Govt threatens agro dealers with prosecution, license withdrawal for dealing in counterfeit seed

Government has warned that agro dealers found selling counterfeit seed will face prosecution, license withdrawal and permanent exclusion from government input programs as the 2026/2027 farming season approaches.

The Ministry of Agriculture said the Seed Control and Certification Institute, working with the Intellectual Property Unit, law enforcement agencies and the Market Seed Trade Association, would intensify inspections and surveillance across the country to curb the proliferation of fake seed.

Ministry Director for Agribusiness and Marketing, Mwendalubi Msoka, said this during the training of agro dealers in Lusaka on Friday at Intercontinental Hotel, organised by Corteva AgriScience

Msoka described counterfeit seed as “economic sabotage” that robbed farmers of entire seasons of investment and threatened national food security by undermining confidence in the seed industry.

She noted that farmers who unknowingly purchased fake seed lost more than money because they lose labour, time and the opportunity to improve their livelihoods through a productive harvest.

“Government will not tolerate the manufacture, distribution, storage or sale of counterfeit seeds.Individuals or businesses found engaged in the sale of counterfeit seeds risk prosecution, severe penalties, withdrawal of licenses, closure of business operations and disqualifications from participating in government supportive programs,” Msoka said

She urged all Agro Dealers to source and sell only certified seeds from reputable suppliers, and encouraged farmers to buy agriculture inputs only from licensed dealers.

Msoka also advised farmers to keep seed labels, packaging and receipts for purposes of product verification and investigations where necessary.

“Farmers rely on your guidance to make decisions about inputs and your responsibility is to extend technical advice productively. There is need for professionalism and integrity,” she said.

Msoka revealed that 923 agro dealers participated in the 2025/2026 FISP seed season, up from 633 the previous year, and said over 5 million metric tons of maize produced was a testimony to farmer hard work and private sector contribution.

Corteva Agriscience Managing Director, Samson Nyendwa said dealers should build businesses on trust and quality because reputation was their greatest asset.

“We recognize that when we strengthen our agro dealers we strengthen the farmers. And when we strengthen the farmers we strengthen the agriculture industry as a whole,” Nyendwa said.

He told dealers that agriculture was evolving rapidly and that businesses that would thrive were those that invest in learning today, including financial management, compliance and extension services.

“Your responsibility goes beyond making a sale. Farmers trust your advice and recommendations. So don’t betray farmers by advising them where you think you are getting more money,” Nyendwa said.

He warned that forecasts continued to point to possible drought and El Nino-related weather, and urged dealers to promote early maturity hybrids and drought-tolerant varieties to build resilience.

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