Counterfeit seed dealers to be blacklisted #uganda

Seed companies, agro-dealers, and service providers have
welcomed Transparency International (TI)'s move to
establish a toll-free number where farmers can report cases
of counterfeit seeds, herbicides and fertilizers. Speaking at
a breakfast meeting at Grand Imperial hotel in Kampala
early this week, Francis Ekadu, the programmes coordinator
at TI, said the organization was concerned by the increasing
cases of counterfeits among farm inputs. Ekadu said the
toll-free line was already in operation in five districts, and
so far TI had received 187 calls in two months. The toll-free
number is 0800280280.
He added that TI had been supporting the private sector but
the issues of counterfeits in agricultural inputs kept coming
up, and as an organization, they could not ignore the vice
any more.
The meeting brought together farmer groups,
representatives of seed companies, agro-dealers, service
providers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
development partners.
"Counterfeits deprive farmers of more production, and they
are also harmful to our health. Most of these chemicals
(herbicides) are not used in Europe but tested in Africa," he
said.
Ekadu explained that most chemicals were produced in
Europe and dumped in Africa, and the manufacturers were
not directly in touch with the Ugandan buyers.
A lot of value is lost through counterfeits. For instance, he
explained that between $3.9m and $6m is lost in maize, $
6.3m and $15.4m in herbicides.
Dealers react:
Peter Otim Odoch, from Otiseeds Ltd in Lira, welcomed the
idea and said it was timely. He added that it was a good
start but TI, whose work is to expose corruption, among
others, should widen their scope and bring in policymakers
and farmers.
"The problem is huge both in Kampala and upcountry. Even
we who operate in Lira still face this challenge and I hope it
will be embraced by dealers and farmers," he said.
Richard Musagazi, from Pearl Seeds company, which
operates in Kampala, said the toll-free number could help
fight counterfeits and TI should educate and empower
farmers to know how to detect good seeds, fertilizers and
herbicides.
"For us to make a step forward, famers should be advised to
keep receipts from seed purchases so that in case of a
complaint, this can be used to check with the
manufacturers.
As companies that deal with agro-inputs, we have a
network and this will also guard against people who might
want to malign a company," he said.
Paul Kyabaggu, the managing director of Bukoola
Chemicals, one of the oldest companies in Uganda, said that
dealers in counterfeits have learnt to dry and dye maize
with a different colour of pink orange, and duped farmers
into paying for seeds that just won't grow. He said that
seeds are the most valuable agricultural resource; a quality
seed is one of the determinants of farming success.
However, he added, that seeds with good yields are
expensive.
According to Kyabaggu; less than 15 per cent of farmers in
Uganda use improved seeds and many of the seed
companies find it difficult to make a profit. The lack of trust
in local seed markets is a problem even for large
commercial farmers.
John Ndyomungyeni, the country chairperson of Utoda and a
farmer in Kakiri, said he was once a victim after he bought
cabbage seeds and they failed to germinate.
He welcomed TI's initiative and advised that people should
also report black spots where counterfeits are usually sold.
"I'm appealing to the people to know the container village -
Nakivubo lane, (Lugoloma lane to Ham city view). These
are areas where people sell seeds and other agro-inputs.
The authorities should also be vigilant," he said.