‘Agro-dealers should supply quality farm inputs’

The Seed Trade Association of Malawi (Stam), an umbrella body for seed companies, has asked agro-dealers in Malawi to be honest by only selling certified farm-inputs.

Stam general secretary Felix Jumbe said this in Kasungu where he addressed agro-dealers from the district, Ntchisi, Mchinji and Dowa.

Jumbe noted that some agro-dealers are selling uncertified seeds which contribute to the country’s low crop productivity.

Said he: “Honesty is a backbone of any business. You have to be honest by ensuring that you only sell certified farm inputs.”

Jumbe, who is also Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president, said the country’s certified seed adoption rate is still low at 43 percent.

He said Zambia and Zimbabwe have seed adoption rates of 60 and 90 percent, respectively.

“We need to reverse this trend. Our economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and the availability and use of certified seed is crucial,” Jumbe said.