KISORO: Farmers in Kisoro district have commended the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for its ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit agro inputs throughout the nation.
These sentiments arose following a recent crackdown on agro input vendors who fail to meet market standards within Kisoro municipality. The operation, conducted last November, was led by Ministry of Agriculture officials with support from the Kisoro police. It resulted in the closure of unlicensed shops, as well as those peddling fake inputs or lacking the necessary certifications.
Farmers, speaking to our reporter, lamented being repeatedly deceived into purchasing substandard pesticides and fertilizers, resulting in significant losses due to diminished farm productivity. They urged the government to consistently regulate agro input manufacturers to prevent the influx of counterfeit products into the market.
CUE IN FARMERS… ON THE MATTER… RR//
Fred Muzira, a senior Agricultural Inspector within the Ministry, emphasized that the crackdown aims to ensure farmers have access to high-quality agro inputs as they prepare for the upcoming season. He singled out Farmers House Agro Input shop as the only establishment meeting all regulatory requirements, urging farmers in the district to patronize its products.
Muzira directed 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 boost profits.
CUE IN MUZIRA… ON THE ARRESTS… ENG//
