The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has raised a red flag over the proliferation of cartels and unscrupulous businessmen dealing in fake seeds resulting in farmers realizing poor or no harvests.
KALRO has warned that counterfeit seeds are the leading contributor to poor harvests, food and nutritional insecurity, and low crop production thus leading to a high cost of living as food is imported from outside the country.
Speaking while opening a Mkulima shop at Njoro Township, within Nakuru County, KALRO Director in Charge of Food Crops and Research, Dr. Godwin Macharia, disclosed that the organization was opening 16 other shops across the country to ensure farmers get a chance to buy certified and quality seeds from the organization.
While indicating that KALRO intended to open the Mkulima shop in all its 54 centers across the country, Dr. Macharia revealed that researchers from the organization have developed high-yielding, drought- and disease-resistant bean, sweet potato, sunflower, and cassava seed varieties in a bid to encourage alternative crops in the face of reduced maize production.
Other seeds that farmers would access from Mkulima Shop at low prices include green grams, sorghum, millet, cowpeas, maize, rice, wheat, Irish potatoes, and soya beans.They will also get fruit tree seedlings, including avocado, mango, macadamia, citrus, pawpaw, Tissue Culture bananas, and passion.
The varieties, he said, would be able to withstand drought, pests, and diseases that have seen farmers’ yields reduced to zero percent. He, however, urged farmers to only use seeds certified by the research organization.
“Kalro provides clean planting materials to farmers. That’s why we are encouraging farmers to get certified seeds from our institutions to reduce the chances of the diseases being spread,” he said.
Dr. Macharia urged people to be on the lookout for fake seeds ahead of the planting season due in a few months.
He said some unscrupulous individuals and firms are packaging and selling fake seeds.
Dr. Macharia said they were working with other authorities to dismantle these cartels. He added that farmers were also grappling with poor quality seeds, inadequacy of seed for most crops, and, where available, exorbitant prices.
He said the government has developed a robust system to ease access to quality seeds by farmers by establishing Kalro Seeds.
Dr. Macharia affirmed that they have come up with several measures to mitigate challenges faced by farmers including establishing 16 seed production centers, increasing volumes of seeds, developing new crop varieties, and establishing Mkulima Shops countrywide.
“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 seed is paramount in the achievement of food sufficiency in Kenya,” he noted.
Kalro has so far established 17 shops located in AMRI Katumani, HRI Kandara, ICRI Mtwapa, DRI Ol Joro Orok, FCRI Embu, ICRI Mwea, FCRI Njoro, FCRI Kitale, FCRC Alupe and FCRC Muguga. Others are in HRC Kibos, HRC Matuga, HRC Tigoni, NRRI Kakamega, Kalro Seeds Thika, FCRC Kabete, and Kalro headquarters in Loresho.
Dr. Macharia pledged that KALRO is committed to coordinating the multiplication, maintenance, marketing, and distribution of all crop planting materials. They include breeder, pre-basic, basic, and certified seeds, fruit and nut tree seedlings, roots, and tuber cuttings and fodder.
“Establishment of Mkulima Shops across the country not only gives farmers the opportunity for contractual seed production but also helps in promoting the varieties being grown,” he said.
He urged farmers to use certified planting materials for guaranteed high yields, high returns, and tolerance to common pests and diseases.
Acting Deputy Director-General Crops- KALRO Dr. Felister Makini observed that recycling of seeds results in poor harvest adding that the research organization was actively climate-smart seed varieties that were high yielding and resilient to adverse conditions.
She indicated that Kalro has also developed digital technologies that provide real-time advice on weather patterns and ideal crops for every season and region.
“I encourage farmers to keep visiting our centers for advice on the available climate-smart varieties and other technologies,” she said.
Dr. Makini stated that farmers would benefit from training on the best farming practices to maximize yield.
She said the Mkulima Shops concept was the best shot towards increasing production and attaining food security.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member in Charge of Agriculture, Mr. Leonard Bor, said the devolved unit’s administration would partner with Kalro to give farmers quality planting materials through cooperatives.
He said the Governor Susan Kihika-led administration in partnership with Kalro was set to roll out a training programme for the youth to be extension officers who would then be deployed to villages to train farmers on the best and most productive farming practices.
