Health inspectors act
A combined team of Seed and Plant Health inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Environmental Council of Zambia officers have destroyed about one tonne of illegally imported agricultural inputs at Chirundu Border Post.The inputs that included Jatropha, Caster Sun hemp, Sorghum, Soya bean and unidentified legume seeds were imported and brought into the country illegally by unidentified traders from China and India.
Another consignment containing about 85 litres of herbicide from Zimbabwe was also destroyed by the inspectors.
Plant Health Inspector Justine Kalaba said the destruction of illegally imported seed was done in a bid to avoid the introduction of foreign pests and crop diseases.
Mr. Kalaba said the move will also teach traders to follow the law when importing agricultural commodities.
He said allowing imports of agricultural materials would be costly to the government as fighting diseases and pests require a lot of money.
