Ornamental crop production is a specialized business centred on the beauty of flowers and attention to detail to deliver perfect results. Syngenta has reinforced its commitment to the global ornamentals business to support sustainable businesses through a close collaboration with ornamental growers. Increasingly, Syngenta is providing the ornamentals growers with the ability to introduce integrated pest management in their crop and address the need of their customers to meet leading certifications schemes.
The registration of Arima opens the door to a unique miticide that will improve Syngenta miticide offer to ornamental growers in both Kenya and Ethiopia.Cyenopyrafen, the active ingredient in Arima® miticide, is classified in IRAC Group 25 and belongs to the beta-ketonitrile class of chemistry. It is highly effective against Tetranychid mites (spider mites), Tetranychus urticae and T.evansiat a low use rate of 600ml/ ha. The product safeguards against crop damage by controlling spider mites during all life stages – eggs, nymphs and adults in roses, carnations and other ornamentals grown in greenhouses or outdoors when used as foliar applications. Arima has a favourable toxicological profile and is safe to several non-target and beneficial organisms such as Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius spp.
“Syngenta is passionately committed to partnering with growers and industry partners to develop innovative solutions that result in more marketable produce. With Arima, growers have an economical solution that will enhance quality and yield of ornamental plants for demanding markets” These were remarks made by Mr Victor Juma, Lawn and Garden Business Manager at Syngenta during an interview with this magazine.He further added that Arima is highly compatible with biological controls and has a proven high efficacy against spider mites due to its quick knockdown and long lasting activity.
In a discussion with Mr Charles Njuki, a farm manager at Kingfisher farm, Naivasha, prior to the launch of Arima, he recalled that several growers have adopted the use of biological control agents for spider mites control and there is an increasing need to have several compatible options to complement the current solutions. His colleague, Mr Peter Mwangi, a farm manager at Flamingo Farm, Naivasha, also reiterated that newer pesticide chemistries give growers an advantage in terms of rotation and resistance management. “The market is ready for Arima. It seems there is a renewed focus by Syngenta to fill in the gap we currently have for miticides. Newer and innovative solutions will definitely help us have better mites control and a good resistance management programs. Additionally, the crop safety aspect of Arima makes it a valuable tool to guarantee high quality roses ”, these were remarks made by Mr. Attanus Mutiso, production manager at AAA Growers, Chui farm, during the successful launch of Arima in Nanyuki.
More than 25 growers drawn from different agro-ecological zones participated in Arima demonstration trials to test the product attributes first hand prior to product launch. The comprehensive Trial results were presented by Ms Margaret Njambi, Technical Manager, Lawn and Garden East Africa. The trial results indicated consistent results across all regions and farms, with a good knockdowneffect observed within 6 hours after application, long residual activity of more than 35 days, excellent crop safety, andcompatibility with several biological control agents. In his speech, Mr Marcel Breedeveld, Syngenta Lawn and Garden Development Team Lead for Europe, Africa and Middle East, advised growers to follow good application techniques to maximize the product activity and also emphasised on the need to rotate Arima with miticides from different modes of action to reduce the development of resistance.
The well-organized launch events in Nanyuki, Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and Eldoret were well attended by growers and other industry stakeholders. While giving a vote of thanks on behalf of growers who attended the product launch in Nakuru, Mr Andrew Wambua, General Manager, Molo River Roses, asked growers, “What exactly does a grower need if not better quality and yield?” He further added, “If a grower has a product like Arima which guarantees a longer residual effect of more than 35 days, then this directly translates into improved profitability for growers due to additional savings from chemical sprays and other costs related to chemical applications”.