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Farmers in Senegal Achieve Strong Yield Increases with Syngenta APRONŽStar Programme

Tue, February 28, 2017

Syngenta (www.Syngenta.com)'s Seedcare program for smallholder farmers in Senegal has led to impressive yield increases for pearl millet (1.2 t/ha, +40%), sorghum (1.1 t/ha, +86%), maize (2.7 t/ha, +101%), irrigated rice (9.4 t/ha, +11%) and rain-fed rice (2.0 t/ha, +33%). The achievements from year one of the APRONŽStar project in Senegal are one of the focus of Syngenta's participation in the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Congress 2017, taking place this week in Dakar, Senegal.

At the AFSTA Congress, Syngenta will be showcasing results and learnings from its partnership with the Scaling Seeds and Technologies Partnership, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), being implemented by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to help strengthen food security and farmer livelihoods in Senegal.The company will also host a Seedcare workshop with one of the sessions dedicated to how to grow more food using fewer resources.

As one of the world's top food importers, rising food prices are a central issue in Senegal. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, 50% of the Senegalese population are food insecure. Smallholder farmers in Senegal face periodic drought and flooding, which have, over time, degraded and eroded soil, making it challenging to meet domestic food demand and safeguard the livelihoods of Senegalese people. Improved access to quality seeds and inputs, and complementary technologies such as seed treatment, is seen as an important accelerator to increase smallholders' productivity and improve the livelihood for rural communities in Senegal.

In early 2016, Syngenta launched the APRONŽStar seed treatment project in Senegal, as part of its Good Growth Plan commitment to sustainable agriculture.The two-year project is supported by SSTP and aims to improve access to high quality seed and seed treatment technology, training on most effective and safe uses and raising awareness of benefits for yield increase.

"We believe a thriving agriculture sector is vital to empower smallholders and foster vibrant rural communities in Senegal – and beyond," said Thomas Peyrachon, Head of Business Development for Global Seedcare at Syngenta."Syngenta is committed to helping transform the yields of smallholder farmers at scale in a way that creates value for all in a sustainable way. The APRONŽStar project is just one example of our commitment to improving farmers' productivity and income across the region".

To date, Syngenta and its local distribution partner RMG Concept Limited have jointly conducted pilot programmes for key crops, including maize, millet, rice, peanut and sorghum, and reached more than 15,000 farmers, a third of which are women, with training on seed treatment and the safe use of crop protection products. The results have been extremely encouraging, leading to significant yield increases for farmers.Additionally, the project has sponsored the development of a Center of Excellence (CoE) in Matam to ensure better access to treated seeds through local seed companies and new retailer network.

Having piloted the model in Senegal with promising results, Syngenta and its partners are focusing on increasing the distribution of APRONŽStar and making treated seeds available to more farmers in Senegal and other countries.


Distributed by APO on behalf of Syngenta.

Syngenta Media Contact:
Kinyua MMbijjewe
Kenya - Head of Corporate Affaris AME at Syngenta - Syngenta
[email protected]
+245 20 322 8000

About Syngenta:
Syngenta (www.Syngenta.com) is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities.

For more than 35 years, Syngenta Seedcare, the seed treatment business of Syngenta, has been on the forefront of seed treatment research and innovation, making deliberate, positive advancements in seed treatment technology. We go Beyond Seed ProtectionTM with the best available expertise in Product portfolio, Application and marketing Services to provide tailored solutions that meet local needs.

To learn more visit www.Syngenta.com and www.GoodGrowthPlan.com. Follow us on TwitterŽ at www.Twitter.com/Syngenta.

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