An Introduction to

Champion Seeds
General Introduction
• Champion Farmer Seeds Co-op Company is a registered company under
Zimbabwe Laws
• It is Farmer Seed Enterprise implemented in Zimbabwe by CTDT
(Community Technology Development Trust) through funding from NGO
developmental bodies.
• Main Objectives
To enhance the livelihoods and seed security of SHF, especially women, by
producing and marketing high quality seeds, of diverse crops and varieties,
through public – private- partnerships
To make available at the farmer’s door step, high quality certified seed of
high yielding, drought tolerant, and early maturing varieties of diverse crops
that are well adapted to and commonly grown in low rainfall environments.
To empower SHF, especially women, economically as shareholders & seed
producers for the FSE, and also as grain producers and marketers.
Association Structure of Champion Seeds
o to time.

• Each district association with a representative in the board

• Ward level seed grower groups elect the district association representative
• Board declares dividends from the profits generated by the Co-operative
Brief update
2016/2017
• 2016/7 first growing season
• 90 SHF trained and contracted as seed growers grouped in FFS by ward
• Crops included Hybrid Maize, OPV Maize, Sorghum, Pearl Millet and Groundnuts
• Total of 143 tonnes of seed produced on 90ha by the SHF
• 134t sold in the 2017/8 season
• 3 Grower associations grew seed (UMP, Murehwa and Tsholotsho)
2017/2018
• Number of trained seed growers increased to 783 in second season
• FFS approach in the wards of the districts
• 5 Grower association (Mudzi, Murewa, UMP, Tsholotsho and Mutoko)
• Crops included Hybrid Maize, OPV Maize, Sorghum, Pearl Millet and Groundnuts
OPERATION
• Breeders seed from government, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, others under contract.
• Registered seed certifying agency.
• Identify and contract communal seed growers (foundation and certified
seed multiplication).
• Capacitate them with training and advance inputs.
• Seed inspection and agronomic support for quality management.
• Harvested seed is processed and packaged.
• Seed testing by government or other A licenced laboratories.
• Wide range of seed merchants meeting objectives.
Promotion, distribution, sales
• Field days, demonstration sites, brochures, branded clothing
• To community agents (CSB, Lead Farmers, stores)
• To National agents (hardwares, retailers, wholesalers).
• Direct sales to drivers’ of our “market lead” seed breeding and seed
multiplication programs.
• To government seed input scheme programs.
• Seed companies.
• Individual buyers.
CHALLENGES
• Isolation distance of seed crops by communal seed growers
• Distribution of growers influences logistics of grower monitoring,
inputs and output transport.
• Challenges with quality of foundation seed for multiplication.
• Timeliness of parent seed acquisition.
• Inconsistencies in climate (drought and floods and heat units)
(Replanting and late planting)
• Pests and Diseases (Fall army worm and Rosette in groundnuts)
• Monitoring of crop – manpower
• Toll processing.
OPPORTUNITIES
• Selection of larger seed companies to grow cash crops
• Shortage of certified seed of NUS
• Climate change, smart agriculture (STMA) and other crops
• Changing lifestyles and enhanced appreciation of nutrient and
medicinal content of diets.
• Develop and enhance product range into “new” crops eg rice and
brewing sorghums.
• Seed crop management of small plots.
Thank you !!!