The National Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Crop Development, has directed all seed merchants to obtain authorisation from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS).
The directive is part of the government’s effort to address counterfeit seeds.
Speaking at Kenya Seed Company’s Elgon Downs Farm in Trans Nzoia County during the annual Research Field Day, Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS) Kiprono Rono said the government is committed to protecting Kenyan farmers from unscrupulous businesspeople.
Government warns seed merchants
Rono said that any seed merchants who will not comply with the directive will be shut down.
“Many of our farmers have for the longest time suffered in the hands of very rogue people who have been selling fake seeds to unsuspecting farmers. Their time is now up,” Rono said.
The vocal PS also called on the security agencies to work with KEPHIS inspectors to arrest and prosecute all the people found dealing with fake seeds.
He further revealed that the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) is currently undertaking the removal of 45 banned varieties of pesticides across the country.
“We have directed PCPB to move to all the agro vets villages in Kenya to ensure that all the banned pesticides are removed from the shelves so that they are not sold to our farmers,” the PS added.
Is Kenya Seed prepared for the next planting season?
Kenya Seed Company Managing Director Sammy Chepsiror assured Kenyan farmers that the company has enough seed for the next planting season.
“We are adequately prepared to meet the market demand for seed. We have over 40 million kilos of seed, which is enough for our farmers,” Chepsiror said.
Meanwhile, Purity Ngirici, the chairperson of Kenya Seed Company Board of Directors, called on Kenyan farmers to use certified seeds.
“We have an agenda of ensuring that Kenya is seed and food secure. In order to achieve this agenda, our farmers must use certified seeds at all times. You should be cautious and vigilant so that you don’t buy fake seeds,” Ngirici urged farmers.
