INCREASED USE, PROMOTION OF HYBRID SEEDS IN ZAMBIA THREATENS PRESERVATION OF INDIGENOUS SEEDS VARIETIES.

A FARMERS ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR  COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS SEEDS VARIETIES AGAINST EXTINCTION. 


By Alfonso Kasongo 

A farmers association in Zambia has expressed concern over the rate at which the local seed is facing extinction in the country because of the increased use and supply of hybrid seeds.

Farmers Association of Zambia (FAZam) has observed the increased promotion of hybrid seed and supply of such seeds under Farmers Input Support Programme-FISP among others continue to threaten the preservation of local seed varieties.

FAZam President Judy Ng'umbi ovserves that working in isolation among key  agriculture stakeholders to protect indigenous seeds especially those of strategic value continues to derail the fight to counter increased use of hybrid seeds in the country. 



The Association President,therefore, has challenged the agriculture stakeholders in the country to work in collaboration in orders to counter offer the hybrid seeds in an effort to preserve the local seed varieties, mostly important, those with strategic and nutrition values. 

Ms Ng'umbi notes with fear that the country's local seed Sector is under sever attack reiterating the need for stakeholders to consolidate their collaborations in an effort to fight for the preservation of the local seed varieties.

Ms Ng'umbi adds that multi-national hybrid seed companies are big saying the effort to counter offer  the market with indigenous seeds can not be overemphasised. 

She has since reaffirmed her Association's commitment to engaging various Agriculture stakeholder to rise to the challenge of fighting for the preservation of the local seed Sector.

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