Reports that counterfeit and substandard fertiliser was being sold to farmers are alarming, as this threatens not only livelihoods but also the health of consumers and the environment.

Similar claims surfaced last year, with farmers in some parts of Kenya alleging that what unscrupulous individuals sold to them was just soil mixed with chemicals.

Fake fertilisers, often produced with harmful chemicals or diluted with inert substances, pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity.

These counterfeit products are usually marketed at lower prices, enticing farmers to purchase them, especially those in rural areas with limited access to genuine products. However, the long-term consequences of using such fertilisers are catastrophic.

For starters, counterfeit fertilisers often lack essential nutrients or contain harmful chemicals that can degrade soil health, leading to decreased soil fertility over time.

This cycle of soil depletion affects crop productivity, forcing farmers to use even more of these fraudulent products in an attempt to recover lost yields.

Ultimately, this results in reduced agricultural output, higher costs for farmers, and a decline in food production, affecting the entire food supply chain.

In addition, using fake fertilisers can also have dire environmental consequences. The improper application of harmful chemicals can contaminate water sources, harming both ecosystems and communities.

When these chemicals enter the soil, they can cause long-term damage to land, rendering it unfit for cultivation.

Another grave concern arising from the proliferation of counterfeit fertilisers is the potential impact on public health. Many fake fertilisers contain toxic substances, such as heavy metals, that can end up in the food chain.  When these chemicals are absorbed by crops and subsequently consumed by humans, they pose serious health risks, ranging from food poisoning to long-term illnesses such as cancer.

While the problem of counterfeit fertilisers is well-documented, the measures to address it have not been effective enough.

The national government must implement stricter regulations on the production, distribution, and sale of fertilisers, ensuring that all products in the market meet rigorous quality standards.

These could include establishing a robust certification system for legitimate fertilisers and a comprehensive monitoring system to track and trace these products from manufacturer to consumer.