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Seed Co Limited will next year open a magnificent new laboratory at its Rattray Arnold Research Station in Harare that will bring world-class benefits to local production of seed.
Speaking at a media luncheon yesterday, Seed Co Zimbabwe managing director Mr Dennis Zaranyika said they were committed to improving the quality of seed.
“We will have a magnificent new lab at Rattray Arnold,” he said. “Agriculture reporters will all be invited to witness the official opening in 2015 at a date to be announced. Benefits will be world-class, hence keeping up with international trends, speeding up of breeding programmes. Laboratory work that used to be done in South Africa and elsewhere will now be done in Zimbabwe.” Mr Zaranyika said the new packaging launched by Seed Co recently had been well received by farmers as it strengthened the brand and eradicated unscrupulous fake seed dealers.
He said the company’s new varieties, SC 301, 529 and 641, were complementing those already on the market like SC 513, 533, 727 and others.
Seed Co opened a new plant in Malawi on Tuesday as part of its continuous renewal process, Mr Zaranyika said.
“This is a magnificent state-of-the-art facility with a factory and plant,” he said. “This is but only one of our bold statements as we continue spreading tentacles into Africa.”
Mr Zaranyika said agricultural productivity was being affected by the depressed economy, but farmers were making serious efforts to innovate and grow despite being hampered by funding constraints.
He said the future of agriculture called for higher levels of productivity.
“As a country, we need to use the comparative advantages we have,” said Mr Zaranyika. “Zimbabwean farmers are generally hard workers and with improvements in the state of the fundamentals of our economy, agriculture will contribute immensely to GDP.”
Mr Zaranyika said the African Seed Trade Association Congress 2015 to be held in Victoria Falls from March 2 to 5 next year will help promote Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter