SEEDCARE URGES FARMERS TO BE AWARE OF FAKE SEEDS

Seedcare Head for Eastern and Southern Africa Felix Tembo has urged farmers to be aware of fake seeds during the 2024/2025 planting season.

Speaking in an interview Mr. Tembo staid the drought has a very big draw back both on the seed industry and the agriculture sector.

“The drought has a very big drawback both on the seed industry and the agriculture sector because basically what happened is that most small holder farmers planted and they never harvested anything and they will need money or resources to buy seed the coming season so if they didn’t harvest it meaning they didn’t sale any grain or any commodity and they will be forced to use grain as seed because they don’t harvest seed, so this is where we need a lot of support from partners as well as the government to ensure that this farmers are helped with especially with basic inputs in production which are seeds, bit of fertilize and crop protection products because this is the only way they can improve their production,”Mr. Tembo said.

He said the biggest challenge that the seed industry has is the knowledge or awareness creation of what is fake seed saying a number of farmers when there are buying seeds, they mostly look at the price.

Mr Tembo said there is need for the seed industry to come up with activities and also funds to create awareness to sensitize farmers on fake seed.

He added that there is need to reinforce regulations by training people to identify and sensitize farmers on fake seeds.

“There is need to reinforce regulations by training people to identify and sensitize farmers on fake seeds just like in kenya they have people that have been trained to identify and sensitize people on fake seeds but in Zambia we don’t have any, every seed company is fighting this battle alone and not as a concerted effort, ’He said