Bayer East Africa Warns Farmers Against Counterfeit Seeds Ahead of Planting Season

Bayer East Africa has called on farmers across the country to be cautious when buying seeds, warning that counterfeit products continue to harm harvests and livelihoods.

The company says uncertified seeds are undermining food security and placing thousands of smallholder farmers at risk.

Speaking during a pick up promotion campaign in Kisii, Managing Director John Kanyingi expressed concern over the growing circulation of fake seeds in local markets. According to him, many farmers have suffered disappointing yields and financial losses after unknowingly planting poor quality seed.

He emphasized that the campaign aims to protect farmers, improve yields, and stabilize food supply.

“We are telling our farmers to purchase seeds only from licensed agro-dealers and verify packaging details, including KEPHIS certification labels,” Kanyinke said. Certified seeds, he added, significantly boost productivity in maize, beans, and horticultural crops—key staples in Kenya’s food basket.

The initiative supports wider government efforts to strengthen national food systems, reduce reliance on imports, and shield households from rising food prices. At the same time, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service has stepped up market surveillance and enforcement measures ahead of the planting season. The agency is also increasing awareness campaigns to help farmers identify genuine agricultural inputs.

For many farmers, the message hits close to home. Catherine Kemunto from Bobasi shared how switching to certified DK maize varieties changed her fortunes. What was once a harvest of barely ten bags has grown to as many as forty sacks. The improvement has supported her family income and allowed her to pay school fees. She now encourages fellow farmers to use quality seed and adopt better farming practices.

Peter Nyabuto, also from Bobasi, recalled the disappointment of buying seed from an unverified dealer. The result was uneven germination and a poor harvest.

Kanyinke reiterated that access to certified seeds is critical to Kenya’s food security goals and urged farmers to remain vigilant against counterfeit agricultural inputs.

Africa is home to one of the largest livestock populations in the world, yet the sector remains fragmented and underfunded. (Image credit: AU-IBAR)

“Africa’s livestock sector already contributes over USD 210 billion annually, yet we continue to import products we could produce ourselves. The question is whether we will seize the billion-dollar opportunity before us.” This message from Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, framed the urgency of transforming Africa’s livestock systems during the panel discussion on “Resilience in the Animal Industry” at the ICC Kenya Business Summit 2026 in Nairobi.

Her remarks brought into focus a striking reality. Africa is home to one of the largest livestock populations in the world, yet the sector remains fragmented and underfunded. Much of its potential is untapped, and many systems are not fully connected to competitive regional and global markets. While livestock already plays a significant economic role, it has not yet reached the level of organisation and investment needed to drive broader transformation.

The livestock discussion formed part of a wider summit programme that examined what Africa must do to reshape its economic future. Conversations covered sustainable agriculture, precision farming, digital trade, sustainable finance and green infrastructure. Across these themes, one message stood out. Production alone is not enough. Africa must build integrated systems that connect farmers to markets, finance, technology and infrastructure.

Speakers stressed the need to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve access to finance and attract greater private sector participation. Digital tools were identified as essential in simplifying trade processes, increasing transparency and widening market access. At the same time, sustainable finance was seen as critical in unlocking long term investment through stronger collaboration between governments, financial institutions and investors.

Within this broader context, Salih emphasised that livestock must move beyond subsistence activity and be recognised as a structured and investable sector. She called for stronger animal health systems, better feed and genetics, improved processing capacity and deeper integration of production, processing and trade.

Through its continental mandate, the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources supports Member States in modernising livestock systems. This includes strengthening veterinary services, improving disease control and facilitating safe regional trade. Such efforts protect livelihoods while opening doors to larger markets and increased private investment.

Salih also highlighted the importance of climate smart livestock systems that boost productivity while reducing environmental pressure. With rising demand for animal protein and vast livestock resources, Africa holds a strong foundation for growth.

The summit made it clear that livestock can be a powerful driver of food security, employment and trade competitiveness. The opportunity is evident. Turning that opportunity into tangible results will depend on coordinated action, sustained investment and a shared commitment to building resilient and competitive systems across the continent.

Minister Steenhuisen Pushes for Immediate Action to Prevent Sugar Industry Shutdown.

