juncao technology. The experts inspected the growth of the Juncao grass and advised the farmers to strengthen field management and fencing during the early growth stage. Chickens and other poultry should be kept out of the planting area to prevent pecking and trampling until the grass is well established and has developed a strong root system.
The project team also demonstrated how to chop Juncao grass to make silage, explaining key steps such as proper compaction and airtight sealing, the required fermentation period, and how to determine whether the silage has fermented successfully. In line with local conditions, the team guided the farmers in constructing a simple thatched mushroom house with plastic sheeting on the roof to protect it from rain. They also explained essential practices for ventilation, humidity control and hygiene management.
For immature mushroom substrate bags that had not yet been fully colonised by mycelium, the experts highlighted management measures including incubation away from direct light, maintaining suitable temperature and humidity, regular ventilation, minimising unnecessary handling, and inspecting and isolating contaminated bags. Once the bags are fully colonised and mature, they can be transferred to the mushroom house for fruiting management.
The on-site guidance further strengthened the farmers’ understanding of Juncao cultivation, silage production and edible mushroom cultivation, promoting the integrated application of Juncao technology and helping farmers increase production and income.

09/08/2026

Juncao Grass, Better Livelihoods: Zimbabwean Media Highlights the Achievements of the China-Aid Juncao Technology Project

Recently, Zimbabwean media outlet NewsHawks published a feature report on the China-Aid Juncao Technology Project in Zimbabwe. Drawing on the real-life experiences of local farmers who have increased their incomes, the report gives a detailed account of the diverse applications of Juncao technology in areas such as edible mushroom cultivation and livestock and poultry feed processing. It also presents the positive results achieved in expanding income-generating opportunities and improving household livelihoods.

Though small in size, Juncao grass holds great potential for development. Today, Juncao technology is gradually reaching rural communities and ordinary farming households across Zimbabwe, opening up new pathways for the development of local specialty agriculture and the improvement of people’s livelihoods.

BY DELIGHT GUMA AND NATHAN GUMA WHEN severe water shortages made market gardening increasingly difficult in Nyabira, Zvimba East, Lizzie Chara’s family survived on about US$20 a month. Today, she is among the farmers whose livelihoods have been transformed through the Juncao Technology Project, an...

04/08/2026

Turning waste into wealth! 🌽🌱

Recently, the China Aid Juncao Technology Project in Zimbabwe demonstrated and promoted the collection of agricultural residues, including corn cobs, corn husks, and maize stalks. By integrating Juncao technology with mushroom cultivation, these agricultural by-products are transformed into valuable raw materials, helping increase farmers' incomes, improve agricultural productivity, and promote ecological sustainability.

26/07/2026

Juncao Technology Reaches Communities

Recently, participants of the 22nd China-Aid Juncao Technology Training Course began receiving mushroom bags and officially started their hands-on mushroom cultivation experience, exploring a new way to increase household income.

21/07/2026

Juncao Empowers Communities and Expands Livelihood Opportunities

From 14 to 15 July 2026, at the invitation of the World Food Programme (WFP), the China-aid Zimbabwe Juncao Technology Project dispatched three experts to Magololo Garden (Ward 12) and Mahlasela Garden (Ward 8) in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province, where they jointly conducted a tripartite Juncao technology training programme with the WFP and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of Zimbabwe.

During the training, the project experts delivered presentations using PowerPoint and videos to introduce Juncao cultivation management and processing technologies. They also provided practical field demonstrations on key cultivation techniques, including stem selection, planting methods, irrigation, fertilization, and field management. In addition, the experts explained how Juncao can be used to cultivate edible mushrooms as a quick, low-cost and profitable income-generating activity, and how Juncao technology can help address the seasonal challenge of livestock becoming well-fed during the rainy season but losing condition in the dry season by providing a stable, high-quality forage supply throughout the year.

The participants showed great interest in the role of Juncao technology in improving livelihoods and increasing household income. During the interactive session, farmers raised questions about irrigation and fertilization management for Juncao cultivation, as well as whether the project could provide machinery for harvesting and processing Juncao. Drawing on the strengths of the local livestock industry, the experts recommended making full use of well-composted livestock manure supplemented with compound fertilizers to achieve better cultivation results. In response to requests for processing equipment, the project team explained that such machinery is currently available only at the project demonstration centre for technical demonstration purposes and cannot yet be supplied to other communities across the country. However, the team expressed its willingness to assist farmers and enterprises with genuine needs in sourcing and introducing suitable Juncao harvesting and processing equipment.

In addition, the training remained focused on helping farmers increase their incomes. The project experts stated that they would provide edible mushroom spawn to farmers committed to developing mushroom production using Juncao. This announcement greatly encouraged the participants, who expressed their determination to adopt and promote Juncao technology, develop both the edible mushroom and livestock industries based on Juncao, broaden their income sources, improve household nutrition, and build more sustainable livelihoods.

