By Nevison Mpofu
Seed Co, a leading African seed company, has launched a new wheat variety, SCW9104 with the company saying the variety is capable of delivering high yields while withstanding challenging climatic conditions.
The new variety was launched on Tuesday at Seed Co’s research station along Shamva Road, outside Harare.
SCW9104 is described as a climate-resilient variety suitable for different soil types and capable of performing under varying climatic conditions.
The variety has a reported yield potential of up to 10.5 tonnes of wheat per hectare.
Speaking at the launch, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the development of improved wheat varieties was important in supporting the production of high-quality flour.
Professor Jiri said there was a need to strengthen dialogue between farmers and millers to ensure that seed varieties being developed respond to the quality requirements of the milling industry.
“Let us bring together millers and farmers into a dialogue meant to bring forth good varieties in order for millers to produce quality flour for the nation,” he said.
He said Government’s role should primarily be to facilitate agricultural development and create an enabling environment for increased productivity.
“Government must not lead, but has the role to facilitate agricultural development, raise productivity per hectare through ideas such as irrigation development, come up with national food security strategies and preserve the seed industry,” Professor Jiri said.
Call to protect the seed industry
Professor Jiri also warned against the introduction of unapproved foreign or counterfeit seed varieties into Zimbabwe, describing the practice as a threat to the country’s agricultural sector.
“There must be no bringing in of alien seeds into the country. No to agro-terrorism, no to fake and alien seeds. There is no need to import seeds. All this is meant to protect the agricultural industry,” he said.
He said protecting the country’s seed industry was essential to strengthening food security and building resilience against climate-related shocks.
Professor Jiri also highlighted the importance of the Ministry’s six pillars of agriculture, which are designed to strengthen the country’s response to drought, food insecurity and other agricultural challenges.
The six pillars include enhanced strategic grain reserves to safeguard national food security, Climate-Smart Agriculture, an agricultural finance architecture to support growth and development, livestock feed to sustain animals during difficult periods, enhanced strategic food imports, and increased awareness and sensitisation on agricultural issues through strategic coordination, early warning systems and effective communication.
The launch of SCW9104 comes as Zimbabwe continues to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices and improved seed varieties as part of efforts to increase productivity and strengthen national food security.