Fake Maize Seed Floods Market
As the maize cropping season beckons, farmers have begun to make preparations by buying inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. Unfortunately, scammers are also aware of the farmers' buying patterns and have flooded the market with suspiciously cheap fake maize seeds.
This has jolted the police and SeedCo into launching a campaign to warn farmers against seed scammers. SeedCo managing director Terrence Chimanya yesterday revealed that there were counterfeit seed products in circulation.
“Our product basket is facing counterfeiting threats, which is not only a threat to our brand name but is a more serious threat to farmers and the nation. Their selling prices are below the market price of genuine products, and in some cases with margins that may seem reasonable to victims. The impact caused by fake seed dealers is huge on economic and social fronts because it might cause hunger due to poor harvests, leading to depleted incomes.”
He went on to say that these fake seeds had no known germination or yield percentages as they are never tested:
“For a brand to lose 7,8 tonnes through fake seed pipelines is a huge loss to the agriculture community. SeedCo is now working with the police to confront the challenge head-on. Current penalties are non-deterrent, we seek a sentencing review to curb the threat of fake seed.”
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said already 13 cases involving 7,8 tonnes of fake seed have been reported to the police.
“Investigations established that the fake seed is sold at illegal outlets and open spaces. Members of the public must report suspects that package and sell counterfeit maize seed.”
In a country where unemployment figures range upwards of 80%, rain-fed agriculture is the main economic activity and a key component of food security for millions of households, having scammers peddling fake inputs is a real cause for concern.
