Seed Co unveils drought tolerant varieties
COMMERCIAL seed production giant Seed Co expects to unveil two climate-resilient grain varieties to mitigate the impact of climate change, the company’s managing director Mr Terrence Chimanya said.
In light of the challenges posed by climate change, Seed Co has been investing in research and development to create climate-smart varieties.
The climate smart seed varieties are specifically bred to be more tolerant of drought, heat stress, and other climate extremes, helping farmers adapt to changing conditions.
By offering improved resistance and potentially higher yields, the varieties can help farmers maintain or even increase their production despite the challenges of climate change.
The varieties are SC665, a medium maize hybrid, and SCXH102, a sorghum variety.
“The research and development division is working tirelessly to ensure product development that is very competitive and up to date in view of the current climate change crisis,” said Mr Chimanya.
Seed Co experienced a decline in seed sales due to a projected poor rainy season and reduced Government orders for Statefunded programs.
However, the company saw an upsurge in demand for early maturing, climate-smart maize varieties across all agroecological regions for December plantings. In addition, Government orders for small grains production under irrigation through commercial programmes also increased.
“Our focus as a business should be to manage risks, take charge of the markets and maximise sales,” said Mr Chimanya.
The 2023/24 season has been challenging due to El Niño’s impact on rainfall patterns.
The month of November saw minimal rain, causing extreme dryness with poor distribution.
December, however, experienced heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving over 200 millimetres in just 10 days. The first week of January 2024 returned to dry conditions, with most of the country receiving only a third of its usual rainfall, highlighting the season’s unpredictability.
These drastic fluctuations led to several negative consequences such as drier periods that resulted in lower dam levels and increased water usage beyond normal levels.
Erratic rainfall patterns impacted seed germination and contributed to crop scorching due to temperature extremes. Zimbabwe, alongside several southern African nations, faces the harsh reality of El Niño’s impact on food security.
The climate change phenomenon, characterised by erratic weather patterns, has disrupted the agricultural season, raising concerns of potential food price hikes and shortages.
While neighboring Zambia has declared a national disaster in response to anticipated food insecurity, Zimbabwe has assured citizens that they are taking appropriate steps to ensure enough food for communities and that no one will go hungry.