By Kayode Olabanji & Kayode Afolabi,

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Fake and counterfeit agro chemicals have flooded markets in the country, particularly Ondo State, investigation by The Hope has revealed.

The Hope gathered that the agro chemicals including herbicides, pesticides and insecticides  which are mostly used by farmers, and are known for their efficacy and potency are now ineffective when applied on farmlands.

While farmers blamed the agro chemicals sellers for selling fake chemicals, the sellers are, in turn, shifting the blame on the producers and dealers who supply such products.

In separate interviews with some farmers and the agro chemicals sellers in Ondo state, they expressed their displeasure over the development.

An agro chemicals seller, Mr. Gbenga Orimisan, frowned at the level at which fake agro chemicals have flooded the markets.

He said: “It is true, there are fake chemicals in the market and there is nothing we can do about it because we are not the makers not the producers. We sell what we buy. However, I am not happy about it because it is affecting our sales. The farmers are complaining bitterly about it.

“A few days ago, one of my customers forcefully dragged me to his farm to come and witness the fake chemicals I sold to him, even though I was not the company that produced them. I followed him to the farm and truly, the two chemicals he bought were not effective as expected, so i have no option than to get him another product which cost about N8, 000.

“That was when I realized that the fake are mostly found among the N5,000 to N6,000 ones which they patronize most because of the difference in price.

“So, I can say the bad economy has affected everything in the market. Before, all these products were sold in the range of N600 to N2, 000. Then, no one thought of producing fakes. But now that the prices have increased, people started producing fake and counterfeit and mix them with the originals to make more money.

“I will appeal to the companies in charge to make sure they produce good chemicals and do some kind of follow-up in the market. Since the prices are not that affordable as before, at least we should still be able to enjoy what we purchase with our money,” Orimisan said.

Also, a farmer, Mr. Olorunleke Ajayi, while narrating his ordeal testified that, “I purchased one herbicide some days ago at the rate of N6, 000 and I was told that the weeds would dry after seven days but that was not the case. I was so sad and returned to the seller angrily. He later apologized, saying the mistake was from the company.”

Ajayi, therefore, appealed to the authorities concerned to look into the matter for a possible solution, saying getting money is not easy in the present economic situation in the nation.

An Agronomist, Omotola Bolawa, while speaking with one of our correspondents explained that the recent development was as a result of inflation that has ravaged the country.

His words: “The demand for the agro chemical products is higher than the supply, Some years back, we didn’t have high demand for the agro chemical products, but now that everyone has ventured into agriculture to complement their occupations, due to the high cost of food items, there are more demands on these products.

“Some of the producers of the agro chemicals have reduced their quality leading to their ineffectiveness and low yield of crop. And this is really affecting the farmers who use them most.