With more than $15 billion annual turnover, Global agri-major Syngenta has been working among farmers in the country for more than a decade, by providing better technology and quality seeds for vegetables, rice and other crops. Davor Pisk, global chief operating officer of Syngenta spoke to FE’s Sandip Das on the area of operations through an email interview. Excerpts:
What are the key thrust areas for Syngenta globally?
Research and development are at the heart of Syngenta’s strategy. In 2013, we invested about $1.4 billion in research and development globally and our programmes focused on innovation to increase yields, quality, protect plants and improve resource efficiency in the field – by developing products and practices that reduce the land, water and energy needed to grow crops.
Our crop protection research focuses on developing a range of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and crop enhancing chemicals with broad applicability such as foliar, soil and seed treatments. Our seeds research and development programme focuses on creating new varieties of major field crops, which include improved quality and productivity. This can include greater resistance to pests and diseases, or other environmental stresses, as well as characteristics such as improved customer appeal or enhanced shelf life.
Explain your areas of operations in India.
In India we aim to bring new innovations to the hands of growers to enhance productivity in key crops like rice, vegetables, corn, wheat, cotton, etc. We have many innovative water-efficient technologies, drought-tolerant seeds and optimized irrigation systems that can tackle the vagaries of the weather. Our vegetable hybrids can withstand climate changes and grow throughout the year in subtropical or temperate conditions. The advancements in research have enabled a fruit like watermelon to be grown in all seasons. We have corn hybrids that use moisture more efficiently to give higher yields on drought-stressed land. There are herbicides that reduce the need for plowing improving soil’s ability to absorb water, protecting it from erosion and water run-off.
What are the extension services provided by your company in India?
We have touch-points to reach Indian farmers. Through our agricultural extension services via Syngenta learning centres (SLCs), we share knowledge and best practices about managing agriculture through farmer meetings, training and demonstrations which are held regularly by our field force. This helps them grow more and better quality food while using fewer natural resources through simple practices like proper water management, timely irrigation, judicious use of fertilizers, perfect balancing of micro-nutrients, correct application technology and well-timed usage of crop protection products to counter various pests and diseases. Extension and agronomy services are an integral part of our solutions that offer the best of chemistry, genetics and seeds.
What are the keys function of SLCs?
At SLCs, we educate growers about technologies. We provide visual, real world demonstrations of the benefits of technology and integrated solutions along with best agronomic practices and compare them with traditional practices. Each SLC demonstrates existing and future integrated offers for one crop. On the product safety issue, through our stewardship programmes, we support and train growers to use products safely and effectively to maximize benefits while reducing the risk of harm to themselves or the environment. We connected with over nine lakh farmers in 2014 through our stewardship efforts.