Advice on Verifying Seed Quality from TOSCI

TLDR

• He said penalties for selling uncertified seed may include fines ranging from 300,000/- to 50m/-, imprisonment, or both.
• A two-kilogramme package sold at 18,000/- was among those that failed to germinate, while some cheaper seeds sold at 8,000/- performed better,” he said.
• The complaints were raised during the climax of the Nane Nane exhibition in Mwanza yesterday, where officials from the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) urged farmers to verify seed quality and.
• Responding to the complaints, TOSCI Seed Inspector Mr Joseph Pagu said poor germination can result from the use of outdated seed, especially hybrid varieties that are intended for one planting season only.
• A farmer from Magu District, Mr Shimiyu Gose, said some seed varieties failed to germinate while others produced weak crops that resulted in low yields.