Seeds fair event was organized on the 13th of April 2016 to showcase different seed varieties and introduce ‘Somali Seeds’ a subsidiary seed business of the Somali Agriculture Technical Group (SATG). This fair was held at the headquarters of SATG in Mogadishu, Somalia.
‘Somali Seeds’ was created to fill a vacuum in domestic seed markets that lack quality seeds. Planting quality seeds enables farmers to reach optimum yield with higher profit margins.
During the seed fair, SATG displayed various locally produced seeds with the following descriptions:
Local Maize
110 days to maturity with a potential yield of 4-5 tons/ha
Local Mung bean
Indeterminate with long days to mature and a potential yield of 400 to 500 kg/ha
Filsan Mung beans
Determinate with 50 days to maturity and a potential yield of 500 to 600 kg/ha
Local Cowpea
Indeterminate type with long days to mature and a potential yield of 400 to 500 kg/ha
Ken Kunde
Determinate with 50 days to maturity and a potential yield of 500 to 600 kg/ha
Local sesame
90 days to maturity, a mix of white and brown colour sesame with a potential yield of 400 to 500 kg/ha
Humera sesame
90 day to maturity, white in colour with a potential yield 600 to 800 kg/ha
Napier grass
Napier grass cuttings with high yield potential
Other grasses
Sudan grass, Rhodes, Dolichos and Alfalfa
Stakeholders showing interest on locally grown seeds
Dr. Hussein Haji addressing the stakeholders
Displaying Maize Seeds
The maize seeds were produced in partnership with local farmers through credit-scheme contracts. The seeds were grown according to the international standards using SATG approved agronomic and production practices.
Various agricultural stakeholders including farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture, representatives of farmer associations/cooperatives, livestock traders, input suppliers, local and international NGOs, and other Somali agricultural professionals attended the event.
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