Agro input dealers in Uganda’s Lango Sub-region are launching a major fight against the widespread problem of fake farm products. They are teaming up with the Uganda Police Force to arrest illegal traders operating in local markets.
This crucial resolution came from a recent meeting in Lira City, where members united to shield farmers from deceptive seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural supplies. The goal is to protect farmers and ensure their hard work results in good harvests.
Susan Acen, who leads the agro input dealers in Lango, announced that dealers will now conduct joint inspections with the police across the entire region. Their mission is clear: to find and arrest anyone distributing fake or illegal farm supplies. Richard Odongo has been appointed to coordinate these vital inspection activities.
Acen also urged District Agricultural Officers to work more closely with licensed dealers. She raised serious concerns that some individuals previously caught selling fake products were reportedly released without punishment. She highlighted how the booming trade in fake inputs not only hurts honest businesses but also traps farmers in a cycle of heavy financial losses due to failed harvests.
Easy Bash Machar, the association’s vice-chairperson, confirmed that these enforcement operations will specifically target those involved in fake or unlicensed agricultural inputs. He called on the government to take stronger action against this illegal trade, warning that fake farm supplies are undermining agricultural production and threatening farmers’ ability to earn a living. Other dealers also stressed the need for tougher enforcement of existing laws to permanently remove counterfeit products from the market.