The wealthy powers, together with the Gates Foundation, have prohibited informal sale and sharing of seeds. Only registered varieties may be sold now.

Farmers who continue traditional practices face 12 years in prison and a fine that no Tanzanian farmer can afford.

It is a shame that the article uses the term "intellectual property rights", since that spreads confusion.

It also uses the term "patented", but plant variety monopolies do not work like patents. The differences are bigger than the similarities.