NEWS:

4 Aug, 2016


Students during the training
Access to quality seeds is one of the major challenges that farmers in the country face. Most small farmers follow a traditional system where the farmer selects the largest, healthiest looking plants, harvests the seed, and stores them so that they are planted the following season. In this approach the farmer recycles traditional varieties hence yield from use of such seeds is relatively low compared with the use of certified healthy seeds.

In its effort to contribute to address this challenge, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) through Agricultural Innovative Partnership (AIP) programme is training its seed systems undergraduate students on seed inspection.

The four-day training which run from Monday 1st August to Thursday 4th August 2016 will give these students an opportunity to obtain additional certificate of "Seed Inspector" from Seed Service Unit (SSU), Department of Agriculture Research Services (DARS), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoA).

Dr Vithal Karoshi, Country Coordinator-AIP Malawi said the training was organized to equip the students with skills in seed inspection since the industry in the country has inadequate human resource.

“There are very few qualified seed inspectors in Malawi but workload is too high therefore, when it comes to quality seed production the given number of seed inspectors are not enough to control operations,” said Dr Karoshi.

He said the seed industry needs qualified students with knowledge on seed systems including seed inspection saying the training will equip the students with those skills.

“Once students obtain certificate they are ready to work as freelance/authorized seed inspectors so that during their free time such as weekends they could work for seed companies as seed inspectors and earn while studying,” he said.

He further said once the students complete their degree in seed systems their value would be much higher than just holding a degree as they would have additional certificate in seed inspection saying that would increase their market value.
The students would undergo classroom session, practicals and followed by examination and successful candidates would receive certificate from SSU, DARS, MoA.


Written By: Patricia Nkhoma