The Afrisem breeding programme was founded in 2008 near Arusha, Tanzania by Rijk Zwaan in co-operation with East West Seed Co of Thailand. The aim of Afrisem is to provide local African vegetable growers with dedicated hybrid varieties and top quality seeds for an affordable price.
At this moment there is no other hybrid breeding program in vegetable crops dedicated to the East African market. In many local African crops there is no breeding at all. Experience in Europe and Asia has shown that variety improvement in combination with education of growers (“Seeds and Service”) is essential for the development of a competitive vegetable industry.
Vegetable production, with its high value products, can provide small growers with a good income and boost the economy of a region. Vegetable consumption is very important for human health.
Rijk Zwaan
Rijk Zwaan is a global specialist in breeding vegetable varieties and producing high-quality vegetable seed.
Innovative Research & Development, inspired by the wishes and tastes of our customers, plays an important role in our success.
Creating in excess of 150 new, improved vegetable varieties of more than 30 different species of vegetable crops every year, we rank among the Top 10 of the world’s largest vegetable breeding companies.
In addition to producing new vegetable varieties, Rijk Zwaan’s services include crop advice, client support and chain management.
With 25 subsidiaries throughout the world, Rijk Zwaan is an open, cooperative partner in the international chain of food production that comprises growers, traders and retailers. We respect our business relations and our environment in all areas of our work. By taking this approach, we strive to make an ongoing contribution, together with our chain partners, to laying the foundations for healthy and tasty vegetables that are perfectly aligned with the lifestyles of today’s consumers.
For more information about Rijk Zwaan, please visit www.rijkzwaan.com
East-West Seed Company
East-West West is a multinational producer of vegetable seeds with a leading market position in all major Southeast-Asian and South-Asian vegetable seed markets. It produces, develops and sells tropical hybrid vegetable seeds that challenge existing market situations.
East-West's business model is based on a thorough understanding of the latest developments in plant breeding combined with superior local market knowledge.
The varieties East-West introduces offer improved yields and better disease resistance, resulting in higher incomes for the growers. This is expressed in its company slogan, 'Better Seeds for Better Yields'. East-West's world-class breeding and research programmes are built on a blend of excellent germplasm, detailed market knowledge, and creative and skilled breeders. Classical breeding is the backbone of East-West's approach, supplemented by plant pathology programmes for disease-resistance screening and tissue culture programmes to speed up variety development.
For more information about East-West Seed, please visit www.eastwestseed.com.