11/07/2026

Juncao Technology Enters Urban Households, Enriching Food Choices for Urban and Rural Communities

On 27 June 2026, at the invitation of Director Makuku of the AGRITEX Crops Department, Ministry of Agriculture of Zimbabwe, the China Aid Juncao Technology Project Expert Team held the 22nd Juncao Technology Training Course at his family demonstration site in Hatfield, Harare. A total of 43 participants from the local community attended the training.

The training was conducted at the family demonstration site and covered Juncao cultivation, Juncao mushroom production, the use of Juncao as livestock feed, mushroom cooking demonstrations, and hands-on practical sessions. Through lectures, videos, live demonstrations, and interactive discussions, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the multiple benefits of Juncao technology in edible mushroom production, livestock farming, agricultural waste utilization, and income generation for farmers.

As an active supporter of the Juncao Project, Director Makuku showcased his demonstration site featuring wall-mounted and casing-soil mushroom cultivation systems, as well as Juncao planting. The site has gradually developed into an integrated household demonstration base combining Juncao cultivation, mushroom production, and technology demonstration, providing a practical and replicable model for surrounding communities.

During the training, participants actively took part in practical activities and exchanged ideas with the expert team on topics including Juncao cultivation and management, mushroom production, feed processing and utilization, and feeding practices for small poultry. The experts provided practical guidance tailored to local farming conditions, helping participants further master key Juncao technologies in a lively and engaging learning atmosphere.

At the end of the training, the project team distributed 800 Juncao stem cuttings to participants for propagation and demonstration planting, further promoting the adoption of Juncao technology in communities around Harare.

Moving forward, the China Aid Juncao Technology Project Expert Team will continue to uphold the principle of "teaching people how to fish rather than simply giving them fish," fully leveraging demonstration sites to expand the adoption of Juncao technology. The project aims to better support local agricultural development, improve livestock production and farmers' incomes, enrich food choices for both urban and rural communities, and contribute Chinese expertise and solutions to Zimbabwe's green agricultural development and food security.

10/07/2026

On 9 July, Gwebi Agricultural College organized its staff to harvest the first batch of self-grown Juncao grass. Under the on-site guidance of experts from the China-Aid Zimbabwe Juncao Technology Project, the harvested Juncao was processed into different types of fresh forage using forage chopping and shredding equipment for demonstration feeding trials with sheep and poultry.

The expert team also provided technical training on Juncao harvesting, forage chopping and shredding, feed preparation, and scientific feeding practices. This practical activity is expected to further enhance the College's capacity for teaching and applying Juncao as livestock feed, while providing valuable hands-on experience in reducing feeding costs, diversifying feed resources, and promoting the sustainable development of the local livestock industry.

21/06/2026

A new wave of enthusiasm for the promotion of China’s Juncao technology is sweeping across parts of Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe.

On June 16, at the renewed invitation of the World Food Programme (WFP), the Chinese Juncao Technology Expert Team in Zimbabwe returned to Masvingo to conduct another round of on-site technical training. Throughout the session, participants listened attentively and took detailed notes. The expert team provided systematic training on key technologies including giant Juncao stem propagation, field management, Juncao-based mushroom cultivation, and the use of Juncao in livestock production. They also introduced the progress made in localizing and promoting Juncao technology in Zimbabwe, as well as a number of successful cases demonstrating how the technology has helped strengthen food resilience, improve livelihoods, and increase farmers’ incomes. The venue was filled with rounds of applause and the distinctive cheers of local participants, fully reflecting the strong enthusiasm of the community for adopting and promoting Juncao technology.

During the interactive question-and-answer session, participants raised many thoughtful and practical questions closely related to local conditions: Can Juncao mushrooms be cultivated inside houses with thatched roofs? Does Juncao have medicinal value? What is the growth cycle and productive lifespan of Juncao, and does it need to be replanted every year? Can Juncao be used for ecological restoration? Can it be intercropped with maize? How can Juncao be used to feed small poultry? These well-considered questions showed that local farmers are not only learning the technology, but are already thinking deeply about how to apply it locally and develop it sustainably in the long run.

Many participants have also taken the initiative to form cooperative groups. They plan to use the Juncao harvested last year to propagate new seedlings and further explore industrialized development. At the same time, they requested continued support from the expert team in the form of mushroom spawn and giant Juncao seedlings. These concrete actions demonstrate that local farmers are actively advancing Juncao-based mushroom cultivation and livestock production, while exploring new pathways toward income generation and prosperity.

There is no doubt that a practical, vibrant, and fast-growing wave of Juncao application is taking root and flourishing across many parts of Masvingo.