The Sunday Mail
From Emilia Zindi in Victoria Falls
Africa must prepare for possible food shortages that could be triggered by a growing global population and reduced crop production as a result of climate change, experts have warned.
The president of the International Seed Federation Mr Alvarro Eyzaguirre led calls for use of better seed varieties to boost food production at the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) congress in Victoria Falls last week.
Mr Eyzaguirre said it was the responsibility of seed companies to take a leading role in producing varieties suitable to Africa within the context of a current global population of seven billion and a projected one of up to 11 billion by 2050.
“Here we have got an even even greater challenge on our hands due to specific problems in this part of the world that include an over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture where 96 percent of crops are heavily dependent on climate, namely temperature and rainfall,” he said.
The Southern Africa region is faving a semi-drought in 2014/15 as rains started late and abruplty stopped at a critical time during the season, resulting in widespread wilting of crops.
Mr Ayzaguirre said warmer climates also facilitated larger pest populations, further threatening food security.
As such, he noted, it was imperative for Africa to develop seed varieties that could cope with the vagaries of the climate.
“The International Seed Federation wants to see the African seed industry rising. The truth is that this will not happen unless Africa can fed her own people. This is why the ISF wants to see good varieties bred locally. These may not necessarily be the highest yielding varieties, but it is stability and reliability that we advocate for Africa,” he said.
Mr Ayzaguirre said countries should focus on development of local seed breeding because imported varieties were not always available or compatible.
“We need to increase availability and access to seed with better plant breeding techniques as well as more capacity building. Again, we need to adopt a reasonable approach to regulation as well as ensuring our member countries implement regulations in line with guidelines to avoid creating an unnecessary burden for seed traders and to encourage the development of new varieties among other things,” he said.
He said the ISF would continue to support capacity building to help emerging markets create the infrastructure needed to enable them to reach performance levels found elsewhere in the world.
The congress, which ended on Thursday, drew seed companies from across the globe to Zimbabwe, with some exhibiting their newest and best varieties and also sharing knowledge.
While some spoke on the need for African countries to change their attitudes towards the use of GMO seeds, Zimbabwe remains firm on the need to stick to conventional production methods that do not endanger the environment and lives.
Zimbabwe’s seed industry is dominated by Seed Co, Pannar, Pioneer, Agri Seeds and Prime Seeds. Seed Co works closely with the world’s fourth-largest seed producer, French-based Limagrain.
Seed Co managing director Mr Denias Zaranyika, who is also vice-president of AFSTA, assured the nation that the company would remain focused improving varieties.
