Combating Fake Agro-Inputs Products in Tanzania using Mobile Phones

Abstract

Fake (Counterfeit) agro-inputs are causing myriad challenges to agricultural sectors in the developing countries by affecting the productivity rate. This paper analyzes the magnitude of the counterfeit agro-inputs and propose a system that integrates a mobile-based solution that helps the authentication of the agro-inputs products in Tanzania. A face to face interview with key informants in the agriculture sector and field data collection in one region were carried to understand the challenges in preventing the fake agro-inputs and awareness among stakeholders. The study has revealed that there is no trustworthy methods of verifying agro-inputs, the current methods such as expiration date and labels are weak and can be forged easily. The magnitude of counterfeit agro-inputs is rated by the respondents to be high. Crop seeds were found to be mostly counterfeited among other agro-inputs such as fertilizers, animal feeds and pesticides. The proposed system allows the stakeholders to authenticate the genuineness of the agricultural inputs through their mobile phones. This will tremendously boost confidence to farmers and greatly increase yields by buying hybrid seeds instead of replanting their own seeds. The evaluation study shows that the Agro-inputs Products Verification System (APVS) is feasible in Tanzanian settings and can significantly reduce the magnitude of counterfeit in agro-inputs products.

Patterns of pesticide usage in agriculture in rural Tanzania call for integrating agricultural and public health practices in managing insecticide-resistance in malaria vectors

“…Even though most of the agricultural pesticides found were on the list of pesticides approved in Tanzania [40,41], there were several versions deemed of less quality but with the same brand stamp as those found in the market. These findings are in line with Shao and colleagues, who reported the magnitude of counterfeit agro-inputs in Tanzania to be as high as 46.8%, that could pose a serious risk to the ecosystem [70]. In a similar study, repacking and decanting of pesticide products in un-labelled containers was done by a quarter of pesticide dealers in six study towns in Tanzania [71].…”

Patterns of pesticides usage in agriculture in rural Tanzania call for integrating agricultural and public health practices in managing insecticide-resistance in malaria vectors

“…Even though most of the agricultural pesticides found were on the list of pesticides approved in Tanzania [40,41], there were several versions deemed of less quality but with the same brand stamp as those found in the market. These ndings are in line with Shao and colleagues, who reported the magnitude of counterfeit agro-inputs in Tanzania to be as high as 46.8%, that could pose a serious risk to the ecosystem [70]. In a similar study, repacking and decanting of pesticide products in un-labelled containers was done by a quarter of pesticide dealers in six study towns in Tanzania [71].…”

Digital Technology and Services for Sustainable Agriculture in Tanzania: A Literature Review

“…Despite all the efforts, smallholder farmers in Tanzania still face many challenges in accessing services from other actors in a farmer ecosystem. Challenges include access to credit [19,76], substandard agricultural inputs from uncertified agro-dealers [77,79,80], unfair market prices due to the involvement of middlemen and lack of government oversight [14,60,81,82].…”