The seed segment is our future growth area: Davor Pisk

Interview with Chief operating officer, Syngenta AG
In India, average landholding declined from 2.3 hectares in the 70s to 1.32 hectares in 2000-01. If this rate continues, average landholding will fall to 0.68 hectares by 2020 and a mere 0.32 hectares by 2030. Currently 86 per cent of Indian farmers, accounting for 44 per cent of the country's farmland, hold less than two hectares; their contribution to farm output exceeds 50 per cent. Small landholders offer huge potential for productivity enhancement. But for this, a combination of chemicals and integrated solutions is vital, saysDavor Pisk, chief operating officer,Switzerland-basedSyngenta International AG, in an interview withDilip Kumar Jha. Edited excerpts:

Owing to concern about a fall in consumption, agrochemical producers are diversifying towards hybrid seeds. What is Syngenta's strategy?

The future is about moving away from the 'single-product paradigm' to integrated solutions, which will tackle these problems differently. This will provide more comprehensive answers to the problems the farmer confronts today. It will make farm management easier, cheaper and cleaner. Through our integrated strategy, announced in 2011, we began to build on the combined strengths of our crop protection and seeds businesses and started developing fully integrated offers on a global crop basis. Theseed segmentis our future growth area.
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Taxonomy

• Food & Beverage
• Agribusiness
• Food Security