18 Nov 2018

The “Manual de Produção e Comercialização de Sementes”, developed and published by the FTf- SEMEAR, is designed to provide general guidelines regarding seed production practices and to provide specific practical details relevant to the farming, harvest , processing and storage of seeds of good quality. It is envisaged that this booklet will be used not only by the project field technicians and direct beneficiaries, but will also support the work of agriculture extensionists, seed enterprises and seed farmers, and the public in general. It is written with the understanding that different institutions and projects will have different priorities and protocols, which they may wish to adhere to, and is not meant to be the definitive guide to seed production. This booklet is therefore best regarded as a guide to the practice followed by SEMEAR. This is a living document, which will be updated and expanded periodically. 

24 Oct 2018

SEMEAR participation on the 25th October 2018 Official Ceremony for the launch of the Agriculture Season in Nampula have been overwhelmed with increased interest by participants to learn about seed products being promoted. During the Launch Ceremony in Monapo, that was participated by Governmental Delegates (Provincial Governor – Victor Borges; Provincial Director of Agriculture, SDAEs from other Districts), seeds companies and farmers, the Minister for Public Works Dra Carmelita Namachulua (representing the President of Mozambique), showed interest and curiosity to learn about products displayed in the SEMEAR stand. She was also very enthused by the presence/testimony of seeds producers (eg Américo Sisseque) who have indicated the positive impact the support SEMEAR is doing to improve their capacity in seed production and supply in the communities. 

17 Oct 2018

With SEMEAR, the soybean seed sector has improved remarkably over the last few years because larger quantities of seeds were produced domestically, and also farmers are increasingly depending on seeds produced by others, instead of using their own saved seeds. The Hoyo-Hoyo Agribusiness (HH) enterprise, in Gurué, met with SEMEAR to buy soybean seeds for the up-coming crop season, after a successful harvest in 2018, using two SEMEAR soybean varieties. The certified soybean seeds were supplied to HH by COPAZA/SBS farmers, a FTF-Partnering for Innovation’s partner, who had received basic seeds from SEMEAR for multiplication. Soybean yields varied between 2,2 – 2,9 tons/ha, well above the average yield of 1.3 ton/ha. HH is planning to expand its soy production to cover 2,500 ha and an estimate of 3,000 – 4,000 tons of grains, annually. Farmer Abdul Nazimo, from Dómwe, who was supported by SEMEAR to produce certified seeds in the last crop season, sold 1.5 tons to Centro de Tecnologias de Angonia, at 50 Mts /kg, for planting 30 ha for soy grains, sale price estimates at about 25 Mt/Kg.