For Seed Co agricultural diversification is one of the essential components to attaining food security and economic growth.

This is among the many reasons why the seed company focuses on improving traditional agriculture into a dynamic commercial sector by shifting the traditional agriculture products to high standard products that have a high potential in stimulating production rate.

Among its many improved vegetable varieties is the Ultra F1 Butternut variety. Butternuts also known (cucurbitaMoschata) are a tropical squash from the cucurbitaceae family and are an emerging economic crop with a ready market and an alternative choice for pumpkin lovers’ that is of high nutritional value.

The Seedco Ultra F1is a hybrid butternut that is not only an excellent source of vitamin A and C but also has a very good yield advantage with a probability of one harvesting 60 to 90 tons a hectare this variety weighs around 2.8 to 6 kg and is very vigorous in terms of growth.

This variety has a dark orange interior can be harvested between 80-90 days however, in hot areas maturity is shorter leading to the crop being harvested within 75 days, this therefore, is an indication that maturity depends on the weather conditions.

The Ultra F1butternut is tolerant to diseases such as powdery mildew, although generally Butternuts are significantly more resistant to diseases than other cucurbits and if they become infected the symptoms are less severe.

Fruit flies however, are a common pest that attack butternuts in hot weather environments and often cause abortion of the flowers, it is advised that you therefore, use water bottles containing pheromones to attract the male flies to crop in and suffocate. The plant thrives in temperatures between 18 to 25 degrees anything below that is not ideal for growing butternuts.

Therefore, it is recommended that butternuts are planted in warm Crop Diversification Key to Attaining Food Security seasons if a farmer is to expect a good harvest.

Award winning Author, of the 3rd African Authors 2020 Awards and Seedco Head of vegetable business.

Eric K. Mwenda urges’ farmers to regard the warm weather as the best time to venture into butternut production and ensure their soil is kept moist by watering the butternuts every few days. Seedco agronomists are centered all over the country and continue to provide technical supports.