Seed production system in Zambia and quality of local seeds

Beenzu Munkombwe Muzyamba

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

The aim of this thesis ‘Seed Production System in Zambia and Quality of Local Seeds’ is to investigate, analyse and provide insights into the seed production practices in Zambia. As part of this analysis, the quality of ‘local seeds’; maize (Zea mays L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are examined. Seeds play a crucial role in agriculture and food production, as such, seed production systems, which are the processes and activities involved in the production, multiplication, and distribution are central to the continuity of agriculture and food production. This thesis is composed of chapters that analyse how seeds are processed in Zambia, from multiplication to processing and packaging, to quality control and finally the distribution of the seeds. Additionally, the quality of two significant ‘local seeds’ (maize and a variety of common bean locally known as Kabulangeti) is tested through laboratory experiments. The introduction generally describes why seed production systems are critical to the agricultural process and the key components that make up this system, it further states what the quality of seeds is and why it is important, followed by the objectives which state what the aims of this thesis are. Diving deeper into the aims of the thesis, through literature reviews, an assessment of the current seed production practices, and an evaluation of the existing seed production systems in Zambia is done, including how seeds are produced, the key stakeholders involved, the infrastructure and the regulatory frameworks. As part of analysing the seed production system in Zambia, the quality of maize and beans is examined in the lab, explaining in detail the method that was used in testing the quality of these seeds. Based on these experiments, a chapter of this thesis focuses on the results that were obtained in the experiment and subsequently a discussion of the literature review and results and literature review. Finally, conclusions are drawn on the seed production system in Zambia and the quality of the tested seeds. Recommendations for improvements or adjustments to the existing system are provided based on these analyses.

Keywords

Zambia, Seed Production Systems, Seed Quality, Maize, Beans

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 25. 4. 2024

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: Ing. Kateřina Pazderů, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Matěj Satranský, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta agrobiologie, potravinových a přírodních zdrojů

Bakalářský studijní program:
Sustainable Use of Natural Resources