Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
WITH planting for the 2025/26 summer cropping season in full swing, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has implored registered seed producers to work closely with law enforcement agents and the media to raise awareness about counterfeit seed in the market that significantly affects farmers’ yields.
Counterfeit seed sales have become a serious challenge in the country during the cropping seasons, with unsuspecting farmers bearing the brunt of poor crop development, which has wider implications on the economy and performance of the agricultural sector.
In an interview during a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo Chapter Advocacy Interaction Programme on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the media was key to educating the public on the proliferation of fake and counterfeit seed in the market.
“We had a joint press conference with the Zimbabwe Seed Association on Monday in Harare. It is a fact, we have had a challenge in Bulawayo, Harare, Chegutu, Chivu and Wedza, among other parts of the country, where, after last week’s rains, we had people, some of them operating hardware shops, some of on street corners and others as moving agents, who are offering fake seed to farmers,” Commissioner Nyati said.
“Just imagine, a seed which is supposed to be going for US$43, they sell it for US$20 for a 10-kilogramme (kg) bag. When people have poor germination, they blame seed companies.
“So, we also want the media to assist and we have said the seed companies must work closely with the media and the police, so that we continue to educate Zimbabweans on how to identify genuine and original seed from fake ones.”ZRP urges collaboration
to red-flag counterfeit seed.
