Fake seeds vendors alert as planting season starts

Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh warned traders selling fake seeds to unsuspecting farmers that the law will catch up with them.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with regulatory agencies including the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and the Interior ministry to beef up security at the border points where some of the fakes seeds and substandard pesticides are sneaked through.

"We have said time for crooks is over in this country and we are not relenting until we wipe them out. Some had even fled to the neighbouring countries but we managed to pursue and arrest them," he said.

The PS told the Star, during an interview, that the country is grappling with two serious issues— fake seeds and substandard pesticides.

“We are tirelessly fighting against getting fake seeds out of the market because it results in low or no production. It also leads to post harvest losses,” the PS said.

The government will monitor agrovets and wholesalers  across the country to ensure they sell genuine products.

“So far, we have arrested close to 30 individuals in different parts of the country who are selling these fake seeds. Kephis inspectors are on the ground to help in ensuring this, and going forward, farmers will be in a position to access quality certified seed,” he said.

The government intends to ensure fake seeds are removed from the market.

Substandard herbicides has also become a problem.

At the border  points where imported products come through, the government has deployed officers  from the Pests Control and Produce Board and enhanced support from the Ministry of Interior and KRA.

This, he said, is to make sure substandard chemicals are confiscated and importers are arrested.

“We have been in Mombasa for the last four weeks and arrested many people. Our officers are on the ground. We intend to launch an operation because we realised the problem is big,” Ronoh said.

He urged farmers to be cautious and ensure they only buy certified seeds as the planting season gets underway.

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation director general Dr Eliud Kireger told farmers to be on the lookout for fake seeds ahead of the long rains.

Some unscrupulous individuals and firms are packaging and selling fake seeds to farmers at exorbitant prices, adding that they are working with other authorities to dismantle these cartels.

Kireger said farmers are also grappling with poor quality seeds, inadequate supply and high costs.

He was speaking while opening two Mkulima Shops at Horticultural Research Institute  in Gatanga, Murang’a county.

The DG said they have established 16 Kalro seed centres in different parts of the country to increase volumes of seeds and help farmers cope with some of these challenges.

“Kalro Mkulima Shops have all our products. They are aimed at enhancing access to our seeds and other technologies. Seeds being the most critical input in crop yield and farm productivity, availability and access to certified ones is paramount in the achievement of food sufficiency in Kenya,” he said.

Kireger said Kalro has established 17 shops in Katumani, Kandara, Mtwapa, Ol Joro Orok, Embu, Mwea, Njoro, Kitale, Alupe and Muguga.

Others are in Kibos, Matuga, Tigoni, Kakamega, Kalro Seeds Thika, Kabete and headquarters in Loresho.

Farmers will access seeds at low prices.

Some of the seeds being sold in the Mkulima shops include beans, green grams, sorghum, millet, cow peas, maize, rice, wheat, Irish potatoes, sunflower and soya beans.

Farmers will also access fruit tree seedlings, including avocado, mango, macadamia, citrus, pawpaw, tissue culture bananas and passion.