LIRA-The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Seed Inspection and Certification in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF], Dr. Mary Asio Teddy has decried the rate of fake seeds and agro-chemical flooding on the local market.
She said the issue of fake seeds and agrochemicals on the local market is a persistent challenge to the government and the farmers in the country at a time when there is a need to boost agricultural production and productivity.
Presenting an overview and processes involved to prepare quality seeds at the launch of a Shs 400 million project in Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute [ZARDI] in Lira City to increase cassava production, Dr. Asio said there is a need for all the local governments to formulate regulation and be vigilant.
She said a recent market surveillance report by MAAIF shows that 15 percent of seeds on the market are fake.
The report indicates that counterfeit seeds continue to be a big threat to Uganda’s agriculture sector reducing farmers’ confidence in certified seeds.
“The issue of fake seeds is a big challenge to all of us but we are just trying to manage. I want to say we need self-regulation to deal with the problem,” she said.
She said the vice is being escalated by companies that have not registered with the ministry to produce certified farm seeds.
She called upon farmers to be vigilant and report to the ministry any person found dealing in uncertified seeds.
“If you don’t tell us we may not know. When we get information through public alerts, we take action because these days we have police attached to the agriculture sector,” she added.
The managing director of Divine Organic Foods, Noela Ojara said there is an urgent need to sensitise farmers on how to identify fake seeds, saying they affect production and productivity.
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