Zamseed steps up climate change innovations
AS the country looks for solutions on how to deal with the current climate change, ZAMSEED has stepped in by developing innovative drought-resistant seed varieties.
The company has also announced that it was set to introduce a variety on the market that is tolerant to fall army worms which have posed a challenge to farmers across the African region.
ZAMSEED's National Sales Manager, Edward Jere, said this to journalists at this year's Agric Tech Expo held in Chisamba on Thursday.
Mr Jere noted that these developments underscored the company's efforts aimed at supporting farmers and enhancing Zambia's food security.
“As ZAMSEED, we pay attention to research and technology so for now all our variety that we have to offer on the Zambian market all drought tolerant.
“We will soon be releasing climate smart varieties and can be planted countrywide. We have taken interest in climate change,” he said.
Mr Jere also said ZAMSEED was engaged in training programmes designed to educate farmers on climate change adaptation strategies and advanced agricultural practices.
He explained that these were aimed at helping farmers to withstand the challenges posed by increasingly erratic climatic conditions.
“Training is provided for farmers that are growing winter maize for the first time so that they get the best yield out of the variety that provide. All our breeding programmes are done locally, hence our seeds are suited for Zambian and African soils.
“On climate smart varieties we have special varieties that have been released which are high yielders,” Mr Jere said.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between the private sector, agricultural stakeholders, and policymakers in addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change.
On the fall army worm variety, Mr Jere said: “We will also be releasing a variety tolerant to fall army worms which we believe has been a huge challenge for formers.
“This variety is a game change when you look at the space of fall army worms tolerance…they should be commercialised fully this season.”