Brenda Ziga Herald Reporter
farmers should plant hybrid seeds and new seed varieties to meet demand from the international market, a senior Government official has said.
Addressing farmers at a field day at Stapleford Research Station yesterday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Permanent Secretary Mr Ringson Chitsiko said hybrids and new varieties increased yields for farmers.
“It is high time that farmers should take the issue of hybridisation seriously to meet the export quality of their produce,” said Mr Chitsiko.
“Advantages of the hybrids and new varieties developed include adaption to new agricultural areas, greater resistance to disease and insects and greater yield which will result in improved quality to meet international demand,” he said.
“I am absolutely delighted that Prime SeedCo has now made available to our farmers a wide range of hybrid seed for both open field and greenhouse varieties,” he said.
Mr Chitsiko said Zimbabwe had exported horticultural products to the European Union worth $2,2 million during the first two months of this year.
“The recently published statistics from ZimTrade indicate that between January and February, the country exported horticultural products to the EU worth $2,2 million and I have no doubt that the bulk of the seed which resulted in these export products came from Prime SeedCo, who are the biggest producer of baby corn, sweet corn and mange tout peas seed in the country,” he said.
He said Government would continue to put in place initiatives to ensure production in all sectors of the agricultural industry.
“Government continues to work with the fertiliser industry on the pricing and availability of sufficient quantities of fertiliser, herbicides and pest control chemicals, “ he said.