Valley Seeds, one of Zimbabwe’s largest seed breeders, has secured a new five-year transformative international partnership with a global seed technology giant to continue producing high-quality seed, entrenching its position as an industry leader and fortifying national food security.
This marks a major milestone for Valley Seeds, a major participant in Government-sponsored input schemes and Zimbabwe’s official producer of leading seed brands, Pioneer and Pannar.
The new contract with the unnamed leading global seed technology company is more than just a partnership renewal; it is an expansion of the company’s technological “toolbox.”
Officials confirmed the new partnership deal, but would not disclose the name of the global seed company to avoid breaching confidentiality clauses.
While Valley Seeds will continue producing trusted maize hybrids like PAN53, PAN7M-81, P3506W and PHB30G19 in Zimbabwe, the agreement is a pipeline for global innovation, opening the door towards a new generation of maize and wheat varieties.
Crucially, the agreement empowers Valley Seeds to selectively license high-performance varieties from a diverse range of international developers, creating a robust, multi-brand ecosystem designed to meet the specific climate and productivity needs of the Zimbabwean landscape.
Managing director, Mr Aluis Chareka, confirmed development, noting the international synergy allows the company to cater for a much broader range of farming needs across the country.
“With the combination of favourable weather conditions and a solidified partnership, Valley Seeds is poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing food production,” says Mr Chareka.
By integrating global genetics with local expertise, Valley Seeds ensures that the Zimbabwean farmer has access to the same calibre of innovation found in the world’s leading agricultural markets.
To maintain its uncompromising commitment to quality, Valley Seeds has made significant investments in its local infrastructure, such as the recently constructed capital – intensive seed preservation hub in Juru to enhance seed preservation, protection and scientific precision.
Furthermore, a state-of-the-art facility was commissioned in Ruwa to focus on the growing demand for climate-resilient small grains.
Beyond seeds, the company is strengthening the sector by developing a stock feed manufacturing plant and supporting the horticultural trajectory through increased vegetable seed production.
This strategic partnership also bolsters Valley Seeds’ commitment to crop diversification, which is critical for national food sovereignty.
In line with this, the company has introduced new wheat varieties, namely Limpopo and Zambezi, which have already proven their worth for the Zimbabwean bread production sector.
The company’s expansion into traditional grains such as sorghum, African Pea and millet, as well as continued cotton production through its ownership of Southern Cotton Private Limited, aligns with national goals to expand rural industrialisation and value addition.
With production at manufacturing plants progressing well, commercial director Tich Mapongah emphasises that the company is fully geared to meet local market demands.
By leveraging 30 years of climate and topography data, Valley Seeds is “localising” international science to ensure that every seed is optimised for Zimbabwe’s unique environment.-herald
