Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
Agriculture Reporter
The Tobacco Research Board trading as Kutsaga is set to showcase tissue culture and seed production systems at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF 2026).
Tissue culture is a collection of techniques that enables the rapid multiplication of disease-free planting material.
The technology is part of the research institution’s efforts to strengthen seed sovereignty and reduce reliance on imported planting material.
The trade fair to be held from Monday to Saturday in Bulawayo under the theme “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries” will highlight regional integration, industrialisation and high-value linkages designed to strengthen global competitiveness across sectors, including agriculture.
Kutsaga is positioning itself as a science and innovation anchor for Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, with its work extending beyond tobacco into wider crop systems that support food security and industrial growth.
Kutsaga chief executive, Dr Frank Magama said the institution was undergoing strategic repositioning to become a more dynamic and commercially responsive research organisation, open to both local and international partnerships.
“We are evolving into a broader agricultural innovation hub underpinned by science, innovation and commercial sustainability,” he said.
Tissue culture is being applied across multiple crops, including tobacco, seed potatoes and horticultural species.
The system, Dr Magama said, was critical in improving seed quality, boosting yields and reducing the spread of crop diseases, while also strengthening local seed systems that have traditionally relied on imports.
“Seed sovereignty is increasingly being viewed not only as a technical agricultural objective, but as a strategic economic priority linked to competitiveness, industrialisation and regional integration.
“The push for seed sovereignty is anchored on expanding certified seed production systems, particularly in tobacco, where Kutsaga develops and validates high-performance seed varieties designed to meet international quality standards and market requirements,” he said.
These interventions are aimed at ensuring Zimbabwean agricultural produce remains competitive in export markets while improving productivity at farm level through consistent, reliable planting material.
The institution’s seed potato programme, supported by modern cold storage infrastructure, is also emerging as a key diversification pillar.
It is expected to reduce import dependence while supporting both commercial and smallholder farmers engaged in horticultural production.
Beyond established crops, Kutsaga is also laying the scientific foundation for emerging agricultural value chains, including industrial hemp, where ongoing varietal research and agronomic trials are assessing commercial viability and suitability under local conditions.
Dr Magama said sustainability considerations were increasingly shaping the institution’s innovation agenda, including the development of biological control agents aimed at reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals.
“Innovation is no longer just about productivity. It is also about resilience, sustainability and long-term competitiveness,” he said.
Kutsaga is also modernising its internal systems through digital integration and enterprise management tools aimed at improving efficiency, data-driven decision-making and service delivery to farmers and industry partners.
“Our evolving model reflects a broader national policy thrust towards import substitution, value addition and the development of science-led agriculture as a driver of economic growth,” he said.
