AndrewRudo Mandiro
SEED producer and research company, Seed Co, in partnership with Boost Fellowship — a grouping of tertiary students — has called for youths to dedicate time into agriculture-related innovations that will foster improved farming methods in the country.
Speaking at an innovation competition hosted by Seed Co in Harare last week, the company’s regional managing director, Mr Denias Zaranyika, said the need for new innovations was inevitable in the face of fast changing global systems. At the event, 10 students from tertiary institutions around the country presented their innovative ideas and were awarded prize money ranging from US$300 to US$1 000.
Mr Zaranyika said innovations had ripple effects that benefited communities.
“When we mooted the idea (to promote innovation) we all agreed that customers should be at the centre of any new innovation, in line with one of our core values which says: Customers at the centre of all we do. “We expect to see benefits and value coming to our farmers as well as Seed Co through these innovations.
“Across the globe, evolutionary and revolutionary innovations are coming in to disrupt the status quo,” he said.
Mr Zaranyika urged students, college dropouts and creative individuals to come up with innovations that will help transform companies and industries.
Of the 10 students who exhibited their innovations, Ronald Murove came first while Steve Tadzoka and Chiratidzo Charakupa came second and third respectively.
The innovations included a crop harvest and sensor dashboard as well as a fall armyworm detection and control system.
Online Reporter