A total of 49 adulterated or low-quality seed varieties were detected in the country in 2020, up from 11 in 2016, according to the National Seed Report in Mozambique.

Most cases were in the provinces of Maputo, Manica and Nampula. The data of the study of the African Seed Access Index (TASAI) were presented a few days ago in Maputo by the Association for the Promotion of Seed Sector (APROSE).

According to authorities cited by the newspaper Notícias, the circulation of low quality seeds and low capacity of the input has compromised agricultural production and productivity. As an example, until last year 11,900 tons of seed varieties had been produced.

To overcome the problem, the president of APROSE, Marcelino Botão, indicated that the authorities have been working with the National Seed Authority to strengthen and reinforce the capacity to inspect the product, from manufacturing to its distribution in the market, as well as the imported seed entering the country in order to improve agricultural productivity.

Button also indicated that the lack of real information about the demand for the product has interfered with the companies' ability to supply the product in sufficient quantity.

"We have been working with the seed companies and the state to plan the production of the inputs according to the needs of the following season, as well as helping the institutions with the extended field inspection programs," he said.