New measures rolled out to shield farmers from fake seeds

DODOMA: EFFORTS to protect farmers from fake seeds have been intensified, with a new directive requiring all rural and regional seed sellers to be re-registered into a national database for close monitoring and quality assurance.

Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe revealed the new measures in the National Assembly yesterday while responding to a supplementary question from Special Seats MP Dr Thea Ntara, who inquired about the government’s plan to ensure seeds sold in stores are of high-quality and affordable, particularly for women farmers.

Mr Bashe said the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) has expanded its capacity to inspect and verify seeds in the market.

As part of the changes, seed bags will carry a special label starting next farming season to help farmers identify certified products.

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He said the registration of seed sellers in villages and regions is already underway, and the entire seed distribution chain is being revamped to stop the spread of fake products.

“To deal with fake seeds, we are re-registering all rural and regional seed sellers and reforming the distribution system. All sellers will now be part of a special national database,” Mr Bashe said.

He added that to help reduce production costs, the government has begun subsidising selected seeds, including maize, sunflower, and wheat.