The US $13 million maize seed conditioning plant from SEED Co Limited commissioned in Zimbabwe by President Mnangagwa, is set to enhance the group’s seed maize supply capacity for both local and regional markets as the facility contributes to quick turnaround of production and productivity.
According to the group, the seed maize plant, whose installation started in 2019, has the ability to double cropping per unit area as well as produce early ensuring harvest crop. Mr David Long, the company’s chairman, said the seed maize conditioning plant would also result in a massive turnaround of agriculture in the country.
“The quality of seed maize has improved through elimination of pest challenges as seed maize harvesting can be done at 35% moisture content while the cost of producing seed will be reduced since other processes of harvesting are eliminated,” he said.
Double cropping
In 2019, Seed Co embarked on a project to install the drier plant, and the project would be done in four phases, the first of which would have the capacity for 5 000 tonnes of seed maize per season. Mr David said the technical commissioning of the plant was completed in June this year, and the project was completed for US $13 million with over 60% of the project cost benefiting local contractors and suppliers.
The new plant would start to process seed that will be harvested in February 2022, as the company already had enough dried seed in stock. It has capacity to open up land for double cropping, thereby ensuring increased crop range for farmers.
“We have enough seeds for the upcoming season. This plant, because we had already dried all the seed, it will start to dry seed that we will harvest in February, 2022, because the seed we will start to sell in September is already dried,” said Mr Morgan Nzwere, the group’s chief executive officer.
