SEED Co Limited says it will continue to enhance its thrust on innovation, breeding climate-smart products to catch up with the demands of the ever-changing weather conditions.

The seed-producing entity has significantly invested in research and development mainly at the Kadoma, Muzarabani, Shamva, and Stapleford research stations.

Shamva and Stapleford stations are dedicated to disease resistance and yield while the Muzarabani and Kadoma focus on breeding climate-smart varieties that can withstand drought and extreme weather conditions.

According to Seed Co, strides have been made in making a product basket with different maturity ranges, mainly enhancing the 400 series (Tsoko) going down to 301 series (Tsuro), varieties that are specific for drought conditions and can withstand extreme weather conditions.

The 301 and 303 series were well received in the market in the prior season as farmers sought varieties that could resist the El Nino induced drought.

Seed Co’s Research and Development department efforts are now directed towards coming up with the 200 series which is likely to be introduced in due course.

On the vegetables side, Seed Co is working on varieties that are suitable for the ever-changing climatic conditions.

The vegetable department has mainly been focusing on breeding crops that are disease resistant, marketable, enhanced taste, storable, and uniform in size of fruit.

All these attributes are very important for the end market.