Maize farmers irked by fake seeds

KIRYANDONGO- Maize farmers in Kiryandongo District are counting losses resulting from planting fake seeds. The farmers claim the fake seeds were bought from agro input dealers operating within the district.
Speaking during a meeting with Kiryandongo District leadership recently, a group of farmers under their umbrella organisation Nyamahasa United Area Cooperative Ltd said there is widespread sale of fake seeds calling for action.
The manager Nyamahasa Area Cooperative Ltd, Mr Michael Adubango, told the meeting that some seed companies are buying poor quality maize from uncontracted farmers and package it for distribution to farmers at exorbitant prices.
“This is not just costly for farmers but the fake seeds are affecting our yields,” he said.

Mr Adubango also raised an issue of contracted maize farmers being lured by unscrupulous buyers to sell their maize in disregard of maize production contract signed between the farmers and cooperative enterprise.
Senior agriculture officer Kiryandongo District, Ms Enid Karungi said her office has received several complaints from farmers about fake seeds on the market. “Some people are painting maize grains with colours instead of using chemicals applied for treating seeds,” she said.
Assistant chief administrative officer Kiryandongo District, Mr Denis Ganchandi ,observed that the vice was rampant in the whole country.
“Before commercialisation of grains, people were planting their harvests that could yield highly.

I therefore advise cooperatives to test germination rates before advising farmers where to buy from,” he said.
He also advised farmers to start the process of multiplying maize seeds so that they can get support from grain council and Ministry of Agriculture so that Kiryandongo District local government can be able to contract them to supply seeds.