Malawi Farmers Urged to Adopt Early Maturing Seed Varieties
Adopting drought-tolerant early maturing seed varieties is seen as one strategy to improve households' food and income security.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi— Farmers in Malawi's Shire Valley district of Chikwawa have been encouraged to grow new early maturing seed varieties suited to the region's ecology to boost food security, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
Seed company Seedco launched three such varieties - Kanyani maize, Mbidzi groundnuts and Mkango rice - at a demonstration event Tuesday in Livunzu Extension Planning Area.
Waddington Lipenga, Seedco's regional sales manager for the south, said the new seeds mature in just 90 to 120 days but offer high yields and tolerance to diseases and drought.
"These varieties are suitable to the ecological zone around Livunzu EPA," Lipenga said.
"Kanyani matures in 90 days, Mbidzi takes 120 days and Mkango 115 days."
He added that Seedco products are used in 80% of extension areas across Malawi's southern region.
Bizwick Chabwera, Livunzu's agricultural extension development coordinator, praised the seed demonstration, saying the new fast-maturing varieties are performing well in local farmer plots and gardens.
"The seeds are disease and drought tolerant and have high yields," Chabwera said, urging communities to adopt the early maturing crops.
Despite a dry spell, lead farmer Gift Njobvu said growers have managed a decent harvest with the seeds. However, he appealed for Seedco to increase distribution points to improve access.
"Seedco should consider supplying their seeds in most shops so that farmers can access them easily in the area," Njobvu stated.
Chikwawa and other districts in Malawi's Shire Valley experience frequent dry spells and droughts.
Adopting drought-tolerant early maturing seed varieties is seen as one strategy to improve households' food and income security.
Seedco says it works extensively with Malawi's public agriculture research agencies to breed seed varieties suited to different agro-ecological zones and resilient against climate stresses.