ARUSHA: THE government has tasked agricultural researchers to help farmers in selecting better seeds in agriculture that adapt climate change.
Copyright Seed Explorers Registrar from the Ministry of Agriculture, Twalibu Njohole said during a two-day seminar which brought together tomato and pepper seeds producers from several African countries here over the weekend that scientists should come up with well researched alternatives that will help farmers to adapt to climate change.
“The government has invested millions of shillings in public and private sectors, especially for the institutions dealing with seed researches because quality seed that can adapt climate change is the backbone of farmers,” said Njohole at the seminar held at the Centre for the Research and Development of Natural Vegetable Seeds and Fruits of the World Vegetable Centre (Worldveg) at Tengeru.
Mr Njohole also appreciated the efforts done by Worldveg for collecting genetic parasites of various vegetable seeds which are stored at the facility’s seedbank saying those seeds can remain active for about 100 years and will be benefiting the future generation.
On her part, Bertha Bagenyi, a pepper seed producer from the Rijk Zwaan Africa, a Kenyan private institution said that her institution strives to research on quality seed crops so that the farmer can make profit.
Another seed producer, Justin Rakotoarisaon Secretary General of the African Seed Trade Association from Ethiopia said that in order for African farmers to be successful in agriculture, must select the best quality seeds that can adapt climate change.
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