By Christopher Makaza

Cabinet has considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding on the Harmonisation of the seed Regulatory Framework in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.

Addressing journalists after a cabinet meeting yesterday in Harare, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Monica Mutsvangwa highlighted the objectives of the Harmonised Seed Regulatory System and the benefits that accrue to Zimbabwe as a result of acceding to the MOU.

“The objective of the HSRS is to address regional seed insecurity through integrating smaller and national seed markets into one large Southern African Development Community (SADC) seed market.

“The benefits that accrue to Zimbabwe as a result of acceding to the MOU would be as follows, increased access to the regional seed markets for local companies, increased competition resulting in improved varieties and service delivery, improved national seed and food security through increased production among others.” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa also said the programme would increase foreign currency earnings through export of seed and that the country would also contribute to the building of regional seed and food security, thereby alleviating hunger and poverty.