He advised farmers to be vigilant against getting cheated by unscrupulous traders who have formed rackets that deal in fake seeds and substandard farm inputs.
Bor said the use of certified seeds and fertilizers contributed towards food security when there is sufficient rainfall.
He advised farmers to avoid buying seeds packed in open containers that were not labeled adding that such traders were not licensed by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) to stock certified seeds.
“Distribution of counterfeit seeds and substandard farm inputs is a big threat to food security. Fake seeds are the leading contributor to poor harvests and low crop production, in the process, triggering increased cost of living through food imports from other countries,” stated the CECM.
Bor asked farmers to be keen on what they purchase and report individuals trading in uncertified seeds.
“Most farmers use counterfeit seeds due to a lack of access to quality certified seeds and information. As such, Governor Kihika’s administration has resolved to partner with KALRO, the Kenya Seed Company, Kephis, and other research institutions to conduct training and organize farmers’ field days as a measure to tackle the counterfeit seed and poor-quality farm inputs menace,” he disclosed.
The CECM indicated that traceability of certified seeds was easy and advised farmers to keep the packet and receipt as these may be required as evidence in case of suspected fake seeds.
“To succeed in fighting bad seeds, the farmer should check a packet and they will see a Kephis logo. Once they scratch it, they will find a serial number that can be sent to a code that will enable them to tell the exact variety, its producer, the batch, and its lifespan. That’s the only way to secure our agriculture. You can’t talk about food security unless you have good-quality seeds,” he said.
He added, “It is unfortunate that some seed-producing companies are notorious for taking advantage of the planting season to sell uncertified seeds to farmers. Farmers should be careful. They should not purchase seeds not certified by Kephis. Most of them don’t germinate while others give poor yields.”
Bor said all certified seeds bore a Kephis label and further have a seal indicating the date of production as well as the lifespan.
Planting seasons in Kenya are characterized by high demand for certified seeds against low supply. As a result, shady seed merchants have been taking farmers for a ride by selling them counterfeit seeds. These seeds are packaged in similar packets as those of certified ones.
Although some farmers have good judgment, when it comes to detecting fake seeds, it is never foolproof.
The CECM expressed concern that if the business of fake seeds is allowed to flourish, it would be a threat to the seed industry which loses millions of shillings in potential sales each year.
He told farmers to buy recommended seed varieties for their particular areas as each region had seeds specifically manufactured to suit its climatic conditions.
Bor also advised farmers to allow regular testing of soils to determine the type and quantity of fertilizer to use.
The CECM observed that the Kenya Seed Company offers an extensive portfolio of over 60 certified seed varieties, tailored to diverse agroecological zones within the region. The Company he added, controls over 80 percent of the seed maize market in Kenya.
A few days ago, Kephis Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui warned that agrovet dealers found selling fake seeds would face a fine of up to Sh1 million and a jail term of up to two years in a new move by the government to get rid of unscrupulous traders in the market.
Prof. Mutui said the organization has received complaints from farmers over the sale of fake seeds by dealers.
“We have had instances of fake seeds sold in some counties, especially in grain basket regions by unscrupulous traders thus affecting food production. In the recent past we managed to arrest the situation in one of the counties in the Rift region,” he stated.
Mutui added that the inspectorate would be working with the police and other State agencies to flush out unscrupulous individuals trading counterfeit seeds to unsuspecting farmers.
He said Seed and Plant Varieties Act Cap 326 of 2012 stipulates stiff penalties for those arrested dealing in fake seeds which includes a fine of up to Sh1 million and a jail term of up to two years if found guilty.
A farmer, Mr. Vincent Chelule said growers in the region have been complaining about the sale of substandard seeds, claiming the same is contributing to low food production.
He said the Mkulima Shop would fill the gap of shortage of certified seeds and supply quality to farmers.
“From my perspective, there is a lack of certified seeds but Mkulima shop will fill the gap,” said Chelule.
Traditionally, farmers recycle seeds harvested from crops on their farms which they use as planting. However, experts warn that the practice does not guarantee maximum production.
By Jane Ngugi
