Over 2, 500 kilogram of illegal maize seed has been confiscated by Seed Inspectors from the Seed Control and Certification Institute, SCCI, in four districts of Eastern Province.
Eastern Province Seed Inspector, Cosign Muleya says that the illegal maize seed was confiscated in Chipata, Katete, Sinda and Petauke districts.
Mr. Muleya explained that most of the seed being confiscated is coming from the neighboring countries.
He said that the exercise is ongoing and is aimed at curbing illegal selling of seeds that have no documents.
He further stated that those found selling seed without a seed seller’s licenses risk their stock being confiscated by SCCI.
The seed inspector indicated that fake seed affect farmer’s crop production, as the farmers end up planting inferior seed which is not tested and certified.
He emphasized that fake seed does not guarantee good crop germination which reduces a farmers yields.
And National Agricultural Information Services, NAIS, Provincial Officer, Muswa Siapolya said that one of the traders, Innocent Banda whose seed was confiscated, confirmed that the seed was supplied by unidentified seed dealers from Malawi.
The seed confiscated, was in branded packages of Delkab, Seed-co, MRI and Pannar.