EFFECTIVE seed storage and management is the only way of ensuring national food security for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries, SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC) director, Paul Munyenyembe has said.

Mr Munyenyembe said in Chongwe yesterday that the proper seed storage was cardinal to the eradication of food insecurity as the result of the changing climatic conditions.

Dr Munyenyembe told journalists who toured the regional seed bank in commemoration of this year's SADC day that the centre was significant to the agricultural sector in the SADC as it was the regional reserve centre.

He hailed the SADC leaders for coming up with the centre saying it removed the duplication of activities and the efficient utilisation of resources in terms of seed preservation.

Dr Munyenyembe said the management, whose current budget was United States $1 million, was planning to embark on an expansion programme to cater for more seeds.

The centre, which has been operational for 20 years now, stores different varieties and seed species for 12 of the 15 member countries as insurance for seed preservation.

"Proper seed storage will help in enhancing food security in the SADC region," he said.