• Friday, March 29, 2024
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BusinessDay

Avoiding ‘fake seeds’ as planting season beckons

plant-seeds

It is not unusual for farmers to complain of poor yields even after planting what ought to have been hybrid seeds. Many times, seeds have a low germination rate and in some instances they do not germinate at all and farmers have been suffering in silence. When their voice is heard perhaps, is when they refuse to patronise and plant the “supposed hybrids”. At this time, it becomes a bit difficult to convince them to give it another try.

One reason that has been given for sale of bad seeds is because the planting season is characterised by high demand for certified seeds against low supply.

Get your seed at accredited government source

Michael Ajala, a professor of seed technology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta suggested that seeds for planting are best obtained from notable agric centres, for instance in the South West; Ogun State Agriculture Development Programme (OGSADEP), Oyo State Agriculture Development Programme (OYSADEP) and others with similar remit. He explained that they often have good quality seeds that will have germination rate written on the label. It is important to go to trusted people so as to buy whatever is need as such sources can also be visited again to provide either good or bad feedback which will result into action.

Test seeds for free at agricultural research centres

A prospective farmer can go to a research farm/centre such as a faculty of agriculture or even a university of agriculture, where the germination could be tested ‘free’. A farmer can approach such a centre to request that he/she wants to ascertain the viability of any given seeds and provided it is of a small quantity, this will be carried out free. When seeds are on a massive scale, then a nominal fee may be charged.

Procure your seeds early

Taking into cognisance, the fact that fake seeds are often sold when farmers are in a rush and may not implement due diligence, it becomes imperative that seeds are procured early enough to avoid the rush period. The fake seeds are sold to desperate farmers who come late to acquire the seeds, usually because the certified seeds would have been depleted.

 

CALEB OJEWALE