Seed Co unveils new maize seed varieties

LETTICIA MAGOMBO

Listed seed producer, Seed Co Zimbabwe this week unveiled new maize varieties that are expected  to give  high yields, Business Times can report.

The three varieties- SC 303, SC 437 and SC 547- were launched at the annual national field day at Seed Co’s Rattray Arnold Research Station  in Goromonzi  on Tuesday.

Seed Co managing director, Terrence Chimanya, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony, said  the varieties have the unique trait of being heat and disease resistant. He said the varieties reduce climate change effects.

“Seed Co has invested in innovative seed technologies like market assisted breeding and doubled haploid technologies that reduce breeding time.

“Seed Co has proudly over the years produced excellent genetics as witnessed today, not only in maize production but also in other crops,” Chimanya said.

He added: “One of the main drivers for the new variety developments has been the drastic change in climate due to global warming that has had detrimental effects on Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

“Our drive as Seed Co has been towards the development of climate varieties that reduce climate change effects.”

AFC Holdings group CEO, Francis Macheka, who was guest of honour at the event said: “(We) are living and experiencing the effects of climate change as observed on our cropping and yield story with effects such as floods, droughts, fires and several other challenges.

“I am pleased to have learnt that Seed Co has engaged their scientific minds housed at this research station giving them the responsibility of coming up with varieties that address the farmer’s challenges posed by the climate changes. As shown during the crop tour, I can testify that Seed Co has come up with mitigation measures against prevalent effects of climate change.”

Seed Co has also extended its climate change resistant crop idea to other crops through the production of red and white sorghum which are naturally drought tolerant.