‘SEED RESEARCH IMPORTANT FOR FOOD SECURITY’

SEED research, development, adaptation, as well as investing in resilient agricultural practices is important to ensure there is food security and the economy is improved, Grassroot Trust Agriculture advisor Sebastian Scott has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Scott said the rain-fed wheat produced by the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) was a positive sign that Zambia had experts capable of driving the agricultural sector forward and increasing food production levels.

He said seeds played a critical role in the production of crops grown as they also determined the yields to be produced.

“We acknowledge the efforts that ZARI is putting in and finding solutions for the current challenges faced by the country’s seed sector. Seeds are the basic commodity in agriculture and they determine the positive or negative direction of agriculture. Therefore, we need more seed research companies like ZARI so that farmers also avoid recycling seeds,” Mr. Scott said.

He said the use of high-quality seeds was one of the most important elements in increasing agricultural production in any farming system.

“Given the importance of seeds to food security, seeds are a fundamental component of all crop and forage production. Additionally, seeds are essential to the survival plans used by farming communities countrywide,” he said.

He further acknowledged ZARI’s role in preserving and producing quality seeds, which had become increasingly important due to the changing requirements caused by climate crises and the need for seeds that could withstand adverse conditions.

He said in 2022, ZARI produced medium varieties of maize seeds that were tolerant to army worms, which were known to avert severe economic and environmental challenges adding that there is a need for the Government to invest more resources through ZARI to enhance research and development of early maturing seeds that were specifically tolerant to army worms as this was crucial in preventing the devastation of food security and the economy of the country.

“We also urge the farmers to divert from monoculture and embrace crop diversification to avoid complete losses of crops due to pests which could increase poverty levels among them,” he said.

He also noted the importance of farmers planting crops that were resilient to climate change and tolerant to pest attacks.

“This diversification can serve as a safeguard against potential risks and contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.