TANZANIA, Sept. 22 -- THE next gains in agricultural productivity may begin long before crops reach the field, as investment in quality seed becomes increasingly central to efforts to raise yields, strengthen food security and build a more competitive agricultural economy.

The stakes are high in a country where more than 65 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for employment.

Higher yields from quality seed can translate into stronger farm incomes, greater food availability and increased demand across input, processing, transport and marketing businesses.

The shift is being demonstrated by Seed Co Tanzanias new seed-processing facility at Kisongo, Arusha, an investment of about 18bn/-.

The plant adds processing, packaging...