The Season of Shadows: Police, Seed Producers and the War Against Counterfeit Grain

Zimbabwe cracks down on counterfeit seed as police, regulators and seed producers unite to protect farmers and the 2025/26 agricultural season (image source)

With the first signs of the 2025/26 rainy season forming over Mbare, optimism fills Zimbabwe’s oldest market — but so does a hidden threat. Police have uncovered a counterfeit seed operation that could devastate farmers before the first drop of rain even falls.

The scam, discovered last week, involved ordinary grain being painted, polished and passed off as premium treated seed. The fraud is not new, but its consequences are increasingly severe: one bag of fake seed can erase an entire season’s labour.

Zimbabwe Seed Association (ZSA) chairperson John Makoni voiced deep concern, stressing that certified producers had adequate supplies for all major crops, yet farmers were being misled by dubious products.

He noted that:

– Fake seed threatens germination, disease resistance and yield.

– Counterfeit packets often display spelling errors, missing data and false labels.

– The losses go beyond finances — they strip farmers of time, confidence and food security.

ZSA is coordinating with police and government agencies to intensify oversight, urging farmers to buy only from registered agro-dealers.

At the Seed Services Institute, head Edmore Mtetwa said inspectors were conducting nationwide blitzes, confiscating illegal consignments and enforcing licensing rules.

He warned that anyone selling fake seed will face prosecution.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed arrests are underway.

“We will publicise the individuals, agents and companies involved,” he said, describing the material found on the streets as “deeply concerning.”

For farmers, the fake seed crackdown comes as long-overdue protection. Seed is more than a product — it is a promise of food, income and survival. With the rains near, every purchase carries the weight of a year’s outcome.

Zimbabwe now stands at an agricultural crossroads: one road leads to certified seed and stable harvests; the other, to bags of painted grain and a season doomed from the start. The battle lines are clear — and the country’s future will be defended seed by seed.