Zimbabwe govt faces backlash over new seed treatment rule

Date:06-23-2025

Zimbabwe's major seed producers have raised serious concerns over a new government regulation that mandates chemical treatment of all certified maize seed, warning that the move could sharply increase seed prices, threaten food security, and undermine progress in agricultural productivity.

The controversial policy, introduced through Statutory Instrument 61 of 2025 and gazetted by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, requires all certified maize seed to be treated with a combination of diamide and neonicotinoid pesticides aimed at combating the fall armyworm (FAW). Authorities say the invasive pest has devastated crops across the region and must be urgently controlled.

However, seed industry players are pushing back, arguing that the new directive was rushed, lacked adequate consultation, and could impose significant cost burdens on producers and farmers alike. Stakeholders say they are currently engaging with government officials in hopes of suspending or revising the regulation.

Speaking to the Zimbabwe Independent, industry officials expressed frustration over what they described as a poorly timed and opaque policy. One senior official, who declined to be named, stressed that while tackling armyworm is necessary, any solution must balance health safety, affordability, and logistical feasibility-especially given Zimbabwe's ongoing foreign currency shortages.

"Whilst there is need for a solution around armyworm, it is important to find a solution that is safe from a health perspective," the official said. "It must also be within the bounds of reasonable costs. We must take into consideration that the funding is most likely scarce foreign currency. It will definitely be a challenge to secure suppliers offering competitive prices."

Industry estimates suggest the mandatory seed treatment could cost as much as US$1,000 per metric tonne, a cost producers say will inevitably be passed on to farmers. This would further strain an already embattled agricultural sector still recovering from high inflation, currency volatility, and supply chain disruptions.

"Farmers are already struggling at current prices, so it will make certified seed unaffordable," another seed industry executive said. "There is no doubt that this move will have a negative impact on household seed security. The government might have to offer grants or subsidies to cover FAW seed dressing associated costs."

While the government insists the measure is based on scientific evidence, critics say the regulation lacks transparency and appears to be a top-down approach with limited stakeholder involvement. Experts note that while the prescribed chemical treatment may provide pest control for up to 28 days, its efficacy is short-lived, and additional interventions may be required during a full cropping season.

Some producers also questioned the rationale for using a statutory instrument to enforce pest control, asking whether it is appropriate to legislate technical agricultural practices without broader input. Others fear the SI could set a dangerous precedent, whereby future pest outbreaks might be addressed through similarly abrupt legislative measures.

The lack of clarity around the health and environmental safety of the mandated chemicals has also sparked concern. Seed companies say they were given insufficient time to verify the safety and performance of the specified treatments, raising the question of who bears the risk if harmful side effects emerge.

Environmental activists and food justice groups have joined the call for a review. Darlington Mafa, climate justice lead at the Food Justice Network, said while fall armyworm is a real and urgent threat, the response must be guided by transparent dialogue and rigorous scientific backing.

"Any solution around it would benefit from effective communication to the affected constituency before making concrete policy changes," Mafa said. "Will this not push seed production costs upwards and further strain smallholder, beginning and commercial farmers through increased seed prices?"

Mafa also raised concerns about chemical residues in food and the potential erosion of public trust in the food system. He called for clear, publicly available data on the chemicals' safety and efficacy, and for the government to address how these treatments would affect both the environment and human health.

Repeated efforts to obtain a comment from Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Obert Jiri were unsuccessful. "Please send your questions via WhatsApp. If I'm not responding, I'm busy," Jiri said.

As the next farming season approaches, seed producers, farmers, and civil society groups are urging the government to suspend or stagger implementation of the regulation. They say a delay would provide time for proper consultations, supply chain adjustments, and financial support mechanisms to avoid damaging consequences for farmers and food production.

Without urgent intervention, experts warn that the policy could push more farmers out of the formal seed market, increase reliance on uncertified seed, and unravel the gains Zimbabwe has made toward achieving national food security.