‘Beware of fake fertiliser, seed’

Edgar Vhera

Agriculture Specialist Writer

AS the marketing of most summer crops enters the home stretch, farmers are being warned against buying their agro-inputs for the 2023/24 summer season from bogus agro-dealers if they are to get higher yields.

The warning comes as unscrupulous dealers are said to be selling fake fertiliser and seed at prices way below production costs.

In an interview yesterday, Seed Services Institute head Mr Edmore Mtetwa said farmers must buy their inputs from certified agro-dealers only.

“As the country approaches the peak selling period for agro-inputs (seed, fertilisers and chemicals) for the summer cropping season, the Seed Services Institute (SSI) of the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS) wishes to advise farmers and the general public that they need to make sure they purchase certified seed from licenced agro-dealers only to avoid being duped by unscrupulous dealers selling counterfeit products,” said Mr Mtetwa.

Zimbabwe has a robust regulatory framework aimed at combating counterfeit seed and fertiliser on the market to ensure farmers are protected. The laws are supported by various statutory instruments to ensure that all seed produced and marketed by seed houses is subjected to a robust quality assurance confirming compliance with minimum certification standards.

Mr Mtetwa said the Seed Services Institute applies various methods to ensure eradication of counterfeit seeds from the market.

“SSI also conducts regular monitoring of all seed houses to ensure seed is distributed and marketed by licensed agro-dealers only. SSI was in the process of introducing the use of tamper-proof seed labels guided by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) international seed schemes to enhance traceability of seed packets,” he said.

The national seed authority ensures that all seed production fields are pre-controlled by evaluating samples of parental lines for trueness-to-type.

Mr Mtetwa said samples of certified seed on the market are also subjected to post-control evaluations to confirm the effectiveness of the seed certification system.

He said their department is working with the Attorney General’s office to ensure punitive measures were meted on agro-dealers selling counterfeit seed.

“Unscrupulous dealers selling counterfeit seed face arrest and prosecution in the courts of law. The courts decide on punitive measures which include loss of license if the offence is committed by a licensed agro-dealership, fine, ordering restitution or compensation to farmers and prison sentence,” he said.

Fertiliser, Farm Seed and Remedies Institute acting head, Mrs Charity Kunaka said to ensure on the market, fertilisers manufactured, distributed, sold, or imported into Zimbabwe should be registered.

The registration is done by the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute.

Any fertiliser not registered is deemed illegal and farmers are advised not to purchase it.

“A registered fertiliser should be sold in a sealed, clearly and legibly labelled packaging. The labels should be written in English or local language, and should bear the brand name of the product, name, address and contact details of the local manufacturer or distributor.

“In addition, nutrient composition should be written on the package or label with directions for use, safety precautions and net weight of the product,” she said.

For the product to be easily traceable, the label should contain information on date of manufacture, batch number, expiry date and should bear a registration number.

She said farmers must desist from buying expired fertilisers and pre-packs (smaller packages or re-bagging) without a label.