By Wendy Madzura, Head Agronomist

In Zimbabwe, Agriculture contributes between 15 to 18% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 60-70% of the population is dependent on agriculture for livelihoods and agriculture supplies 60% of the raw materials for the different industries. To top it all up Agriculture, through its crop production arm produces maize, the country’s staple food crop and in light of this farmers are implored on to work tirelessly to increase maize productivity for the attainment of food security at a national level and eventually produce surplus for exports. Farmers should  always strive to add value across the diverse agriculture value chain.

Seed Co contributes immensely to the agriculture productivity matrix by constantly developing “climate smart” varieties of seed across a wide spectrum of crops. In maize Seed Co’s wide product basket makes it possible for farmers across the diverse ecological regions (region 1 to region 5B) of Zimbabwe to effectively grow maize. Seed Co’s wide maize product basket consists of ultra-early maturity varieties in the 300 series, SC301 which is well suited for low rainfall areas  (regions 4 and 5) or short crop rotations. The next maturity group is the very early maturing varieties SC403 and SC402 that matures in 120 to 130 days followed by the early maturing varieties in the 500 series category were SC513 and SC529 which can be grown from regions 3, 4 and 5 or for short rotations. The medium maturity varieties in the 600 series category SC608, SC649 are top performing high yielding varieties suited for high rainfall areas (regions 6 and 7) and maize production under irrigation. To top them all Seed Co has Africa’s highest yielding late maturity 700 series varieties SC719 and SC727 (yields above 16t/ha) under optimum management. These drought tolerant varieties are suited for high rainfall areas (region 1 and region 2) or under irrigation.

The diversity of varieties in the Seed Co maize product basket shows that Seed Co strives to meet the needs of every farmer across the country and it is on this backbone that Seed Co launched new block buster varieties over the past 2 years. The new varieties launched spread across the different maturity groups thereby providing every farmer with a choice for silage, green mealies and grain production. In the 300 maturity group, SC 303 an ultra early maturity variety that has exceptional drought escape capabilities and can mature within 90 to 110 days. The varieties launched in the very early maturity group are SC 419 and SC437, these varieties were launched 2021 and 2022 Rattray Arnold Annual field days respectively.  In the early maturity group, Seed Co launched block buster varieties that have taken the market by storm especially SC 555 which has provided farmers with a drought tolerant yet high yielding (above 12t/ha) variety coupled with SC 547 the variety released in the 2022/23 farming season. Seed Co’s efforts to avail executive genetics has also resulted in the widening of the medium maturity varieties in the 600 series in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change while still producing high yields of above 14tonnes per hectare. The varieties released include SC661 a high yielding variety with good disease tolerance and an excellent stay green character, in addition SC657 an elastic variety with wide regional adaptation producing extra-large sized cobs was released. To top it all up, Seed Co released SC 659 a variety that has been widely adopted by both small scale and large scale commercial farmers owing to its high yields of above 14t/ha a high row number of above 16 rows. All of the new released varieties are endowed with a good tip cover and a high row number of above 14t/hectare. Seed Co varieties are suitable for silage owing to the bulky and leafy resulting in high silage yields and a stay green character which widens the silage cutting window. The varieties are also suitable for green mealies because of the extra-large cobs, deep seated kernels, a small cob and sweet taste. Farmers in frost free areas can establish these varieties during winter and farmers who establish green mealies soon after winter are encouraged to consider them.

Farmers are encouraged to incorporate these new flag ship varieties from Seed Co in their next cropping programs to increase crop productivity and profitability because farming is a business and Seed Co has a variety for every farmer and every cropping program in Zimbabwe.