SeedCo navigates El Nino challenges
SeedCo faces a double blow as El Niño’s erratic weather patterns and reduced Government orders have led to a decline in seed sales for the country’s leading seed breeder.
The company reported a decrease in sales, attributing it to both a projected poor rainy season and a reduction in Government orders for state-funded agricultural programmes, managing director Terrence Chimanya told journalist during a media interactive event.
The decline comes amidst broader concerns about food security in Zimbabwe, with El Niño’s impact threatening crop yields and potentially pushing food prices upward.
Citing regulations from the stock exchange prohibiting disclosure of certain information during a closed period, Chimanya declined to provide specific figures on the decline in seed sales.
The 2023/24 rainy season has been marked by unpredictable weather patterns, a hallmark of El Niño. November saw widespread dryness, followed by periods of intense rainfall in December. The fluctuations have created uncertainty for farmers, impacting their planting decisions and seed purchases.
Adding to the challenges, SeedCo has seen a decline in Government orders for state-funded agricultural programmes.
The programmes typically play a crucial role in supporting small-scale farmers and promoting food security.
Despite the challenges, SeedCo is set to launch two new climate-resilient seed varieties – SC665, a medium maize hybrid, and SCXH102, a sorghum variety.
The new offerings are designed to be more tolerant of drought and heat stress, offering hope for farmers navigating the uncertainties of drier conductions.
SeedCo has been investing in research and development to create climate-smart varieties.
The climate smart seed varieties are specifically bred to be more tolerant of drought, heat stress and other climate extremes, helping farmers adapt to changing conditions.
By offering improved resistance and potentially higher yields, the varieties can help farmers maintain or even increase their production despite the challenges of climate change.
As the harvest season approaches, Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector and food security remain under a cloud of uncertainty.-ebusinessweekly