South Africa’s sugar industry is facing a critical moment, and the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has called for urgent action to prevent serious disruption ahead of the April crushing season.

The crisis follows the liquidation of Tongaat Hulett, which has created uncertainty around the continued operation of several major sugar mills.

The Department of Agriculture has been in discussions with industry stakeholders and has been informed that unless the current funding deadlock is resolved without delay, growers will not be able to deliver their cane for processing. Should the mills fail to open, production would grind to a halt, placing thousands of livelihoods at risk.

Around 15 500 growers depend directly on these mills to process their harvest. Beyond the farms, between 35 000 and 40 000 jobs are tied to the wider supply chain connected to the sugar industry. For many rural communities, the mills are not just processing facilities but economic lifelines that support families, small businesses and local services.

Steenhuisen said, “This is not a theoretical risk, it is an immediate economic threat to rural communities. If the mills do not open, farmers cannot harvest, workers cannot earn an income, and entire local economies will stall. The longer uncertainty persists, the greater the damage becomes.”

The Minister stressed that agriculture operates according to natural cycles that cannot be postponed. Sugar cane must be harvested and processed within strict timeframes. Any delay caused by financial or legal disputes could result in heavy losses that ripple across the sector.

“Government’s concern is simple: the crop cannot wait. Agricultural production works on biological timelines, not legal or financial ones. An intervention that unlocks funding and restores operational certainty is urgently required to protect both production and jobs.”

The Department of Agriculture is working closely with other government departments and financial stakeholders to find a practical solution. The aim is to preserve production capacity, protect growers and workers, and avoid lasting damage to the industry.

Steenhuisen also highlighted the broader importance of the sugar sector. It plays a significant role in rural economies and contributes to national food value chains. Allowing production to collapse would not only harm farmers and mill workers but also have wider economic and social consequences.

“Our objective is not to intervene in commercial negotiations, but to ensure that a viable path forward exists so that growers can deliver cane, mills can operate, and workers can earn an income. The immediate priority must be keeping the season alive" added Steenhuisen.

The Ministry has committed to closely monitoring the situation and remains ready to support continued engagement to secure stability and protect the future of the sugar industry.

AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA collaborated to drive agricultural trade.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat and AGRA have strengthened their collaboration in a renewed effort to boost trade within Africa, placing agriculture at the heart of economic growth and food security.

The announcement was made on 14 February during a high level gathering held alongside the 39th African Union Summit, signalling a clear intent to move from policy ambition to practical delivery.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, formalised the partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement ushers in a new chapter of cooperation focused on ensuring that the AfCFTA framework translates into real improvements for agricultural markets across the continent.

With 50 countries now having ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, the focus is turning firmly towards implementation. Agriculture has emerged as a priority sector, given its central role in livelihoods, employment and food systems. Leaders see enormous potential for the sector to shift Africa’s position in global trade by encouraging value addition and strengthening regional supply chains.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, said, “The AfCFTA offers Africa a historic opportunity to shift from exporting raw commodities to building regional value chains that create jobs, raise farmer incomes and strengthen food security. Our partnership with AGRA is about moving from ambition to execution, ensuring that agricultural trade delivers tangible benefits for producers, processors and consumers across the continent.”

At the core of this renewed partnership is the AfCFTA Agri Trade Action Plan. The plan outlines practical measures aimed at reducing non tariff barriers, improving trade facilitation, encouraging value addition and attracting investment into regional agricultural value chains. These efforts are expected to create a more enabling environment for farmers and agribusinesses to trade more efficiently across borders.

Alice Ruhweza, said, “Trade will not transform Africa’s food systems unless farmers and agri enterprises are able to produce competitively, meet international quality standards, and connect to reliable markets.This partnership is about making intra African food trade work in practice—linking policy to delivery so that agriculture becomes a driver of inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity.”

By combining policy leadership with practical agricultural expertise, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA aim to ensure that farmers, processors and consumers all benefit from a more integrated African market. Their shared vision is simple yet powerful: to enable agriculture to unlock opportunity, strengthen resilience and create shared prosperity throughout the continent.