Fake seed and fertiliser scandals have rocked the country before and farmers should be wary of falling victim to rogue input suppliers.
These counterfeiting gangs usually surface during the planting season. The gangs have mastered the art of manufacturing packaging which resemble the genuine one or even dishonestly obtain genuine bags from the seed companies.
They then go ahead and package their fake materials. Ordinary maize is laced with the characteristic reddish or greenish colour to dupe the unsuspecting farmers to buy seed that won’t germinate.
How can farmers avoid being victims?
To avoid being a victim of this scam, ensure that you buy seeds from registered agro-dealers or from the seed companies depots. Stockists licensed by Kenya Plant Health Inspection Service (KEPHIS) will display their seed sellers license for everybody to see. Confirm the quality of agricultural inputs by checking for KEPHIS tag.
Every genuine seed bag has a KEPHIS tag inside it showing that the seed has been inspected. Farmers should check for this tag whenever they open the bag to confirm that the seed is genuine.
KEPHIS is the government institution, whose responsibility is to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce, certifying seeds of all crop varieties to ensure only seed of highest quality is sold to farmers.
How a genuine packet looks
Certified seeds are packed in containers or packets which are clearly labeled and contain the following information: Seed lot numbers to allow for easy traceability of seed lot in the event of crop failure, weight of the seeds, name of the crop species and variety, packaging date, Seed merchant/company.
Labeling and sealing of the containers or packets is done in such a way that seeds cannot be removed without damaging the seal or label.
New features
A sticker label in all seed packaging of 5kg and below. The farmer will scratch and send the serial number to 1393 through an SMS, then receive feedback on the validity of the seed-lot.
Farmers are advised not to buy a seed bag that has been tampered with. Upon opening should you notice the dye on the seed coming off easily then know the seed is fake.
For genuine seeds the dye does not come off easily. Check the date of expiry. After planting, keep the packet and receipt as these may be required as evidence in case you suspect fake seed.
Do not expose seed(s) to extreme weather conditions, that is heat, moisture, direct contact with fertiliser otherwise the quality will be compromised. Report all cases of suspect seed(s) at the nearest police station, KEPHIS offices or the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in the Counties.
When buying fertilisers, make sure the contents listed on the bag are clearly labelled, for example, N:P:K 23:23:23. Check for the packaging of the production batch number and seal. Check for physical appearance of the fertiliser for instance, DAP is hard, granular, brown or black and does not break easily by nails.
Meanwhile, KEPHIS is currently training 19 representatives from the seed industry on seed certification process. Some of the reps who are undergoing two weeks’ training include those from Kenya Seed Company, Pioneer Hybrid, Dryland Seed, East Africa Seed, Agricultural Development Corporation and Gicheha farm amongst others.
The training covers theory and practical’s and seeks to build capacity of the participants in the production, inspection and testing of quality planting material and promote accessibility of affordable seeds to farmers.
The writer is an expert on sustainable agriculture