adminZvifadzo Lubombo Herald Reporter
The Scientific and Industrial Research Development Centre (SIRDC) has ramped up production and doubled its seed output to 500 tonnes up from 200 tonnes last year to meet growing demand, a marketing official says.Sirdc marketing analyst Felex Chivave said his organisation had expanded production of Sirdamaize 113 drought resistant maize variety to meet an expected upsurge in demand in the 2013-14 cropping season.
He said last year SIRDC failed to meet demand for its seed variety.
“We have increased our seed production to 500 tonnes this year,” he said. “The seed has done well in most areas including those that received low rainfall and in areas where rainfall was relatively constant, the yields are excellent.”
The locally-developed seed – Sirdamaize 113 – was launched last year by the research institution to help boost food production in drought-prone districts in the country which often experience chronic food shortages.
SIRDC was also developing other seed varieties to help farmers cope with drought and improve household food security at the local and regional level.
Meanwhile, the Seed Trade Association has expressed satisfaction over the level of seed stocks in outlets across the country.
The association said a total of 56 000 tonnes of hybrid and open-pollinated seed maize had so far been distributed nationwide.
There was also 500 tonnes of white sorghum seed. Seed maize is selling at prices ranging from US$21 to US$47 per 10kg bag depending on the variety while fertiliser prices range from US$32 to US$40 per 50kg bag depending on the components.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union vice president Mr Johnson Mapira said farmers had started preparing for the summer cropping season with most of them relying on own funding.
“The input prices are stable and we are satisfied with the state of preparedness,” he said.
Zimbabwe has not been producing sufficient maize to meet national demand over the years due to a combination of factors that include drought, poor rains and poor maize floor prices.
Poor prices have forced many farmers to switch to the lucrative tobacco crop forcing the country to rely heavily on imports from Zambia, South Africa and Malawi.
Online Reporter