Syngenta to strengthen operations in B’desh

Syngenta is committed to serve the farmers and agriculture sector using modern technologies to help ensuring food security in Bangladesh, the company's top executive said.
"We'll continue to strengthen our operations to serve the farmers of Bangladesh," Erik Fyrwald, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Switzerland-based Syngenta told the FE on Tuesday evening in an exclusive interview.
With scope for increasing cultivable land limited and a population of more than 160 million, Bangladesh requires a robust, modernised agriculture sector to ensure food security, Mr. Fyrwald explained.
The global CEO of the company also said: "Our innovation brings new products in the market and combines genetics and chemistry to create new solutions for the farmers in Bangladesh."
Mr. Fyrwald joined Syngenta as CEO in June 2016.
He had led the company during a time of strategic change and industry consolidation including managing the company through successful acquisition of Syngenta by China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina).
The acquisition, valued at US$43 billion is the largest ever global foreign acquisition by a Chinese company.
Currently, Syngenta is running its businesses in 90 countries including Bangladesh across the globe.
Syngenta in Bangladesh has made large investments in seed processing plant, learning and development centre, network of crop protection and field research stations, sophisticated research and development facilities, laboratories and seed production sites, according to the CEO.
With a network of field force, the global agribusinesses company is committed to serve the farmers and agriculture sector of Bangladesh, he added.
Syngenta has a crop protection plant in Chattagram, seeds processing plant and learning and development centre at Bogura, four site offices at Bogura, Jessore, Gazipur and Chattagram.
"We've recently strengthened our product trialing facilities to deliver a wide variety of seeds and crop protection products to enhance productivity," the CEO said while replying to a query.
The global CEO of Syngenta shared his vast experiences about food security, challenges for ensuring sustainability in agricultural practices, enhancing productivity and protection of environment with the FE.
"To meet the food grain requirements of the nation, agricultural productivity and its growth has to be sustained and improved," Mr. Fyrwald said while explaining how to achieve food security in Bangladesh.
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources.
The CEO also said judicious use of agrochemicals is also very important for the sustained growth of the Bangladesh agriculture and economy.
"Our high-quality seeds, innovative planting materials, crop protection products help farmers to improve yield, production, quality which help them keep pace with rising demands," Mr. Fyrwald explained.
Syngenta has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) aiming to increase production through multiplication and distribution of high yielding varieties (HYV) and hybrid rice seeds in deficit areas.
"We're working to strengthen HYV and hybrid rice seed production programme and preservation capabilities through training and technical supports," the CEO said.
Syngenta has the technical expertise in the most advanced agricultural technologies and would be open to explore partnerships and knowledge sharing opportunities with suitable partners, according to Mr. Fyrwald.
He also said Syngenta's goal is to produce safe, wholesome food and feed for consumers, as well as fiber and bio-fuels for the agricultural industry irrespective of the plant breeding method used.
"Without advancements in modern agricultural practices, people / civil society would be limited in their capacity to produce enough and better quality food and feed for an ever-growing global population," Mr. Fyrwald added.
Syngenta has already taken up different stewardship activities in Bangladesh like doctors training on handling pesticide poisoning - Emergency Medical Officers (EMO's) of upazilas are the main participants since they are the first contact person in case of poisoning.
"We've taken these initiatives to create awareness, disseminate information and transfer knowledge through training, highlight application technology, safe and judicious use of pesticide with secure storage," the CEO said while replying to a query relating to the risks of health hazards while using the chemical and pesticides.
Mr. Fyrwald holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware, USA and completed the advanced management programme at Harvard Business School.

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