Agric ministry warns of bogus soil testing firms

Zim Now Writer

As the new farming season inches closer, The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development has warned farmers to look out for unscrupulous soil testing companies that are on the prowl.

Speaking during a recent campaign on soil testing in Goromonzi, the Ministry’s Head of the Chemistry and Research Institute, Emmanuel Chikwari, said fake soil testing companies were on the prowl as the rains approach.

This comes as reports of fake seed and fertilizer have also been rising across the country.

“Most companies that advertise one-day soil testing are fake because it needs about 14 days or more depending on the number of farmers who submitted their soils for testing,” Chikwari said, adding that the companies were taking advantage of lack of laws that regulate their operations.

Chikwari lamented the absence of a law that governs soil testing. "Some agro-inputs are governed by law, but there is no Act that governs soil testing. That’s our weakness which we should look into, and come up with an Act of Parliament that regulates all these activities because at the end we are destroying these soils,” he said.

He added that over time, the soils will be more damaged.

Agritex agriculture training specialist Jaidi Izah said it was unfortunate that some farmers were not utilising agricultural expertise readily available from extension officers.

"Farmers … don't have trust in our local agricultural extension officers. We have reliable services around, but they do not make use of them,” Izah said.

Reports of fake seeds and fertiliser being sold to unsuspecting farmers have also been awash as Zimbabwe heads into the summer cropping season.

Recently, two men were arrested and dragged to court after they misrepresented to a farmer – Corne Hendrick Terblanche– who eventually lost US$18 000 to the duo, that they were selling fertilizer that had been affected by water but could still be used.