NAADS farmers get fake, expensive spray pumps
Jun 03, 2009
FARMERS under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme in Mayuge have received fake spray pumps at sh280,000 as opposed to the market price of sh90,000.
BY RONALD KALYANGO
FARMERS under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme in Mayuge have received fake spray pumps at sh280,000 as opposed to the market price of sh90,000.
The anomaly was discovered by agriculture state minister, Aggrey Bagiire, during a field tour of NAADS activities in the district last week.
All the visited farmers in Mayuge Town Council and Imanyiro sub-county had the fake spray pumps.
Bagiire noticed that dealers in Kampala were placing stickers of genuine Cooper Pegler (CP15) spray pumps on the fake pumps.
“It is sad that the subject matter’s specialists and the technical people in the whole district have never realised that the farmers were given fake pumps,†Bagiire said.
Under the six farmer per parish approach, the beneficiaries are given farm inputs at no cost but later are supposed to pay back the money used to purchase the inputs.
“Technical officials have not helped the Government achieve its Prosperity For All vision,†Bagiire said.
He said the dealers had started faking the CP15 spray pumps because they had been in use for decades.
“The genuine pumps are durable, robust and have an accurate sprayer, which is well-suited for pesticide application under harsh conditions,†Bagiire explained.
He said when the spray pump is combined with a pressure relief valve; it tolerates abrasive particles like wettable powders and dirty water.
Bagiire said the genuine CP15 pumps have a contoured tank with a rounded skirt and recessed straps. This allows the user to work for many hours without discomfort.
The sprayer is also simple to use. The spray tank is not pressurised and spraying is controlled from the trigger valve. “The genuine pumps require no maintenance other than routine cleaning,†he explained.
Bagiire also noted that the amount of fake agricultural chemicals on the market was on the increase.
“We have established that unscrupulous dealers are taking advantage of the increasing demand for agro-chemicals to cheat unsuspecting farmers,†said Bagiire.
He said the agriculture ministry and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards would establish the origin of the fake chemicals.
Bagiire said the fake chemicals were part of a network of a larger counterfeiting system, with connections among agro-chemical dealers who are involved in importing and exporting the fake chemicals and other commodities.
He said: “If it is a pesticide, the pests will not die even when a farmer applies it regularly. If it is a herbicide, the grass will continue growing after the harmless chemical has been applied.â€
Consequently, the farmer will notice a decrease in yields, with adverse effects on the environment and human life.
Bagiire said the fake chemicals accelerate soil deterioration, resulting into substantial crop losses, which affects the country’s economic growth.
He said the dealers buy one bag of a genuine product and mix it with the fake product.
According to the ministry, most fungicides and fertilisers affected by this kind of scam include; NPK, DAP and Urea fertilisers. The same technique is applied to the herbicides and insecticides.
A dealer removes the seal and removes some of the genuine chemical. He then adds water or paraffin to the container, seals the container and the herbicide or insecticide is sold to farmers. What the farmer buys is poor quality insecticides or herbicides whose effect, when sprayed on the crop, is minimal.
According to the ministry, the most counterfeited products include; Round-up (Glyphosate), which is manufactured by Monsanto, Dithane M45 (Mancozeb 80WP), which is manufactured by Dow Agro Science and Dursban 4E (chlorpyrifos Ethyl 48% EC), which is manufactured by Dow Agro Science.
Others include Ridomil Gold MZ 68WP (Mancozeb 56% or Metalaxyl 12%), which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection Ag. Basle and Furadan (Carbofuran), which is manufactured by FMC Corporation.
Genuine CP15 spray pumps
- Tank capacity rated/actual: 15 /17 litres
- Tank material: Polypropylene
- Tank opening: 14cm
- Empty weight: 4.92kg
- Maximum spraying pressure: 3 bar
- Delivery hose length: 128cm
- Harness material: polyester braid
- Shoulder pad material: Polyethylene
- Lance length: 50cm
Special features of the back pack sprayer
- Left or right hand use
- Relief valve for low and high pressure
- Wide opening for quick filling and tank access
- Low maintenance, low friction pump
- Transparent tank with moulded indicator for accuracy
- High capacity strainer to reduce pump wear
- Fine mesh filter to minimise nozzle blockage
- Storage compartment for nozzles
- Easy to adjust shoulder harness.
