The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
The production of certified seed has largely been the domain of large-scale commercial farmers.
A number of factors, chiefly among them the stringent production requirements and a lack of technical knowhow, made it almost impossible for communal farmers to commercially produce certified seed.
Certified seed production has, over the years, been considered a high risk undertaking by small-scale farmers, who lack both the human and financial capital to produce quality seed.
The number of small-scale farmers that are, however, turning to seed production is gradually increasing.
Stakeholders attribute the increase to the efforts that are being made by both the Government and private players to encourage communal farmers to produce certified seed.
The production of seed boost the farmers’ earnings, enhancing their livelihoods in the process.
Luckson Mukaro (37), of Village 21, Chavarove in Gutu, is one of the many communal farmers who ventured into seed maize production.
A field day, which was attended by stakeholders in the agriculture sector, among them agronomists, extension officers and seed companies was held at his homestead.
Mukaro, who was contracted by Zimbabwe Super Seeds, a seed producing company, regrets spending time in Harare where he worked for many years as an electrician.
“I regret wasting my time in Harare. Had I ventured into seed maize production, I would have been somewhere by now,” Mukaro said.
Before switching to seed maize, Mukaro used to grow the usual maize grain. This is the second year that Mukaro has produced seed maize.
From his one-and-half hectare plot, he is expecting to harvest more than four tonnes of seed maize.
Mukaro said contrary to what many people believe, small-scale farmers are capable of producing quality certified seed.
“Some farmers think that one needs a lot of money to venture into seed production. In my case, I use draught power, organic fertilisers and herbicides. Seed production is not as complicated as others think,” Mukaro said.
At a time when farmers were being paid RTGS$390 per tonne for maize grain, Mukaro was last year paid RTGS$700 per tonne for seed maize.
Apart from building a decent house and buying household goods, Mukaro also bought a truck from the profits that he realised after selling seed maize.
Mr Tawanda Nguruve, a seed health inspector with the Department of Research, (Seed Services), in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement explained the role being played by the department in the seed production chain.
“Our work is to monitor the production of seed maize in the country. We inspect seed plots and seed producing companies so that we make sure the laid standards are adhered to,” Mr Nguruve said.
The Department also capacitate smallholder farmers by giving them the technical support that is needed for farmers to profitably produce seed.
He advised farmers to carefully select seed varieties and to buy them from licenced dealers.
“We have a lot of fake seed that is being sold. When a farmer is buying seed he/must look and see whether the seed is certified. Such factors as the germination percentage and licenced agro-dealers must also be looked into,” added Mr Nguruve.
Seed producers follow strict certification procedures and the Seed Act (Chapter 19:13) and the Seed Regulations and Seed (Certification Scheme) notice, compels farmers to adhere to set procedures.
Mr William Chifamba, the Zimbabwe Super Seeds marketing manager, encouraged small-scale farmers to partake in seed production.
“As you have seen, seed production is lucrative. I remember when the host farmer decided to produce seed, he did not have much in terms of assets. Now if you look at him, things have changed as he is now a proud owner of a truck and other household goods,” Mr Chifamba said.
For farmers, seed is among the most expensive inputs. But the coming in of new players in the seed industry will likely result in the reduction in the price of seed.
