Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha, has threatened to kick out from the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) supply chain firms whose products will be infiltrated by unscrupulous traders selling fake seeds.
Mwanamvekha was speaking in Lilongwe on Monday when he launched the National Seed Policy.
He said his stance augers well with Policy Priority Area Number 2 on seed certification and quality control.
Mwanamvekha said seed quality is important in crop production, as high quality seed is essential for high crop yields.
“We are aware that there are some people that buy your packaging, they colour the maize and sell it as genuine seed thereby duping the farmer. There are also some agro-dealers selling fake seeds.
“We will not deal with the agro dealer but the company itself so we will take you out of Fisp or any other government programme,” Mwanamvekha said.
He added that the launch of the policy would transform the seed industry as it is all encompassing and a review of the 1993 policy which was outdated.
The minister said he expects the industry to grow significantly and protect farmers from exploitation in the process.
Seed Trade Association of Malawi Chairperson, John Lungu, said the policy would help provide guidance to players in the industry.
Lungu, who is also Quton Malawi Limited General Manager, said his association working tirelessly to deal with the problem of fake seed on the market.
“Now we have got guidelines. There are penalties for those who are not doing well and it has been very accommodative in that some of the things that were not there before are now included,” Lungu said.
The National Seed Policy will, among other things, harmonise the seed industry in the country with similar sectors in the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa regions to allow free flow of seeds.
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