Senior Reporter
Farmers in Kisoro district have expressed their appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for their ongoing efforts to tackle the spread of counterfeit agricultural inputs across the nation.
Their appreciation follows a recent crackdown on vendors of agricultural inputs who fail to meet market standards within Kisoro municipality. The operation, which took place last November, was led by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture with support from the Kisoro police. It led to the closure of unlicensed shops and those selling fake inputs or lacking the necessary certifications.
During interviews with our reporter, farmers shared their frustrations at being deceived into purchasing substandard pesticides and fertilizers, resulting in significant losses due to reduced farm productivity. They urged the government to consistently regulate manufacturers of agricultural inputs to prevent the influx of counterfeit products into the market.
Fred Munzira, a senior Agricultural Inspector within the Ministry, stressed that the crackdown aims to ensure farmers have access to high-quality agricultural inputs as they prepare for the upcoming season. He specifically highlighted Farmers House Agro Input shop as the only establishment meeting all regulatory requirements, encouraging farmers in the district to buy its products.
Munzira instructed the police to apprehend Nkurunziza James of Nkurunziza Agro Input shop, citing allegations of document falsification. He cautioned farmers against purchasing cheap or repackaged products, warning that unscrupulous dealers may tamper with them to maximize profits.
