George Maponga in MASVINGO
About 250 smallholder farmers at Fuve-Panganai irrigation scheme in Nhema communal lands in Zaka are set to rake in tens of thousands of dollars from exporting over 100 tonnes of hybrid maize and sugar beans seed to countries in the Sadc region this year. The plot-holders have, over the past three years, been producing hybrid seed known as Zaka Super under a pilot project supported by the Swiss Development Corporation.

Since 2012, they have produced 180 tonnes of hybrid maize, sugar beans and cow peas seed at their Fuve-Panganai plant in Nhema.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for Cropping Cde Davis Marapira yesterday said packaging of seed produced this year was already underway at Fuve-Panganai.

Cde Marapira said the hybrid seed would be exported to Zambia, Swaziland and Malawi where it was already becoming popular in most rural communities.

“The reason why the Zaka Super hybrid seed is being exported is because the project is meant to be an example to other communities in the Sadc region. We are very happy as Government with the increase in hybrid seed production at Fuve-Panganai over last three years,’’ he said.

He said Government wanted to support seed producers at Fuve-Panganai so that they could also supply the local market with small grains hybrid seed.

“We have a serious shortage of sorghum, millet and rapoko seed in Zimbabwe with only about 20 percent of the required seed available. We are happy that Zaka Super seed breeders have the capacity to produce the seed if given the necessary support by Government,’’ he added.

Cde Marapira said Zaka Super hybrid maize seed was being exported because Zimbabwe had enough seed.
The Swiss Development Corporation recently donated a truck to Fuve-Panganai plot-holders to enable them to transport their hybrid sugar beans and cow peas seed to the local market where it is slowly gaining a foothold.

Hybrid seed breeding at Fuve-Panganai is done on 402 hectares that are under irrigation in the arid Zaka district.
The irrigation scheme is the lifeblood of the perennially drought-choked district and water is drawn from Siya Dam which bisects Bikita and Zaka districts.

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