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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
SEED companies have started distributing seed to the different parts of the country ahead of the 2013/14 farming season amid warnings that there is fake seed in circulation.Speaking in separate interviews yesterday, representatives from the main seed houses, Seed-Co and Pioneer Seeds yesterday said their companies were busy distributing seed to all the districts.
The Seed-Co extension services manager Mr Ivan Craig said the seed house had adequate seed. He urged farmers to be on the look out for fake seed that he said was in circulation.
“Farmers must be on the lookout for fake seed and should be guided by security features on our packs. The sealing has improved and the bags are printed in black dots with pictures of different animals printed on them while the maize seed is coated in a consistent colour.
“It should not be difficult for farmers to identify imitations because they usually have inconsistent colours of grain sealed in a different way,” said Mr Craig.
He said the seed was packaged in different sizes to suit all farmers.
“Our packaging has improved to suit all farmers. We have packets that are as small as 2kg and 5kg while the 20kg, 25kg and 50kg bags are also available for large scale farmers. The smaller packs make it easier for farmers with low income to spread their purchase.
Pioneer Seeds managing director Mr Daniel Myers said the seed house was using its usual certified dealers to distribute seed to all the districts.
“We are busy distributing our well graded seed to all the districts in the country through registered and certified dealers. The grains of our maize seed are always of the same size and this is one of the many security features that farmers should use to identify the genuine seed,” said Mr Myers.
Weather experts in Sadc have predicted that the region would receive normal to above normal rainfall in the 2013/14 season.
The period of October to March is the main rainfall season in most parts of Southern Africa.
Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy and the Government is keen to ensure that the country achieves food security and regains its status as the bread basket of Sadc.
Online Reporter