Seed Co Ltd. has developed nearly 70 seed varieties over the past three decades, making it one of the key contributors to the development of agriculture in Zimbabwe.

More than 30 hybrid maize varieties have been developed during this period, says managing director Mr Dennis Zaranyika while 16 soyabean and the same number of wheat varieties have also been put on the market. It can take up to 12 years for new maize hybrid varieties to be released. SeedCo also recently released a wheat variety called Sahai.

The Sahai is a rain-fed summer wheat crop that farmers have been exhorted to grow instead of waiting for winter crop that consumes more money through high electricity and water bills. Mr Zaranyika indicated the group would strive to develop world-class quality seed, and enhance Seed Co's reputation in the market.

Over the years, Seed Co has also undertaken intensive farmer-education programmes to increase production while it has attempted to address problems of diseases such as the grey leaf spot, maize streak, red leaf blotch for soyabean and leaf and stem rust for wheat. "Our past and current breeding focus is on yield, adaptation, tolera nce (to diseases), quality (protein in wheat and soyabean) and lodging," said Mr Zaranyika.

In the immediate future, Seed Co has targeted the release of an ultra early maize variety, which could take 90 days to maturity in addition to the release of a high-protein maize variety. The firm also intends to breed a high-nutrition and health-enhancing soyabean to be consumed as vegetable or dry beans; rust-resistant soyabean variety and the release of a strong dough wheat that can function as an import substitute.

Mr Zaranyika said his company's major thrust was on improving grower and farmer yields, as well as producing enough seed for the country with a view to creating a surplus for the export market. But lack of adequate land for "own seed production"; weak viability for seed production; insufficient inputs for seed producers as well as lack of grower resources such as irrigation and farm implements stand as the major obstacles to the company's vision.

Seed Co has a strong bree ding team at its Rattray Arnold Research Station north of Harare that continuously releases hybrids that are high yielding and tolerant to major diseases. Originally, all breeding was done by Government but in 1970 the then Seed Maize Association members purchased Rattray to provide an extended breeding site for Government and to commence breeding programmes themselves. Currently, Seed Co has breeding programmes in maize, soyabeans, wheat, beans and groundnuts. Screening of other crops such as sorghum, millet, sunflower, cowpeas and beans to establish local adaptability is also being researched.