A Kenyan firm is on the spot in a fake seeds scandal in Rwanda after farmers in Bugesera District raised the alarm over failed yields.
The farmers are lamenting over the losses they are facing yet they had hopes of reaping big after investing in watermelon seeds.
One of the farmers, Safari Kanzeguhera, claimed to have invested Rwf1.7 million (Ksh188K) hoping to generate Rwf2 million (Ksh222K) in profits from the crop in three months only to be doomed by failed yields.
Kanzeguhera added that he also leased land and irrigation equipment, paid for workers, fertilisers, agro-chemicals, and other farm inputs.
"We bought the seeds from agro-dealers who also buy them from importers. “We need compensation so that we get capitalfor the next planting season," a Rwandan outlet The New Times quoted him.
Jean Uwihoreye, another farmer, stated that he had invested Rwf2.4 million (Ksh266K) which he lost completely.
The seed variety in which the farmers invested was provided by a Kenyan firm would be harvested after 90 days.
According to a seed expert who spoke to a Kenyan publication, there was a variety of seed that germinates and fruits within 90 days. He added that there are certain conditions that need to be met for the fruits to mature in the expected timeline.
"Climatic conditions in different areas can play a huge role in how the crop performs, for example, a variety that does well with the wet conditions in Meru may underperform in a drier area for example Makueni," the seed expert explained.
The Kenyan seed company's representative operating in Rwanda stated that they had a plan to address the farmers' concerns.
He assured, "We will meet the farmers soon. We’ll compare with other districts where similar varieties were supplied to assess the situation. If the seeds were fake, farmers have to be compensated."
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