BY MICHAEL SIFUNA

The national government, in collaboration with the Kakamega County administration, has been urged to take immediate action to address the growing problem of fake seeds that continues to affect farmers.Calls have been made for both levels of government to work closely together to regulate and completely eliminate the illegal trade in fake agricultural inputs.

Speaking in Malava Constituency after meeting with local farmers, Isaac Kosgei from Bayer East Africa noted that farmers are facing significant challenges, often purchasing seeds they believe to be genuine, only to later discover they are fake,an issue that has greatly contributed to reduced food production.

Farmers have also been advised to exercise caution when purchasing seeds, particularly maize seeds, to avoid falling victim to fraudulent dealers and ending up with substandard products.

Peter Mutalakhani, a farmer from Kabras in Malava, on behalf of his fellow farmers, called on the government to take firm legal action against all those involved in the sale of counterfeit seeds. He emphasized that the cost of farming is already high, a sentiment echoed by Diana Wamkune.On on the other hand, Rose Kuntu stated that the use of counterfeit seeds denies farmers the opportunity to achieve the high yields they expect.