Agency declares war on fake seeds
By KNA, December 22, 2023Farmers have been urged to report unscrupulous individuals selling counterfeit seeds.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Managing Director Theophilus Mutui said the government agency had teamed up with the police to eradicate fake seeds, enhance the quality of the seeds and ultimately boost agricultural productivity in the country.
Speaking during the KEPHIS Board familiarisation tour of Kisumu County, Mutui (pictured) said counterfeit seeds had become a huge menace.
The MD said using the uncertified and unregistered seeds would translate to low food yields, leading to food insecurity.
“We advise farmers to strictly buy certified seeds from agro vets vetted by KEPHIS. Some seed packaging has KEPHIS labels where you can scratch to find a code that is sent to a certain number to verify if the product is genuine or fake,” he explained.
He said the agency has scaled up its surveillance effort by ensuring KEPHIS inspectors move across the country to inspect the plants as well as the seeds.
Several people who were found dealing in fake seeds had been arrested and prosecuted. “We will ensure that the law takes its course on individuals found culpable,” he said.
The Seed and Plant Varieties Act, Cap. 326 of 2012, stipulates penalties for those arrested over fake seeds, which include a fine of up to Sh1 million and a jail term of up to two years.