Launching APRON ®, Plus Beans and ATUVA ®, with a bang!
For some time now, Syngenta Zambia did not have a seed treatment solution for soybean in the commercial segment. They had been selling third party products from SoyGro; a South African company. In the recent past, SoyGro engaged other distributers to be carrying their products. This meant that the market monopoly that Syngenta enjoyed would be shared with another company. The full product portfolio of SoyGro (inoculants, bio stimulants, and so on) commanded slightly over $2million on the market.
The team started registering its own portfolio some three years ago because they foresaw this challenge. They started registering their own brands in this space and APRON® Plus Beans was the first to be registered. Early last year, they started negotiating with Rizobacter who they have successful partnerships in Europe to register ATUVA®, an inoculant for soybean. After registration, the team decided to have a double product launch in collaboration with Rizobacter. This was a cross functional activity which was conducted in Mkushi; an area with the highest concentration of commercial farmers that cultivates soybeans, corn, wheat, and other crops. The event was opened with welcoming remarks by Given Mudenda who is the BA Head for SABA. This was followed by product presentations.
The presentations were in four parts; Felix Tembo and Chimfwembe Kuyokwa presented APRON® Plus Beans. The results from Zambia were consistent with South African results which were showing consistent increase in yields from fields treated with APRON® Plus Beans. Fields treated with the products were showing an average of 10% yield increased compared to the untreated. Farmers got engaged and asked questions about the product including when the product will be available in the country. Later on, Ignacio Ardanaz from Rizobacter, our partner organisation presented ATUVA®. The presentation again was exciting and engaging. Farmers were on hand to ask questions including those bordering on soil health. To make it more exciting between presentations, menti quizzes were conducted and several farmers worn different prices including the free products and many other goodies.
The presentations were wrapped up by Wayne van Rensburg who shared with the farmers how to store seed and protecting it. He further went on to demonstrate how soybean seed can be protected with APRON® Plus Beans. The quality of the seed was so loved by the farmers that they have continued to inquire how they can source the GEPETTO treaters. After all the presentations the team mingled with farmers who kept on asking questions and commending Syngenta for the technologies. During the event, the sales team managed to get several orders for both products and we are now awaiting the grand arrival of the products for the main season which starts in October. To sum it up, the event was a success, and the team is planning to hold roadshows in the first week of September in the other faming blocks.
