Kabale Farmers Hampered by Fake Inputs

Farmers in greater Kabale district are crying foul over the continued increase of fake agro inputs on the market.

Farmers argue that though they have always bought agro inputs expecting to increase on production, but end up making more losses.

Andrew Mwebesa, a farmer from Buhara sub county says that he bought Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium(NPK)-Sulphur fertilizer in Kabale town and applied it in his tea garden with expectations of getting high yields.

Mwebesa, however, says that he was shocked when the yields instead reduced and the soil lost more nutrients than before, causing him huge losses. He blames the government for not cracking down companies dealing in fake agro-inputs.

//Cue in: “ I have suffered…

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Stephen Kamugisha another farmer from Muko Sub County in Rubanda district says that he bought a fungicide from one of the agro-input shops in Kabale town and sprayed his Irish Potatoes. He, however, says that he realized that the fungicide he brought was not genuine after it failed to work.

 //Cue in: “ nkaba ndagura omubazi…

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Winnie Mugyerwa, a farmer from Nyakasharara village, blames the government for failing to avail a list to farmers of companies that deal with genuine products.

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Christopher Bukenya, the Head of Technical and Agribusiness Services at National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS), says that the increase of fake agro inputs has also affected distribution of inputs to the farmers under NAADS.

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Alex Orishaba, an extension worker from Buhara Sub County says that cases of farmers buying fake agro inputs are common in Kigezi sub region. Orishaba, however, says that some farmers also tend not to abide by the directions on how to use the inputs they buy.

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Rukiga //Cue in “ abahingyi beitu nibakyira…

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One of the Agro in put sellers in Kabale town who preferred anonymity says that farmers prefer the fake inputs because they are cheap.

Beda Mwebesa, the Kabale District Production Officer says that they were shocked when one of the agro-input companies supplied dormant seeds to the district under Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) program. 

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Mwebesa says that the district together with the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Fisheries have started sensitizing farmers on how to buy agro inputs from recognized dealers.

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