BUSINESS REPORTER
Listed seed producer, Seed Co has set aside US$10m for research and development amid fast-changing climate conditions and diseases.
Speaking at the recent Zimbabwe Capital Markets Conference held in London, Seed Co group CEO Morgan Nzwere (pictured) said the company has a team of highly qualified and experienced agricultural scientists (breeders and agronomists) to do research and development.
“It has 12 fully-fledged research stations in Zimbabwe, two in South Africa and Kenya, and each in Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania,” Nzwere said.
He said Seed Co has released 120 varieties in the past 83 years following the company’s robust research and development strategy to adapt to changing weather patterns. Of the varieties at least 75 are hybrid maize.
“As we develop new varieties, we ensure that our seeds are drought tolerant and disease resistant so that farmers can grow maize at the harshest conditions,” Nzwere said.
He said Seed Co was the pioneer in maize streak and mottle virus and grey leaf spot resistance.
It is said to be the world leader in the release of rust and red leaf blotch and frog eye-resistant soyabean varieties.
The research team has also launched marker-assisted breeding technology and double haploid breeding technology.
Seed Co mainly produces maize, wheat, soyabeans, sugar beans, cowpeas, sorghum, groundnuts, and vegetables.
The company works with the government and other partners to improve seed varieties.
Seed Co develops, produces, and markets certified crop seeds, mainly hybrid maize seed, but also wheat, soya bean, barley, sorghum, and groundnut seeds
“Seed Co boasts of a proprietary genetic intellectual property of certified seeds adaptable to various ecological regions of Africa.
The company is a seed developer and producer in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Botswana.
Nzwere said the seed producer has a strong seed processing capability –modern technology.
He said Seed Co also has market reach via joint ventures and distributors in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, and Madagascar.
Nzwere said Seed Co is mainly in Africa because the continent has the largest arable land resource in the world, the majority of the population depends on agriculture and huge demand for food and stock feeds in Africa and globally.
