SADC seed crop systems enhanced through collaboration with SDC

By Wallace Mawire

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) seed crop systems
have been enhanced with support of the Swiss Development Cooperation
(SDC) in the region.

According to Ruth Huber, Ambassador of Switzerland in Harare, the
Swiss government approved a new five year development strategy until
2022 for the SDC.

It is reported that under the new strategy, the regional SDC office
in Harare will continue to support development projects in the
Southern Africa region with a focus on Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi,
Lesotho and Swaziland.

“These regional development projects also benefit to an important
extent the people and institutions in the region in areas such as the
prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and the promotion of food
security for example through the production of seeds and the
development of seeds systems and small irrigation projects,” Huber
said.

Switzerland is also supporting smallholder farmers with several
projects focusing on harmonised seed laws to facilitate cross-border
exchanges, better access to markets, improved seed quality and
adaptation to climate change.