Farai Mabeza, Senior Staff Writer 
SEED Co Limited says it is preparing for the coming winter and summer planting seasons and has vowed to help farmers grappling with a number of challenges such as credit access.
The seed producer said it would, in that vein, continue assisting seed growers with inputs.
“We have conducted various trainings, put in place exchange programmes, and various key seed implements and equipment and we are happy to see this investment bearing fruit. This strategic move has seen grower yields improve significantly in the past three to four years,” Seed Co managing director Terrence Chimanya told a farmers’ field day hosted by his company in Shamva last week.
“These interactions, such as the one we have had today, are a useful and necessary social interaction, part of our farmer outreach programmes, and are indeed tools of extension and a proven good source of social capital where productive ideas are exchanged.
“On our part, we have made significant investments in our research and development to keep pace with climatic and environmental demands that you face in your operations,” he added.
“It is in this respect, that Seed Co has a laboratory that enhances our breeding progress through molecular marker assisted selection, to make new inbred lines using double haploid technology and advanced plant pathology.
“We also feel that the investment that we made in our laboratory equipment has been worthwhile, as it has now drastically cut the time in which we are able to respond to and offer the market new products — ensuring that you, our farmers, get new varieties in almost real time.
“In addition, the laboratory also enables us to increase breeding gains (high yield in terms of improvements of existing varieties); bred for improved genetic quality of seed, which will lead to increased yield for farmers and increasing precision in breeding, leading to the development of world class varieties.”
Chimanya said the company had intensified its focus on farmer agronomy support and the development of structures to link farmers with financial institutions for working capital.
“The seed industry solidly aligns itself to the government’s agriculture initiatives that are aimed at making this industry the main driver of the Zimbabwean economy. I am pleased to say that Seed Co Limited carried out its responsibilities …and that we are putting our act together to be ready for the coming winter and summer planting seasons.”
Seed Co also said it has come up with a couple of products in the ultra-early maturing ranges that are well-suited to the growing conditions of most of our small-holder farmers and, in particular, the drier regions of the country.
“…This will allow the farmers (in those areas) to grow maize to feed themselves, as well as making some contribution to the national grain stocks,” Chimanya said.
“As all this is happening, allow me to take this opportunity to implore on and reiterate the message that the foundation of our work is a deep-rooted belief in the dignity of the Zimbabwean, and also the role that Seed Co plays in facilitating effective economic growth.”
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