Africa is home to three of Syngenta Flowers' most important young plant and cuttings farms. So from November 19-24, the company invited 37 of their customers along with 13 employees to visit them. While there, they could network, discover new business opportunities, enjoy typical African hospitality, and camp in the extraordinary Masai Mara National Reserve.
The tour visited two countries where the farms are located: Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kenya is home to two Syngenta Flowers farms: Kenya Cuttings, which produces unrooted cuttings and young plants of Pelargonium and Poinsettia on 27 hectares; and Kenya Pollen, producing unrooted cuttings on 6.5 hectares of its 15-hectare site. Both offer housing to their employees and families with facilities that include primary schools, day care and children’s centres.
Ethiopia is home to an 18-hectare farm, Ethiopia Cuttings. Focussing on unrooted cuttings of Pelargonium and Mandevilla, the farm has also worked on social projects, including reconstructing an elementary school and building a new secondary school.
To make the most of the experience, customers met the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association. They also visited local growers and the Masai Mara National Reserve to enjoy a safari and camping experience.
Next to this, there was much discussion of business opportunities as customers from 10 different European countries explored the many options presented on the tour.