Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
As preparations for the 2025/26 summer cropping season reach an advanced stage, farmers have been urged to be on the lookout for fake agricultural inputs.
Over the years, some farmers’ crops have been severely damaged after using counterfeit seeds, fertilisers and chemicals.
In an interview, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, urged farmers to desist from acquiring agro-inputs from unregistered agro-dealers.
“Farmers are urged to desist from buying agrochemicals from unregistered dealers. They should be on high alert and verify the chemical’s name, trade name and company distributor, while also seeking further clarity where possible from agricultural experts.
“Also, make use of the Agritex extension officers to get more information so that they avoid being accustomed to using banned agrochemicals,” he said.
He said the use of delisted chemicals would weigh heavily on the agriculture sector and could result in some crops being rejected on the market.
Prof Jiri said their clarion call to farmers was to only buy inputs or agrochemicals from certified agro-dealers and retail outlets, not from undesignated sources.
The Department of Research, Education and Specialist Services is usually tasked with conducting spot checks at agro-dealer shops and retail outlets to enforce compliance with regulations governing the trading of agrochemicals, in line with Statutory Instrument (SI) 167 of 2023, which empowers them to effectively enforce the legislation.
SI 167 of 2023, titled The Fertilisers, Farm Feeds and Remedies (Fees for Inspection of Vehicles Carrying Farm Requisites in Transit) Regulations, 2023, provides for the inspection of vehicles transporting agrochemicals and other farm requisites in transit through Zimbabwe, though not for the trading of the agrochemicals themselves.
It mandates a US$20 inspection fee at entry points, collected by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), for vehicles carrying such goods.
The regulations form part of the broader legal framework governing agrochemicals in Zimbabwe, which also includes requirements for licensing, registration and proper packaging found in other Statutory Instruments such as the Pesticides Regulations, 2012 (SI 144 of 2012) and the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27).
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter past vice-president and businessman, Mr Louis Herbst, said the presence of fake or uncertified agrochemicals in the local market was an unhealthy situation requiring urgent attention.
“Such agrochemicals may be hazardous to the environment, crops and even human beings. Due to the porous borders, uncertified or fake agrochemicals are finding their way into the country through informal channels and unscrupulous means. If farmers are not careful, yields and soils will be negatively affected, and the effects could be long-lasting,” he said.
He added that local producers of agrochemicals, most of whom are esteemed members of the ZNCC and other lobby groups, were negatively affected by this development, as their genuine and certified products were now competing with unauthorised products in local retail shops and the informal market.
Earlier this year, Zimbabwe reviewed its seed certification regulatory frameworks, which are critical to seed systems. The review came after the framework established 25 years ago was still in use and urgently needed updating to align with international standards.
The consequences of inaction were dire — counterfeit seeds, crop failures and economic losses that could cripple the agricultural sector.
Zimbabwe has made significant strides in seed certification, with the Government recognising the importance of a robust seed industry.
