SeedCo invests $10m to grow its Malawi unit

Zimbabwe’s largest seed producer, SeedCo Holdings, which has interests in 15 African countries, has invested $10 million to grow its Malawian unit.

Chief executive Morgan Nzwere told delegates at the company’s launch of its new Malawi business premises that the seed producer was committed to strengthen agriculture in Africa.

“The project being launched today has used up nearly $10 million in project construction, consultancy fees, financing costs and new equipment. To us, this is a worthwhile investment and it only shows how committed we are to this market,” he said.

Seed Co has been operational in the southern African country since 2000 and has grown to be the largest seed house in Malawi.

Malawi has since 2005/6, run an extensive farm input subsidy programme – through which thousands of small-scale farming households get subsidised crop inputs — and has emerged as a key market for SeedCo’s seed.

Malawi’s agriculture minister, Allan Chiyembekeza said he was “very impressed” with SeedCo’s investment in his country.

“The investment by SeedCo has changed the vision of Malawi and we are grateful that they have confidence in the government by investing such huge sums of money in the country,” he said.

SeedCo, which has production and distribution interests in 15 African markets, develops and markets mainly hybrid maize seed and also cotton seed, wheat, soya bean, barley, sorghum and ground nut seed.