BY FIDELITY MHLANGA
SEED CO southern Africa managing director Denias Zaranyika says his company is setting up a US$10 million seed drying facility to reduce post-harvest losses and enable farmers to utilise their land at least twice a year.
Addressing a media luncheon at the company’s Stapefold offices in Harare on Tuesday, Zaranyika said farmers have been losing a lot of seed during the drying process.
“There are massive benefits. We have been losing lots of seeds during the drying period and storage at the farms.
“The other benefit is that farmers will be able to utilise the same piece of land twice a year. If they harvest in January, the seed comes here and we put a winter crop. That’s a major benefit,” he said.
The company has set February next year as the target for completing the project.
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With agriculture as the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, Zaranyika said it was the role of his company, as the leading seed producer, to produce quality seeds to drive economic growth.
The company produces a wide variety of crop seeds, including early maturing and drought-tolerant seeds with guaranteed high yields.
Zaranyika said the company has also diversified into producing horticultural seeds with a view to help grow exports.