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Zimbabwe Super Seeds expand market

by BustopTV

By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu

Masvingo – Zimbabwe Super Seeds (ZSS) has extended its market and is now selling its products to countries in the region.

The company exported it’s first batch of maize to Namibia this month and hope of doubling the amounts.

The maize yielded by small holder farmers reached a total of 116metric-tonnes with the aim of reaching 300 metric- tones.

Despite Masvingo Province being a dry area, ZSS has managed to produce maize as farmers plant tolerant crops and small grains that match with the environment hence are not affected.

They also practice jermplasm which matches the drought and the excessive heat.

ZSS again delivered beans to Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia.

In an interview, ZSS Managing Director, Nelson Munyaka said they decided to export their seed to Namibia because of the higher demand there.

“As we grew as a company, it was one of our aims to export our seed to other countries so we decided to export our seed to Namibia because of the rate of demand and supply of our seed and we already have our buyers.

We are not limited to Namibia only, we are also looking for potential buyers in the region.
Besides the demand and supply rate, we saw that it was the only way we can generate forex and as a company it will help us with getting equipment we need in forex.

Exporting our seed will also see us get into the regional market and if we do, it will also improve our income as a company,” he said.

For their farmers, it will also increase income stability.

“Exporting is the best thing as our farmers will see themselves having income stability and get paid in forex which will be an advantage to them. Their produce will be bought in forex, which is a good thing as we are facing problems financially in our country.”

ZSS is aiming at broadening it’s market.

“As a company we want to grow business in terms of market and improved profitability due to our economic situation, so we are not facing any problems so far with our seed as we can grow our crops which are drought tolerant till they reach maturity,” Munyaka added.

ZSS was registered in 2012 with Seed Services Unit of the Department of Research and Specialist Services as a certifying agency.

It is a farmer owned organisation that was transformed from a Community Based Organization (CBO) to private registered company with the registrar of companies.

This company is the brain child of GRM International managed Seeds and Markets Project Team funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

ZSS deals with seeds like OPV Maize, hybrid maize, sugar beans, cowpeas, sorghum, groundnuts, and pearl millet.

The seed produced by farmers is distributed in all provinces in the country and it is produced in seven districts which are Zaka, Gutu, Bikita, Mwenezi, Mberengwa, Mutasa, Rusape and Masvingo with Zaka being the pilot district during the period 2010- 2013 while Gutu and Masvingo were added from 2013 – 2015 and Rusape and Mutasa were included in 2016.

In Bikita, Mberengwa and Mwenezi ZSS started operating in December 2017.

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