Govt in bid to stamp out fake seeds

The government is working with seed producing companies on strategies to stamp out fake seeds ahead of the 2014/2015 summer cropping season.

This emerged during the unveiling of a new seed packaging system by a listed seed manufacturing company in Harare on Wednesday.

Stakeholders agreed that the influx of unscrupulous traders selling fake seeds on the market should be urgently stopped for the benefit of farmers.

The Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex) Principal Director, Mr Joseph Gondo says the government is committed to curb the rampant selling of fake seeds.

"We are against that practice and it should end," said Mr Gondo.

A seed distributor Bruce Gilam says farmers should buy products from the registered seed manufacturing companies.

"More should be done to stamp out such bad acts," Mr Gilam said.

A managing director for a local seed producing company Dennis Zaranyika says the unveiling of the new packaging systems is being done for the benefit of farmers.

"It is prudent to do such acts in this economic climate," said Mr Zaranyika.

It is anticipated that the stamping out of fake seeds will guarantee the nation of increased yields per hectare in line with the government's policy which is aimed at maintaining confidence in the agriculture indus