Faith Mhandu
The Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (Sirdc) has come up with its first drought-tolerant seed maize as it strives to curb the effects of climate change.

The new maize seed variety takes 136 days to mature, yields at least three tonnes per hectare and can survive with very little rainfall, revealed Sirdc public relations executive Mrs Tarisai Zvoma last week.

“It took us six years to come up with the variety and we are pleased with the result.
“This is an achievement, especially for the country as we are experiencing perennial droughts in some areas due to climate change effects,” she said.
“The seed maize, branded Sirdcmaize 113 hybrid, is resistant to leaf rust and phosphoric leaf spot. Mrs Zvoma disclosed that besides thriving under dry conditions, the new seed maize also responds to well-watered areas.

“It extremely yields well under well-watered conditions with the yield ranging between six to nine tonnes per hectare. Our results were also verified by Agriculture Research Trust Farm, an entity with internationally recog­nised variety evaluation competence.

“Sirdc also conducted field trials under managed drought conditions at Chiredzi Research Station and Arda Muzarabani during winter seasons from 2004-2008,” she said.
Seed companies such as Seedco and Pioneer, among others, have over the years come up with short season variety seeds.
Sirdc was established in 1993 through an Act of Parliament with a mandate to provide technological solutions for sustainable devel­opment.