Counterfeit maize seed seized in Lira
LIRA – More than 1,000 kilogrammes of fake maize seed have been seized in an ongoing operation mounted by the police, Lira district agricultural department, and Lango Agro-input Dealers’ Association.
The operatives headed by the Lira senior district agricultural officer, Patrick Alip say counterfeit maize seed, especially DKC90 was being sold in several shops in Lira City.
According to the resident city commissioner, Lawrence Egole, a 2-kilogramme sachet of fake maize seed was being sold at Shs 40, 000.
Dorcus Alum, the Lira district agricultural officer, said agro-input shops found with counterfeit seed will be closed as the inspection continues.
The officials said they want to protect the farmers from making losses as the second planting season sets in.
“If you know you are not registered with us, please go and close like people whom we got with these fake seeds will be closed forthwith,” she said.
Patrick Ogwang, the chairperson of Lango Agro-input Dealers’ Association, said farmers in the region were being cheated by dealers selling fake seed.
He said they would ensure anyone found dealing in fake seeds is fined Shs 1 million as a measure to discourage trade in fake planting materials, adding that any person who provides information leading to the arrest of the unscrupulous businessmen will be rewarded Shs 1mln.
The issue of counterfeit seed in Uganda continues to be a big threat to the country’s seed sector as it reduces farmers’ confidence in certified seed due to cases in which the farmers unknowingly plant inferior quality grain labelled as certified seed.
According to African Seed Access Index [TASAI] report released in 2021, 48 cases of counterfeit seed, up from three cases reported as the official number reported to government.
According to the report findings, for a case to be registered with the Agriculture ministry, the complainant has to go through a formal system.
The TASAI report says seed companies interviewed pointed at agro-dealers as the main source of counterfeit seed in the country.
Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry recently developed a seed traceability system to track early generation seed to control counterfeits. Early generation seed involves the breeding of improved varieties that are given to seed breeders for multiplication and supply.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-farmers-decry-presence-of-fake-agro-inputs-on-market/
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