- Comfortable non-absorbent shoulder pads
FARMERS under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme in Mayuge have received fake spray pumps at sh280,000 as opposed to the market price of sh90,000.
The anomaly was discovered by agriculture state minister, Aggrey Bagiire, during a field tour of NAADS activities in the district last week.
All the visited farmers in Mayuge Town Council and Imanyiro sub-county had the fake spray pumps.
Bagiire noticed that dealers in Kampala were placing stickers of genuine Cooper Pegler (CP15) spray pumps on the fake pumps.
“It is sad that the subject matter’s specialists and the technical people in the whole district have never realised that the farmers were given fake pumps,†Bagiire said.
Under the six farmer per parish approach, the beneficiaries are given farm inputs at no cost but later are supposed to pay back the money used to purchase the inputs.
“Technical officials have not helped the Government achieve its Prosperity For All vision,†Bagiire said.
He said the dealers had started faking the CP15 spray pumps because they had been in use for decades.
“The genuine pumps are durable, robust and have an accurate sprayer, which is well-suited for pesticide application under harsh conditions,†Bagiire explained.
He said when the spray pump is combined with a pressure relief valve; it tolerates abrasive particles like wettable powders and dirty water.
Bagiire said the genuine CP15 pumps have a contoured tank with a rounded skirt and recessed straps. This allows the user to work for many hours without discomfort.
The sprayer is also simple to use. The spray tank is not pressurised and spraying is controlled from the trigger valve. “The genuine pumps require no maintenance other than routine cleaning,†he explained.
Bagiire also noted that the amount of fake agricultural chemicals on the market was on the increase.
“We have established that unscrupulous dealers are taking advantage of the increasing demand for agro-chemicals to cheat unsuspecting farmers,†said Bagiire.
He said the agriculture ministry and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards would establish the origin of the fake chemicals.
Bagiire said the fake chemicals were part of a network of a larger counterfeiting system, with connections among agro-chemical dealers who are involved in importing and exporting the fake chemicals and other commodities.
He said: “If it is a pesticide, the pests will not die even when a farmer applies it regularly. If it is a herbicide, the grass will continue growing after the harmless chemical has been applied.â€
Consequently, the farmer will notice a decrease in yields, with adverse effects on the environment and human life.
Bagiire said the fake chemicals accelerate soil deterioration, resulting into substantial crop losses, which affects the country’s economic growth.
He said the dealers buy one bag of a genuine product and mix it with the fake product.
According to the ministry, most fungicides and fertilisers affected by this kind of scam include; NPK, DAP and Urea fertilisers. The same technique is applied to the herbicides and insecticides.
A dealer removes the seal and removes some of the genuine chemical. He then adds water or paraffin to the container, seals the container and the herbicide or insecticide is sold to farmers. What the farmer buys is poor quality insecticides or herbicides whose effect, when sprayed on the crop, is minimal.
According to the ministry, the most counterfeited products include; Round-up (Glyphosate), which is manufactured by Monsanto, Dithane M45 (Mancozeb 80WP), which is manufactured by Dow Agro Science and Dursban 4E (chlorpyrifos Ethyl 48% EC), which is manufactured by Dow Agro Science.
Others include Ridomil Gold MZ 68WP (Mancozeb 56% or Metalaxyl 12%), which is manufactured by Syngenta Crop Protection Ag. Basle and Furadan (Carbofuran), which is manufactured by FMC Corporation.
Genuine CP15 spray pumps
- Tank capacity rated/actual: 15 /17 litres
- Tank material: Polypropylene
- Tank opening: 14cm
- Empty weight: 4.92kg
- Maximum spraying pressure: 3 bar
- Delivery hose length: 128cm
- Harness material: polyester braid
- Shoulder pad material: Polyethylene
- Lance length: 50cm
Special features of the back pack sprayer
- Left or right hand use
- Relief valve for low and high pressure
- Wide opening for quick filling and tank access
- Low maintenance, low friction pump
- Transparent tank with moulded indicator for accuracy
- High capacity strainer to reduce pump wear
- Fine mesh filter to minimise nozzle blockage
- Storage compartment for nozzles
- Easy to adjust shoulder harness.
- Comfortable non-absorbent shoulder pads