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Elton Manguwo
GOVERNMENT has penalised 43 agro-dealers for stocking counterfeit and unregistered agricultural inputs a deterrent measure to protect farmers and safeguard production as preparations for the upcoming summer season is in full throttle.
In an interview, the Fertiliser, Farm Seed and Remedies Institute head, Mrs Charity Kunaka, said the ongoing 10-week crackdown was a key component of a larger strategy aimed at safeguarding farmers and bolstering the nation’s agricultural sector.
“We conducted inspections on 539 agro-dealers out of these, it was discovered that eight percent were in possession of unregistered and smuggled products,” said Mrs Kunaka.
The authorities confiscated the products and the agro-dealers involved were penalised with fines.
“The confiscated pesticides included, but were not limited to, parasnow, snowcrown, ratol, snowtiger, asteroid lambda, and cynalothrin,” said Mrs Kunaka highlighting that most of the products originated from Zambia and can be found distributed throughout the country.
This initiative is essential for ensuring that farmers have access to safe, high-quality agricultural inputs, which are crucial for successful crop production.
“By targeting counterfeit and unregistered products we are promoting the overall health of the agricultural ecosystem as the presence of these products not only threatens the integrity of the market but may also poses risks to production safety and sustainability,” said Mrs Kunaka.
The Government is set to increase monitoring, inspections and surveillance to eradicate fraudsters who sell counterfeit, smuggled expired and unregistered fertilisers, pesticides and farm feeds.
“This initiative will be implemented during the 2024/25 farming season covering all cities, towns and business centres and is expected to end by mid December 2024 depending on the market situation,” said Mrs Kunaka.
As the country looks to boost agriculture production counterfeit agro-inputs can lead to poor crop yields, increased pest problems and financial losses for farmers.
“To guarantee the quality and effectiveness of the products, consumers should confirm that their suppliers are officially registered and that the products have the required certification labels,” stated Mrs Kunaka.
She said the Government has moved to impose fines on offenses from US$5 on level one to US$300 on level six to counteract the smuggling into the country of banned chemicals and fertilisers under Statutory Instrument 14A of 2023.
The Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) secretary general, Mr Paul Zakariya said this fraudulent agro-dealers raise concerns about compliance with regulations and highlights the need for stricter oversight in the sector.
“We applaud the Governments efforts in dealing with bogus agro-dealers as they compromise food security,” said Mr Zakariya urging all farmers to remain vigilant and verify the legitimacy of their suppliers.
The recent measures against counterfeit and unregistered products represent a significant advancement in safeguarding farmers and their livelihoods.
“Moving forward, it is crucial to enhance monitoring efforts and ensure that all agro dealers adhere to established regulations to protect both consumers and the agricultural industry as a whole,” said Mr Zakariya.
Online Reporter