The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Farming Reporter
MUKUSHI Seeds Zimbabwe says it will continue to enhance the productivity and profitability of farmers so that they are able to realise good yields in their farming through the various varieties they offer.
Driven by the motto “Magona marima/ Kuhle lilimile,” Mukushi Seeds marketing manager, Mr Daniel Ruponga said they are committed to enhancing the capacity of farmers to produce consistently high yields from good seed.
“We sell the highest quality seed of the best available maize varieties. We complement this with advanced agronomic services so that our seed will be grown with optimal field management to achieve best results each season. Our varieties range from late maturity which is adaptable mostly in irrigated areas or rain fed areas such as region 1 and 2 we have got Mukwa a hybrid type. For medium maturity there is Mutsa, Maka and Mama. While for early maturity we have offer Manjanja,” said Mr Ruponga.
He said their varieties were well capable and well adaptive in every region in Zimbabwe and they had also introduced a hybrid series of orange maize that was a medium variety with ZF500, ZS244 and ZS500. Mr Ruponga said their varieties are usually specifically favoured by various organisations and clients organisations such as orphanages and schools among others.
“We have got a unique variety called Mama which is a good variety that is quality protein maize. It has got more protein diet and it is a multi-purpose hybrid for family consumption or feed for poultry and pigs.”
Mr Ruponga said Mukushi Seeds will achieve its vision by working diligently to market quality seed of excellent maize, small grain and legume varieties that will meet farmers’ needs for profitable food and feed production in Africa. He said they also provide agronomic services to farmers so they may achieve the potential contained in their seeds. They also produce, process and package seed that meets or exceeds the quality expected by farmers.
“Our vision is also to maintain an efficient and people-appreciating work and network environment. Through steward financial resources to achieve sustainable profit while not forgetting the poor, we ensure that the business is run ethically, with conformity to Biblical standards and acknowledgement of God’s grace and providence,” added Mr Ruponga.
He also noted that they were not only mostly focused on maize but they also had other products such as beans, sorghum, pearl millet, sunflower and groundnuts among others.
“We are committed to research, including plant breeding, agronomic and seed research, in order to develop seed of the best varieties for farmers and provide the best information to enable farmers to achieve optimum productivity with best practices. We do not use Genetically Modified Organisms, and are against their introduction and use in crop farming.”
Over the years, the company has continued to make conservation agriculture part of farmers’ farming operation so that they maintain drainage contours, plant across the slope and keep residues on the field. They encourage farmers to reduce tillage where possible because ploughing and discing destroys valuable soil fertility, organic matter and soil structure, and increases erosion and water loss.
