Existence of fake and non-certified seeds in the Kenyan market is posing a risk to the country’s efforts of striving to be food secure.
According to Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS) managing director Esther Kimani, farmers are being duped by rogue traders who sell fake seeds.
She said that farmers have been recording low yields as a result of planting these fake seeds.
“Most farmers have been crying and recording losses after registering poor yields below their expectations. This has been brought about by many uncertified fake seeds they have been planting,” she said.
She added: “The country cannot be food secure if farmers continue planting fake seeds because we will never realize enough yields as a country.”
Dr Kimani called on farmers to work closely with KEPHIS officers in ensuring that only certified seeds are in the market.
“Farmers can help us because they are the ones on the ground and they can report any suspicious seeds to KEPHIS so we can take action,” she said.