adminQuton, a subsidiary of Seed Co Pvt Ltd, is now the largest seed cotton producer on the continent in terms of volumes sold with interests in 15 countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Swaziland and Ethiopia.
The company is currently supplying between 2 000 and 3 000 tonnes of cotton seed in the region annually.
Quton board chairperson Mr Morgan Nzwere, who is also Seed Co group chief executive officer, said the company had also made inroads in East Africa. “In Malawi, Quton has established a seed multiplication programme and supplied the national requirement of cotton planting seed in the 2011 season.
“With the establishment of the multiplication project Malawi should be self sufficient in 2014,” he said.
Mr Nzwere said seed from his company had been received well on the continent.
“Mozambique and Swaziland are exciting markets. Our varieties have performed remarkably in these environs,” he said.
Seed Co acquired Quton from Cottco in 2006.
Over 27 million people are employed directly or indirectly in the cotton value chain on the continent with over 250 000 households in Zimbabwe deriving livelihood from the crop. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter