Seed Co now Produces Climate Change Responsive Hybrid Seeds

Regional seed manufacturer, Seed Co Limited announced recently it was now producing climate change responsive hybrid seeds in a bid to boost high yields and nutrition.

In his address at a luncheon held recently for the media, Mr Denias Zaranyika, the Seed Co Regional Managing Director, said the company had invested in seed dryers which will further reduce on wastage of seeds due to poor handling and storage.

“We encourage the farmers to plant with the rains that are being forecasted to come towards the end of this week. As a company, we have put up a central drying facility.

“Most of the seed is brought to us at 33% moisture content for drying. This will enable the farmers to utilise the same seed twice a year,” Mr Zaranyika said.

Mr Zaranyika said the company was ahead of its time as there were more varieties in small grains, maize and soya beans.

This comes as Seed Co is consolidating its market dominance across the continent for grain and vegetable seeds.

In Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Ghana as well as parts of East and West Africa, the group anticipates increased sales as some countries are recovering from drought experienced in the prior year, while others have increased production after suffering product shortages.

The group is also anticipating to cash in on increasing Government support programmes across the region as well as an anticipated good rainfall.

In Zimbabwe, Government is targeting 210 000 hectares of maize for the 2019/20 farming season as well as 30 000 hectares of soya bean under the Presidential Input Programme.

Government is also looking at an additional 640 000 hectares of maize and small grains under support for the vulnerable groups.

Wendy Madzura, Seed Co Zimbabwe Head of Agronomy is working with her team to increase Seed Co product knowledge as well as to enrich the knowledge of farmers on seed varieties.