The ZMS623 Farmers Assessment Programme offers local farmers the chance to win a tractor through their feedback on planting and growing the new variety.
ZMS623 Farmers Assessment Programme
If anyone knows the difficulties of putting food on the table, it’s farmers. Difficult circumstances in farming range from soil deficiencies, disease threats, insects, and unpredictable rainfall.
Zimbaseed (Pvt) Ltd a subsidiary of Zamseed (Pvt) Ltd, a well-established seed company in Zambia - decided to enter the Zimbabwean market in 2020 after their newest variety (ZMS623) showed promising results in testing phases.
To gain worthy feedback from local Zimbabwean farmers Zimbaseed decided to run a season-long competition within a Farmers Assessment Programme. The ZMS623 Farmers Assessment programme received over 500 interested applicants in the sign-up phase and chose a final sample of 250 farmers made up of individual farmers, farming groups and institutions (schools and churches). The farmer’s sample was spread over Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland.
Within the programme, farmers were provided with 2kgs of ZMS623 maize seed, 50kg of Compound D and 50kg of top dressing, Ammonium Nitrate. Distribution of the inputs was assisted by local Agritex officers who were able to guide farmers through the season.
During the Farmers Assessment Programme, Zimbaseed (Pvt) Ltd collected information directly from the farmers during 2021/2022 with vital feedback regarding their crop progress, providing information where possible to assist the farmers in a successful yield this season.
"The progress was quite satisfactory. The seed variety is very good at withstanding varying weather conditions." - ZMS623-735422
The majority of the engagement with Farmers is done through accessible social media platforms, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter as well as online surveys where ratings and photo uploads can easily be shared with Zimbaseed (Pvt) Ltd. This information will form the final testimonials for the success of the new variety and the results will form part of a greater understanding of the modern Zimbabwean Farmer.
All pictures provided by farmers within the programme during the final assessment surveys with their farms and crops.
Alongside the ZMS623 variety selected farmers were also given ZMS405 an alternative variety to plant alongside for comparison sakes. The ZMS405 has shown promising results and will hopefully be released with ZMS623 later in 2022.
At the end of the Farmers Assessment Programme, 25 winning farmers will be awarded a number of prizes including farming equipment such as knapsacks, supplies such as seed, and fertiliser and the winner will receive a John Deere tractor. The programme seeks to enable the winner to improve their future significantly in farming, as well as assist the local farmers nearby.
“It’s an undeniable advantage for farmers to have a tractor to assist with their field management, with one lucky Zimbabwean farmer having a 1 in 250 chance to win a tractor is unseen in Zimbabwe and we surely believe that this will change their life!” - Maxwell Mataka, Zimbaseed Agronomy and Programme Representative.
Zimbaseed (Pvt) Ltd is excited to share this hope amongst farmers in Zimbabwe, the aim is to enable farmers as best as possible to further encourage the future visions of feeding the nation.
Download the Press Release here :
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Wanted to vote for the farmers but cant fin your site interactive. The site on the phone is different when using a computer. Why??