Government has introduced a new statutory instrument compelling all seed houses to produce maize seed varieties treated with anti–fall armyworm chemicals, as authorities step up efforts to shield farmers from the destructive pest ahead of the summer cropping season.
The development comes as one of the country’s major seed producers upgrades its processing infrastructure, installing modern sorting technology and advanced drying systems designed to improve seed quality and speed up production.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka toured Seed-Co yesterday to assess maize seed production and check compliance with the new policy requiring anti–fall armyworm-treated seed.
“We are happy that the biggest seed house has upgraded its processing facilities. After commissioning the dryers, they installed a state-of-the-art sorting system, meaning they are moving with technology of major interest. We also wanted to confirm the application of the new statutory instrument, which calls for all seed houses to treat seed with chemicals to protect maize against fall armyworm. We directed them to start with seed for the Presidential Inputs Programme to cushion our smallholder farmers from this devastating pest,” he said.
Seed-Co Managing Director, Felistus Gurajena assured the nation that the company is fully prepared for the upcoming summer cropping season.
“We are happy to welcome the Minister of Agriculture. It is a good gesture for the Government to appreciate our seed house capacity. We have installed new sorting facilities that select quality seeds. We have dryers, so our farmers no longer wait to dry in the fields we dry it ourselves, which speeds up processing. We have adequate seed for the season,” she said.
With climate change continuing to affect agricultural production, the country’s seed houses have also adopted climate-smart strategies and are rolling out drought-tolerant hybrid varieties that will be distributed this season.
