Peacock field day for drought resistant seed

Peacock Seed Company on Saturday held a field day in Mangochi to sensitise farmers on its drought resistant maize seed which has this year helped many farmers attain high yields amidst drought.

The field day took place at Masuku Extension Planning Area in the area of Senior Chief Bwana Nyambi in Mangochi.

It was held as part of interventions under the Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies (MISST) – which is a consortium of agricultural institutions propagating for the adoption of new technologies in the country’s agricultural sector to improve farmers’ profits per acreage.

Speaking during a field day in Mangochi organized by Spanish-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Senior Chief Bwana Nyambi of Mangochi said the maize seed, Peacock 10, has helped most farmers in his area realise high yields.

“We have seen how various varieties that were made available to us have performed and I’m particularly impressed with Peacock 10 which has proved to be drought tolerant, more like our local breeds,” said Bwana Nyambi.

He said apart from withstanding harsh climatic conditions, the seed has also been liked by farmers because it is poundable, the corn is sweat when eaten green, the cob is large and has more lines – which gives a bigger yield on a small area.

Peacock Seed director of production, Innocent Jumbe, said the company is committed to ensuring that local farmers have various drought tolerant varieties at their disposal.

“We have various drought tolerant maize varieties such as CAP9001 and Peacock MH30, in addition to Peacock 10, so that Malawian farmers have a wide variety to choose from.

The MISST Project, which is aimed at scaling up seed systems and technologies for soya beans, groundnuts, pigeon peas, sorghum, millet, drought tolerant maize, and orange-fleshed sweet potato in the country, is being implemented in 10 districts in the central and southern regions of Malawi with financial assistance from USAID and Feed the future.