BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
SEED Co’s new white flour wheat variety SC W9104, is capable of producing up to 10.5 tonnes per hectare, with strong tolerance to rust diseases and high protein content, offering farmers a potentially high-yielding option suited to changing production conditions.
This was revealed today (Tuesday, September 22, 2026), as the new variety, SC W9104, was showcased at the Seed Co Wheat Field Day held at Rattray Arnold Research Station (RARS) along Shamva Road.
Seed Co Managing Director Felistus Ndawi Gurajena, said SC W9104 was the result of decades of breeding, testing and research aimed at developing wheat varieties that respond to the needs of farmers and the wider value chain.
“Today, we are particularly proud to showcase SC W9104, the new flagship wheat variety from Seed Co.
“It represents the continuation of decades of breeding, testing and learning, translated into a product designed around the changing needs of Zimbabwean agriculture,” said Ndawi Gurajena.
Ndawi Gurajena said the variety had a yield potential of around 10.5 tonnes per hectare and strong tolerance to rust diseases, including yellow or stripe rust.
She further revealed that SC W9104 also has a protein content of above 13 percent, good milling and baking qualities and produces the white flour colour increasingly sought across the value chain.
The variety was also developed with changing production conditions, including warmer winters, in mind.
Gurajena also said that the focus was not only on yield, but on developing a variety that could meet the needs of farmers, millers, bakers and consumers.
“What makes this exciting is not yield alone. “The future farmer needs a variety that can combine productivity with resilience and quality.
“The miller needs grain that performs. The baker needs consistent flour performance. The consumer needs the product attributes they value. SC W9104 is our response to this entire value chain.”
She said the variety demonstrated Seed Co’s approach to farmer-centred innovation, where scientific research is combined with farmers’ experiences and market requirements.
Ndawi Gurajena further revealed that field days were important in allowing farmers to assess varieties under real field conditions and engage directly with breeders, scientists and agronomists.
“A variety only creates value when it performs in the hands of farmers. This is why field days such as today’s are so important. They allow us to move beyond brochures and promises and into real fields, real measurements and real conversations,” she said.
She encouraged farmers to compare plots and engage Seed Co experts on issues such as planting dates, nutrition, irrigation, disease management and harvesting.
She added that farmers’ experiences and feedback would help shape future breeding programmes.
“We want a Seed Co where the farmer’s voice travels directly into the breeding programme and comes back as a better product, a better recommendation or a better service,” she said.
