By Osinde obare
Trans-Nzoia County
Farmers in Trans-Nzoia County have asked the Kenya Seed Company (KSC) to deregister stockists accused of selling uncertified maize seeds.
This comes after police and KSC officials seized over 4,000kg of the seeds from a leading supermarket and a stockist in Kitale.
Furious farmers protested that some unscrupulous businessmen were out to make quick money and frustrate their farming activities.
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Mr Joel Gesuka who led the farmers said most of them were worried that the sale of uncertified seeds would ruin productivity.
"We are not sure whether the seeds we planted are going to germinate. We want KSC to blacklist all dishonest agents, particularly those who were found selling fake seeds in Kitale," said Gesuka at a news conference.
The sale of uncertified seeds, the farmers said, could sabotage maize growing in the region. They urged the Government to ensure the unscrupulous businessmen involved in the fake seeds cartel are punished. "We want proper investigation over the fake seeds because we fear there are attempts from certain quarters to cover up the matter," Gesuka said.
They asked KSC to do way with agents and instead distribute seeds through the National Cereals and Produce Board and Kenya Farmers Association.
