LOCAL seed breeders have taken note of the government’s initiative to promote climate-smart seed production with a domestic company shifting its focus to developing both improved maize varieties and traditional grains seed banks.
The local industry is fully mobilised, with companies leaving no stone unturned in their drive to boost productivity in line with the government’s vision to industrialise the nation and achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030.
During a visit to a seed production facility recently, workers were observed busy packing wheat seed destined for distribution to farmers under the Presidential Input Scheme.
“Despite what is being reported in other places, our workforce is full-time at work. We have a national duty to fulfil and we are packing 60 tonnes a day so we promise that we are ready to give farmers wheat seed on time,” Zadzamatura Seed house plant manager, Tonderai Masuku said.
With traditional grains proving to be a food security-winning formula in the face of climate change, the company has intensified efforts to build sustainable climate-smart seed banks.
“We have embraced the government’s policy to ensure that we come up with drought-resistant seed varieties. So we have taken into consideration that our traditional grains have turned out to be a sustainable way to deal with climate changes.
We have intensified the production of all traditional grain seeds, building a reliable seed bank so that we play our part towards food security,” Zadzamatura Seed house field manager, Talent Ndige.
The country is poised for a bumper harvest following the good rains received this season, and the local industry is burning midnight oil to ensure national development.
Meanwhile a €600,000 Isango Community Knowledge Hub has been commissioned in a joint initiative between Zimbabwe and France, aimed at supporting conservation programmes.
Located in the heart of Hwange National Park, the hub will serve as a centre for knowledge-driven conservation efforts, bringing together local communities, academics, civil society, and government agencies.
Officially opened to the public on Monday, the facility will facilitate research, training, and collaboration in wildlife conservation, benefiting both scholars and conservationists.
“This Hub will be important for all school children.
We are now doing heritage-based education and it will provide an important platform to research and complete our school projects,” Hwange Junior Member of Parliament, Honourable Andile Thabo Chitungwa said.
To the French and Zimbabwean governments representatives, the initiative is testimony to the power of working together to drive development.
