Zimbabwe Seed Co tackles climate change

Zimbabwe Seed manufacturer Seed Co plans to boost the production of its new drought-tolerant and early maturing variety to help counter devastating effects of climate change. Speaking at a field day at the Rattray Arnold Research Station in Shamva, the company's managing director, Mr Dennis Zaranyika, said his organisation intended to increase the availability of the SC301 drought-tolerant and early maturing variety on the market this year as a response to the changing climatic conditions.

"Climate change is the major concern at the moment and we want our breeders to develop new drought- tolerant varieties that can meet the needs of farmers who are feeling the impact of climate change," he said.

"We have introduced a new seed type named SC301 which is drought tolerant and ultra early. This is the Seed Co solution to climate change crop stresses which is the shortening of seasons, heat, drought and diseases."

The new seed variety matures after 60 days, making it ideal for areas which have erratic rainfall.

SC301 trials showed that the crop could mature in two-and-half months in some areas and in others it took two months. Late rains and floods that affected most parts of Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa region late last year and early this year have subdued the overall food security situation in the region.

Agricultural experts say the food security situation in the region is expected to be less than satisfactory during the 2015/16 marketing season as a result of poor rains, dry spells in some areas and floods in others.