There are expectations that farmers who are part of the Seed Systems Project which is being implemented by LUANAR will have access to quality, improved, and preferred seed varieties as the project enters its 3rd Phase.

The project, which is funded by the McKnight Foundation, will in this phase strengthen farmer centred seed systems which aim to enhance agrobiodiversity and resilient food systems while ensuring high yields and food security.

Speaking at the Project Inception Meeting in Lilongwe, Principal Investigator in the Seed Systems Project, Professor Moses Maliro said they are working with targeted farmers to produce plants that will give them vigorous seeds to achieve high yields.

“We want to help farmers produce high quality seeds of their preference. Seeds that are disease free and vigorous. This will be done through collaboration with the farmers and other stakeholders to improve the diversity of crops that will contribute to a more resilient food system.

“Efforts are underway to strengthen sustainable production and distribution of diverse preferred crops and varieties,” Maliro said.

He emphasized that the focus is on neglected and underutilised crops like Finger millet, Bambara Groundnut, Pearl Millet, Sorghum, and Green Gram among others.

“For the past 2 phases of the project, we piloted with Finger millet and Bambara Groundnut and now we are scaling up to other crops mainly those that are not manufactured by seed companies and here we are talking about the neglected and underutilised crops,” Maliro added.

The project is being implemented in the districts of Nzimba, Kasungu, Ntcheu, and Chiradzulu.