Farmers complain over maize seeds failing to sprout

MWANZA: SOME maize farmers in Mwanza have raised concerns over poor germination in certain seed varieties, saying they suffered losses during the last farming season.

The complaints were raised during the climax of the Nane Nane exhibition in Mwanza yesterday, where officials from the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) urged farmers to verify seed quality and follow recommended planting practices.

A farmer from Magu District, Mr Shimiyu Gose, said some seed varieties failed to germinate while others produced weak crops that resulted in low yields.

“We used to harvest between 20 and 25 sacks of 100 kilogrammes each per hectare, but last season we got only 12 sacks,” he said.

Mr Gose said the most expensive seed varieties were among those that performed poorly despite farmers following recommended agronomic practices.

“A two-kilogramme package sold at 18,000/- was among those that failed to germinate, while some cheaper seeds sold at 8,000/- performed better,” he said.

Another farmer from Misungwi District, Mr Nyashimo Lushinje, also complained about poor germination and shortage of extension officers.

“They either never show up throughout the farming season or visit us only occasionally,” he said.

Responding to the complaints, TOSCI Seed Inspector Mr Joseph Pagu said poor germination can result from the use of outdated seed, especially hybrid varieties that are intended for one planting season only.

He advised farmers to ensure that seed packages carry the official blue TOSCI label and to verify the hidden code printed on the package.

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“You dial *148*52# on your mobile phone, enter the code and follow the verification process. If the seed is genuine, the phone will display details that match those on the package,” he said.

Mr Pagu warned that farmers who encounter suspicious labels or invalid verification details should report the matter to relevant authorities for investigation and legal action against dealers.

He said penalties for selling uncertified seed may include fines ranging from 300,000/- to 50m/-, imprisonment, or both.

Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA) Quality Controller Mr Godwin Vedastus said soil type and soil acidity (pH) also influence germination and crop development.

He said loamy soils generally provide better conditions for maize production because they retain moisture while allowing roots to absorb nutrients effectively.

“At the same time, we discourage the use of manure during planting because it may not provide sufficient nutrients for the initial growth of the crop,” he said.