Mbale farmers advised to watch out for fake farm inputs

As counterfeit agro-inputs flood the market, the need to train farmers to identify fake products has cropped up.

Farming Consult and Management Company Mbale branch in Mbale district, recently organised such a training on improved seeds and pesticides.

The training was among others attended by agro-puts dealers and expenders and farmers and was done in preparation for the planting season, as the rains set in.

The trainees were taught how to identify fake inputs at the purchasing level before passing them on to the farmer.

Three companies carried out the training which covered pesticide handling, taught by Eco-Mind Investment, herbicides handling by Nissi Agro-Vet Company, and improved feeds was conducted by Concfeeds International Limited.

According to Alex Musoke who works with Eco-Mind Investment, many farmers buy a range of counterfeit agro-inputs without realising it.

He says, in the case of seeds, they may be expired, but coloured to deceive farmers.

Rebecca Massa , the managing director, Nissi Agro-Vet Company says some of those products contain banned or restricted chemicals.

"Our products are sold in one place in the all Mbale", said Massa who also advised farmers to buy only genuine products.

According to Isam Nsubuga of Concfeed International Limited, the trend of counterfeiting agriculture chemical products in the country is worrying.

"The number of counterfeit products is growing and that is why we are trying to visit places in the villages", he says.

Benon Kisomose who works FACOM Kampala said FACOM would make impromptu visits to farmers who take their products to find out whether the trainees are practicing what they were taught.

Ali Masinde, who was among the people who bought a packet of herbicide and used it to spray weeds in preparation for a new season, but the wild plants, did not dry up.

"I bought the herbicide at a subsidised fee from Kampala after a dealer assured me that it was what i was looking for", Masinde says adding, "I applied the herbicide to the weeds, but the weeds did not dry up. I sprayed them a second time using a higher dosage, but again there was no change.

How to detect fake seeds or inputs

Edward Sebuwufu a technician and agronomist at FACOM says it is important to check the expiry date, if you do not find it, do not buy the product.

He advises farmers not buy seeds from anywhere and from anybody. "Go to only those companies and shops that are certified".

Take note that not every coloured seed is hybrid, unscrupulous dealers use colour to dupe farmers, he says farmers have to be careful with the branding of the seeds/pesticides etc. most of the fake inputs are not branded.

If a product has contact details say a phone number, you may try to call it since some numbers have turned out to be fake.

According to Sebuwufu insist on getting a well written receipt for your purchase. This will help you to track the source of the product in case there is problem.