3.0 OutcomeThe "Seed Initiative" was launched in March 2000 by SPGRC and CTDT in order to support co-ordinated efforts to restore a sustainable agriculture after the flood disaster in the Southern African Region, with the immediate survey being part of this initiative.
Almost at the same time the above mentioned inquiries were being send out to the different stakeholders in the region, a similar survey was undertaken by another body, approaching the same organisations and people. Besides the fact that this "Seed Initiative" survey was conducted at short term, the unfortunate duplication of efforts was possibly also affecting the turnout and thus affected the results.
Therefore, at the moment the information included in this report are obtained from one country: Zambia. For information on other countries of the region we refer to a complementary study of the SADC-Food Security Unit/GTZ.
The information in this report is presented in summary form in terms of total quantities available and expected to be harvested per crop in Zambia (Table 1), seed quantities available with each seed company/agency for each crop (Table 2) and details of seed stock situation for each crop (Table 3).
Table 1. Seed Stocks Available in Zambia and Quantities expected to be Harvested during the 1999/2000 Season
Crop Stocks Available (MTs) Stocks Expected to
be Harvested (MTs)Maize 6,528.43 3,056.8 Sorghum 30.33 36.54 Pearl millet 1.63 00 Groundnut 1.03 62.8 Beans 29.5 9.0 Cowpea 11.61 11.85
Table 2. Seed Stocks Available with different seed agencies for each crop
Seed Agency Maize
(MTs)Sorghum
(MTs)Pearl
millet
(MTs)Cowpea
(MTs)Groundnut
(MTs)Beans
(MTs)Zamseed 26.0 30.16 0.0 11.36 0.0 0.0 SeedCo Zambia 412.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.03 29.5 MRI 630 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Sempro (Pannar) 6000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 PAM (NGO) 26.93 0.17 1.64 0.25 0.0 0.0
The yield potential of the maize varieties given in this report is 4-6 tonnes per hectare for early maturing varieties, 6-8 tonnes per hectare for medium maturity varieties and more than 10tonnes per hectare for late maturing varieties. Varieties classified as early are expected mature within the 100-115 days period, those which are medium within 125-140days and late varieties within 140-150 days Based on the average seed rates for each crop the available seed from Zambia could be provided for the following hectarage:
Crop Hectarage Maize 261,137 Sorghum 2,022 P/millet 164 G/nut 17 Beans 492 Cowpea 580 The expected seed stocks that are expected to be harvested for maize during the 1999/2000 season could be much more than as one of the seed company did not indicate the expected seed quantities that is expected. The experience of the seed companies is that they always have some carryover seed especially for maize.
Conditions in some parts of the country allow for winter seed production, especially for maize. Some seed companies, in particular, Zamseed have the capacity to produce seed for most of these crops if required.