As climate volatility reshapes Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape, SeedCo Vegetables is leading a strategic response through innovation, resilience, and partnerships.
At its recent Vegetables Field Day, the company unveiled a portfolio of new crop varieties and technologies tailored to withstand emerging climate-induced challenges, signaling a forward-thinking approach that aligns with food security and agribusiness sustainability imperatives.
Addressing a cross-section of farmers, agronomists, development partners, and agribusiness stakeholders, SeedCo Vegetables General Manager, Mr. Patrick Mtandwa, outlined the growing threats to productivity posed by persistent rains and a surge in crop diseases. Among the most pressing issues are Black Rot in cauliflower, Purple Blotch in onions, Late Blight in tomatoes, and Alternaria in carrots, all of which have intensified due to abnormal rainfall patterns.
“These are not just biological threats, they represent real economic risks for farmers and real challenges for national food systems,” Mtandwa said. “Our focus is to equip the agricultural sector with resilient genetics and informed practices that secure productivity under pressure.”
The event showcased several high-performing varieties that had been planted during peak rainfall, a strategic demonstration of SeedCo’s commitment to science-led solutions. Among the highlights was Captino, a new covo variety with exceptional leaf size and longevity, poised to become a staple in Zimbabwe’s horticultural value chain. “Captino grows leaves up to half a metre and can be harvested for up to nine months. It’s a potential game-changer for local consumption and commercial returns,” said Mtandwa.
Two coded open-field tomato varieties were also introduced, representing next-generation breeding efforts backed by environmental data and local trials. In the company’s greenhouses, the Dreamliner F1 English cucumber, a variety noted for its extended size and export appeal drew considerable interest.
The Field Day extended beyond seed innovation to include knowledge transfer and ecosystem strengthening. SeedCo agronomists emphasized the strategic role of modern agronomic practices, while a range of exhibitors presented complementary inputs from precision irrigation systems and fertilizers to disease management solutions.
“Agronomy today is not a support service, it is a strategic pillar,” Mtandwa stressed. “For agriculture to thrive in the face of climate change, we must invest in people, data, and adaptive technologies.”
As SeedCo Vegetables marks 85 years of agricultural innovation under its “Keep Growing” banner, its message to stakeholders local and international is clear: Zimbabwe’s agricultural future will be shaped by resilience, partnerships, and investment in climate-smart solutions.