In remote areas in Zamia, it is not easy to find quality rice seeds in the market. Rice farmers often use seeds produced as rice grains in their own farms or by neighbors even if the quality is not good as seeds. As a result, low quality rice is often produced. Against this backdrop, Market-oriented Rice Development Project (MOReDeP) conducted a seed production training for 32 rice farmers from 8 districts in Luapula province. In the training, a staff member of the Seed Control and Certified Institute (SCCI) lectured about the seed system in Zambia, and rice researchers from the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) provided sessions on rice cultivation techniques. In addition, quality source seeds to be used for seed production were distributed to the participants. The participants are expected to grow rice seeds and share the produced seeds for other farmers in each district, obtaining official certification from the SCCI.
In Zambia Agriculture plays a key role of supporting industries by the production of the required raw materials , producing exportable agricultural goods, generating employment particularly in rural areas, as well as providing food stuffs essential for the sustenance of acceptable nutrition standards and levels.
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