During a round table at Chinguluwe Extension Planning Area offices, farmers outlined that unless government protect them, they will not grow cotton. Another grievance that the farmers presented, was of abundant fake cotton seeds on the market, which they want eliminated once and for all.

Seed Suppliers have lamented the existence of counterfeit seeds on mainstream market, a malpractice that has affected sales and harvests alike. A report titled the African Seed Access index has expressed concern over fake seed reports that can be traced since 2016, which has sparked doubt over if Governments efforts on the matter are effective.

However, as the report was released to 20 other Sadc nations, Malawi has been commended for the strides in combating the malpractice. In June, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has announced that it will intervene on fake seed traders who have been crippling the agricultural sector and the economy altogether. The ministry’s Controller of Agriculture Services Masankho Bulirani said a proposed seed bill will ensure appropriate punishments for people who sell fake seed.

The announcement follows a similar call in February as the Director General of the National Seed Commission, proposed that any prescribed seed found to be fake or found not to conform to standards of moisture content, defects, purity and germination shall not be sold by any person, for sowing, with a hefty fine not exceeding 35 million and about 9 years imprisonment to individuals that will sell such seed.