Syngenta promises Nigeria cocoa farmers copper free fungicide fighter soon

Syngenta

* CRIN, farmers hail the efficacy of the product

 In compliance to the global ban on copper based fungicide cocoa Agro chemicals from the world, the Nigerian market will soon be flooded with a new chemical product named Pergado, a Syngenta product that is already in circulation at Cote de'Viore.

 The economic implications of the adoption of this new copper free fungicide was the focal point at the cocoa stakeholders and farmers' field day being organized by Syngenta Nigeria Limited at Adejubu, Araromi Igbatoro, Akure North, Ondo state last month. 

The product (Pergado) which has got the approval of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and farmers across the major producing states based on its proactiveness in terms of yield than any other chemicals that are already in circulation cum its eco- system friendliness on the farm demonstration was said to be soon released into markets in Nigeria by the company. Speaking to the gathering of the stakeholders at the event, the country representative of Syngenta, Mr. Sunny Ameh said that the acceptability of the product would put Cocoa farmers in Nigeria at a very premium advantage like Cote de Voire added that the company is well determined to give necessary support towards lifting cocoa industry in Nigeria back to her lost economic glory of wealth and job creations, a role it has effectively played in the past. Mr. Ameh pointed that the potency of Pergado chemical against fighting copper based fungicide diseases has given the product an edge over any others coupled it's premium advantages as it is copper freed. 

The CRIN representative, Dr. A. R Adedeji commended the contribution of Syngenta to combating Cocoa diseases in the country, identifying black pod as one of the major diseases causing great loses to farmers about 25-45 percent. Dr. Adedeji said that CRIN has certified pergado as effective chemical to combat copper based fungicide and other diseases thereby advised farmers to give the product a high patronage as the Syngenta is known for its track record of compliance to global chemical standard production. 

 According to him " We thank Syngenta for it's contribution towards combating diseases facing Cocoa in Nigeria as foreign countries who consume Cocoa more in terms of chocolate want CRIN to ensure standard produce through right pesticide application, and this has made Syngenta to be very strategic to us as chemical inputs provider in Nigeria. 

I can tell you that Syngenta is one of those companies that strictly ensure compliance to right chemicals for cocoa. Syngenta chemicals have been screen and certified by CRIN,and all these are very effective in controlling Cocoa diseases like black bod which reduces farmers' profit" The Secretary, Cocoa farmers cooperative at Adejubu, Mr. Osatuyi Festus Olufemi described Syngenta products as very effective against diseases and increased yield saying the performance of Pergado on the field was credibly impressive than what is obtained on the Ridomil Gold plus demonstration farm.

 According to Olufemi " Syngenta products is the best in Nigeria. Pergado and Ridomil Gold is tested on a same farm that was demarcated. The two agronmics chemical were tested, and we discovered that Pergado is more effective because it brings more yield"