ZARI WARNS UNSCRUPULOUS AGRO DEALERS OVER FERTILISER

AGRO dealers in the country should desist from exploiting farmers by supplying them with substandard fertilizers, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) Principal Agriculture Research Officer Robert Salati has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Salati said the Government was concerned with unscrupulous agro dealers that were illegally manufacturing fertilizers without being registered.

He said the Government will vigilantly monitor the supply chain to ensure distribution of standard fertilizer on the market adding that fertilizer inspectors from ZARI will work with the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct inspections in agro shops.

“We urge agro dealers who are in the habit of exploiting farmers and supplying them with fake fertilizers that punitive measures will be taken against such individuals or institutions,” Mr. Salati said.

He said the Institute would ensure inspections were done countrywide in its quest to maintain the integrity of the agriculture sector in the country.

“It is farming season and the core responsibility of ZARI is to monitor the quality of fertilizer on the market and ensure that the farmers are sold the right fertilizer as well as the right quantity that will boost their production,” he said.

He noted that for ZARI to ensure that the quality fertilizer on the market was of the right standard in accordance with the Zambia standards, the Institute had embarked on inspections in some parts of the country beginning with Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi in Central Province.

“We have started the inspections in agro shops to ensure there is compliance by the agro dealers in terms of the rules and regulations on how they have to be keeping the fertilizer and also checking for unscrupulous dealers who have the tendency of offloading substandard fertilizer on the market.

“As ZARI inspectors, we are also taking time to create awareness of mandatory regulations to be adhered to by agro dealers and also warning the vulnerable farmers who are the victims due to the low prices they are offered,” he said.

He further warned the farmers to report any cases to agriculture officers in their district if they come across any suspected substandard fertilizers in agro shops adding that any agro shop that will be found selling substandard fertilizers that punitive measures will be taken against such individuals.