Seed Co hosts communal farmers

Communal farmers from all over the country on Tuesday had the opportunity to interact with the renowned Seed Co breeding team at the company’s Rattray Arnold Research Station in Shamva.

NQOBILE NKIWANE

Seed Co is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary and ran three field days from Monday to yesterday.

Addressing communal farmers and other stakeholders, Seed Co managing director Denias Zaranyika said the initiative was in line with the government’s objective to increase productivity and achieve food security in the country.

He said field days conscientise farmers on the seed varieties that are suitable for their respective regions.

“One should not rush to purchase a particular product because it did well in a certain region, but farmers need to be aware of the climatic conditions in their areas,” Zaranyika said.

The communal famers were briefed on the appropriate choice of seeds, herbicides, effective planting and tendering methods, while they toured the different types of maize varieties planted at the station.

Evan Craig, Seed Co extension services manager, said the main aim of the field day was to educate farmers on the best crops for their ecological regions and also introduce to them new seed varieties which are not yet on the market.

“Today we are educating communal farmers, yesterday it was those from agricultural colleges and tomorrow we will host the commercial farmers and seed growers,” he said.

Seed Co plans to introduce a new early maturing maize seed variety in the near future.