By Wallace Mawire
Seed Co Group Limited, the African Seed Company is intensifying its research and breeding investments in the Southern Africa region to drive growth with a major focus on expanded breeding capacity in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, according to Morgan Nzwere, Seed Co Group CEO.
Nzwere made the remarks in a recent presentation of the company’s audited full year results for the year ending 31 March 2026 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Nzwere said the company in its research and development is focusing on a strong pipeline across climate adaptive crops with a strong pipeline on maize both White and yellow, wheat, soybean, sorghum and rice which are reported to be in active development, a robust Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio underpinning speed-to-market and new material with improved cob-rot tolerance.
The research and development is also focusing on disease tolerance and trait advancement with focus areas on Cob Rot, Fall Armyworm, Maize Streak Virus and Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MNLD) prevention.
The company’s Limagrain partnership in South Africa is also supporting trait advancement.
Nzwere said that in the company’s varieties pipeline expansion by regional market, it has introduced a white maize varieties SC449 and SC561 in Zambia with a new portfolio renewal.
In Nigeria a new variety SC681 has been introduced for the West Africa expansion initiatives.
The company is also introduced yellow maize variety SC614 and SC710 in Zambia growing yellow maize as a new segment.
In Zimbabwe a new maize variety SC522 has also been introduced to address the market gap.
In Nigeria a new rice variety SC xP107 key segment has been introduced in West Africa.
In Kenya a new soyabean variety SC SZ01 has been introduced as a new market development growth.
In Zimbabwe white wheat has been introduced as a commercial launch to address growing demand for white wheat and to avoid imports, according to Nzwere.
He outlined that Seed Co Group has scored some successes in its production and processing initiatives with continued investment in supply chain infrastructure, grower-base widening and mechanization.
Some of the successes include commissioning of a colour sorter in Zimbabwe, Seventy percent of the group’s production now being under irrigation.
Malawi is reported to have achieved a 40% irrigation adoption level.
Seed Co Group also reports that Zimbabwe has achieved improved artificial-drier efficiency.
Also in Tanzania a seed processing factory has been commissioned.
Seed Co Group Limited is also planning to commission a new depot warehouse facilities in September
2026.
However, the Seed Co group also reports that despite some progresses being made in boosting production in the region, they are facing some challenges which include regional supply chain constraints which are slowing progress in meeting demand, climatic volatility with a super El Niño having been forecast for the Southern Africa region for the forthcoming 2026/27 season.
Some of the challenges include which the Seed Co say are impacting on regional growth include limited grower network in some markets.
To mitigate some of the challenges, Nzwere said that the group will focus on supply chain investments, regional diversity targeting the East Africa which they say is likely to receive better rains and mixing variety placement in the market.
Key focus areas to enhance production and processing outlined by Nzwere include ramping up supply chain infrastructure and processes through establishing new —factories, warehousing, supporting irrigation development for growers and establishing modular seed driers.
The group will also enhance operational excellence in demand planning, inventory and
execution discipline including facilitating early processing and production readiness for the forthcoming 2026/2027 season.
On regional volume performance, Nzwere said that regional volumes were relatively flat at 46,836 Metric Tonnes (MT) , 46,317 MT for the year 2025, with maize contributing 93% of volume and 91% for the year 2025. Soyabean contributed 3% and wheat 2%.
Nzwere said mature markets include Zambia, Malawi and Botswana which he said contributed 50% of volume for the year 2026.
Growing regional markets which he outlined include Tanzania and Kenya contributing 40%.
He said developing markets are Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 9% contribution.
Nzwere said that 92% of volume was sold on the open market and only 8% through government channels.
He added that pricing and product mix drove revenue growth.
On regional revenue and volume contribution, Nzwere said their mature markets include Zambia, Malawi and Botswana with growing markets in Tanzania and Kenya.
He said Tanzania leading in growth with a new factory having been commissioned two months ago.
The new factory is reported to have been commissioned near Lake Victoria close to Arusha.
Nzwere said is undergoing trial runs for the growing Tanzania market and will enhance seed processing in that region.
The group says that the seed market is developing in Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia and the DRC.
However,Nzwere expressed concern on the new Ebola virus strain which he said could affect the DRC market.
On Zimbabwe’s volume performance, Nzwere said that the country’s volumes declined 40% year-on-year to 18,264 MT with 30,037MT for the year 2025 as deliberate credit risk management favoured cash and fast collectable sales.
He said the open market channels were 7,454MT which constituted 41% contribution and 10% growth and maize alone grew 19%) public 4,410MT 24% share but 66% below previous year and exports 6,220MT with 34% share and 40% down from the previous year.
In Zimbabwe maize contributed 56% and wheat and barley 9% of revenue and 35% other crops comprising soya, sorghum and sunflower.
Nzwere said in Zimbabwe the group’s own retail footprint expanded to 21 own points of sale across the country expanding to drive direct cash sales.
He said that they are planning to expand the own retail network in Zimbabwe.
To drive regional growth the Seed Co group, according to Nzwere is hoping to enhance supply chain investments in Tanzania and Zambia, improve security in Ethiopia and focus on food security.
He said that the East Africa counter-cycle is expected to produce better rains with elections in Zambia expected to spur demand.
Nzwere said they hope to expand seed production and research capability in the region with early sales in Mozambique and direct cash sales through own retail shops in Malawi and Zimbabwe.
He also said the group is pleased with the white wheat uptake in Zimbabwe and enhanced weather-based planting advisory including grower capacitation in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and
Tanzania, including on-farm driers and irrigation development for contracted growers.
