admindirector Mr Denias Zaranyika (DZ) on the company’s preparedness to meet farmers’ demands.GC: Mr Zaranyika, the farming season is upon us once again and farmers look up to your company as one the leading seed houses for enough supplies. Can you enlighten us on your preparedness?
DZ: As Seed Co, we are very much prepared for the season and I am happy to tell you that we will be more than ready to supply seed to our farmers.
We have 45 000 tonnes of seed in our stock here at Seed Co but combined as national seed houses we will avail a total of 70 000 tonnes. So we are saying as seed houses we can easily meet the demand for seed. The seed growers must be complemented for a job well done.
GC: Is the seed enough for the country?
DZ: Oh, yes. 70 000 tonnes is more than what Zimbabwe requires in any given season. The national seed requirement is about 50 000 tonnes so we have a surplus of about 20 000 tonnes.
GC: Is it because you imported some seed?
DZ: No, no, no! As you already know, seed houses no longer import seed. We are self-sufficient as a country and I am very happy that we have managed to groom our seed farmers.
We have 200 contracted farmers and they are good for the national task. We no longer have new seed farmers or inexperienced seed farmers. What we have are seed farmers. We no longer import seed. Zimbabwe, is now self-sufficient. In fact, we are looking for markets elsewhere, outside the country.
GC: There are people saying farmers who left Zimbabwe at the advent of the land reform programme are bringing back seed from Zambia. Is that true?
DZ: I am not aware of that because as far as I am concerned Zimbabwe is self-sufficient. There is no one importing seed among those I know. Like I said, we have more than enough seed.
GC: What about pricing?
DZ: We have rationalised prices by maintaining the old ones and reducing others. For instance the Shumba varieties are now in the same price with the Zebras. We reduced the shumba prices. You know that when we priced the other time we had not known the real value of the US dollar.
So in short we are not importing seed, we are actually exporting to countries like Mozambique and Zambia.
The challenge that we face as a nation is that of turning this seed into grain. It is mandatory to overcome this challenge, for it is imperative that we are self-sufficient in our grain requirements. Food security is paramount.
GC: So how do you intend to overcome this challenge?
DZ: This can be done through a number of initiatives that help farmers enhance productivity.
We run competitions that reward the best commercial maize grower who achieves 10 tonnes per hectare and also the national farmer competition for communal farmers and the Bumper Harvest Murigadzose promotion.
The initiatives are designed to turn the seed into grain. As you can see, these promote productivity.
GC: You have indeed captured the domestic market, with the name Seed Co almost becoming synonymous with seed, have you made similar forays in the regional market?
DZ: I am glad to tell you and the nation that we have a strong regional presence in southern and eastern Africa where we do business in Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda. This indicates massive growth for us.
As Seed Co, we are yet to find out our real national stake but independent researchers have said Seed Co, supplies 70 percent of the national requirement. We are yet to verify that but I am sure we are somewhere there.
GC: In your business, the farmers are your biggest customers and everything you do should be tailor-made to suit their demands, how has been your relationship with your number one customer?
DZ: Well, George, without farmers, we don’t have business and as such our relationship has been second to none.
Through our research centres, we continuously work on breeding varieties that increase yields, that have improved tolerance to diseases and drought and this makes farmers want to always be associated with us.
We also hold field days at our research centres where we invite communal and commercial farmers to learn more about seed varieties, including the whole seed breeding process. That way, obviously, we are in a way cementing our relationship with the farmers.
GC: Is that all you do for the farmers?
DZ: No, no, no. We also offer farmer training, agronomy and extension services and have demonstration plots throughout Zimbabwe where we hold field days to show farmers how it is done.
You must also remember that more than 90 percent of our customers are smallholder farmers who require agronomy assistance to improve their crop yields. Our social responsibility programmes are well-known throughout the country.
We do partner with institutions that include schools, hospitals, prisons, old people’s homes and various other underprivileged and vulnerable groups in society in trying to improve their lives.
GC: Tell us a bit about your seed varieties?
DZ: We are mainly into seed maize although there are also some significant sales of sorghum, cowpeas, groundnuts, sugar beans, barley, soya beans and wheat.
Most of the seed varieties are proprietary having been developed at our own research stations through vigorous market oriented research and breeding programmes.
We have the 4-series varieties (Tsoko) that take less than 130 days to mature; the 5-series (Mbizi) that take between 130 and 140 days to mature and the 6-series (Shumba) which take between 140 and 150 days to mature. We also have the 7-series (Nzou) that needs over 150 days to reach maturity.
GC: What do you think should be done to achieve growth in the agricultural sector?
DZ: There are various factors that are key to enhancing farmer productivity.
It is important to ensure inputs are available on time and that cropping plans that include liming and crop rotation are done timeously.
Other important factors include best crop management practices, choice of varieties, right plant populations, support to extension workers and the dissemination of information.
GC: You seem to ignore other factors like support to Government extension services. How do they come in?
DZ: In fact, there is need for greater support to government extension services, training and insurance of agro-dealers. Annually, we have been assisting in capacitating Agritex by purchasing 20 motorbikes, a move that improves their mobility.
GC: How about the markets for the produce?
DZ: Viable commodity markets must be established as they will provide a pull factor for farmers to produce even more and enhance Sadc and Comesa food strategic reserves and ensure food security.
I really believe that it is imperative to continue growing agricultural output for industry and human consumption and this is achievable if above structures and other critical ones are worked.
Online Reporter
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