Bayer’s mission “science for a better life” supports the aim to improve the lives of farmers, consumers, as well as the environment through science. A farmer’s fields, the weed species and temperatures change constantly, therefore new products are needed to suit a farmer’s changing needs.

Bayer is an innovation-driven company that offers the best crop protection for farmers by continuously developing the right product for his needs.

“Bayer offers solutions for farmers and protects their crops right from the beginning,” Geoffrey Matutu, Market Development Manager Zambia for Bayer, says.

“A farmer cannot say because they use a crop protection product everything will be okay. They need to have a good foundation in the form of a crop protection programme that provides for all the relevant aspects,” he adds.

Bayer is committed to support the small-scale farmer. “They often do not have the right access to the right procedures and products. For example, if you are looking at maize, a small-scale farmer gains two tonnes a hectare and commercial farmers eight tonnes per hectare. We want to push the small-scale farmer up to four tonnes if we can. In order to reach this target, they need to understand what they can do to increase their yields. They are often very price sensitive, so they will leave something out because of the price. At the end it is actually cheaper to do something than not to do it,” says Geoffrey.

Bayer’s products:

Fungicides

Bayer’s fungicides protect plants from diseases, enabling them to deliver the best possible yields. A farmer can apply fungicides multiple times and even shortly before the harvest.

Nativo

Nativo consists of two active components: Tebuconazole (200 g/ℓ) and Trifloxystrobin (100 g/ℓ). Tebuconazole is a dimethyline inhibitor (DMI) that interferes in the process of building the structure of fungal cell walls. Trifloxystrobin interferes with respiration in plant pathogenic fungi.

Nativo is a broad-spectrum fungicide with protective and curative action which offers not only a disease control, but also improves the quality and yield of the crop.

This fungicide gives broad spectrum control of targeted diseases, with flexibility in application time and it enhances yield and improves milling quality.

Insecticides

Farmers have to protect the insects that help them while getting rid of the ones that don’t. This is why Bayer only develops insecticides that are safe when used responsibly and correctly, but are not harmful to human beings or the environment.

Bayer’s insecticide can be applied multiple times and even shortly before the harvest.

Belt SC 480

This insecticide is formulated to control budworm in tobacco, certain vegetables and other crops. It can also defeat the fall armyworm which is a well-known pest that hampered harvest the past year or two. It offers long-lasting control of caterpillars, is suitable for resistance management, less harmful to the user and environment, and has a minimal effect on beneficial insects. It is taken up within four hours.

Confidor

Confidor controls main insect pests, including termites and aphids, and is registered for use on tobacco, vegetables and other crops. It has a long duration of control, it is a broad-spectrum insecticide and is stable over a range of soil pH conditions. It also provides stress tolerance in crops against biotic and abiotic factors.

Thunder

Thunder is a broad-spectrum pesticide that controls biting and sucking insects such as aphids and lepidopters in all crop growth stages. It has a dual action, fast and effective knockdown effect plus systematic, long-lasting efficacy. It also fits low-volume applications.

Herbicides

Farmers need the right herbicide protection to have strong plants.

Auxo          

This herbicide controls broadleaf and grass weeds in maize. It is powerful, quick-acting and reliable. It facilitates rapid control of weeds after treatment (5 to 7 days), thus eliminating any competition with the maize and ensuring consistent efficiency in weed control, and is supported by built-in safener technology.

Contact Bayer at +26(0)21-184-7755/8 or +26(0) 96-621-2729 or send an e-mail to: ken.bowker@gmail.com. You are also invited to visit their website at www.cropscience.bayer.co.za for more information on their products.