Story by Tendai Munengwa
ZIMBABWE has taken a significant step towards strengthening agricultural research and horticultural productivity with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory at the Kutsaga Research Board in Harare.
The facility, which has the capacity to produce millions of genetically certified horticultural plant varieties, was officially commissioned on Wednesday by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka. It is the first laboratory of its kind in the country and represents a major boost to innovation-driven agriculture.
The laboratory will support the large-scale production of disease-free and climate-resilient planting material, including potatoes, blueberries, strawberries and ornamental flowers, using advanced molecular biology and genetic science techniques.
Explaining the significance of the development, tissue culture scientist Nicole Chapfunga said the laboratory enables precise screening and strengthening of plant material under controlled conditions.
“We are happy to commission this state-of-the-art tissue culture facility. It is a product of the National Development Strategy 1(NDS 1), and this production of genetically certified seeds is going to feed into NDS2 with the main objective being to cut imports of potato seed and other horticulture plants. This, with a capacity to produce millions of certified seeds, will go a long way towards fulfilling our rural transformation as adequate seed will be available for the Presidential Horticulture scheme,” he said.
Kutsaga Research Board Chairperson, Mr Aaron Denenga, spoke to ZBC on the role of the parastatal in the horticultural growth plan.
“As you have seen, we are now capable of producing various genetics which are disease resistant, so our major role is to multiply different varieties under strict laboratory control. This is expected to benefit our farmers as they would access these new varieties,” he said.
As the government moves towards implementing NDS2, the new tissue culture facility lab will accelerate the horticulture growth plan and Agricultural Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy to uplift millions of rural folk.
