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TM SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012 ISSN 1751-8407 YOUR GATEWAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST AGRIBUSINESS MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEMS FROM GUTTRIDGE OPTIMISING FEED MILL OUTPUT INTERVIEW WITH YEHIA ELAZAB, CEO ASTRACHEM AL DAHRA AGRICULTURE A SUCCESS STORY WANGARA WOVEN PLANTER BAGS 50 24 56 68 22 SAUDI AGRICULTURE SEPTEMBER 24-27, 2012, RIYADH SAHARA SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2012, CAIRO HORTI FAIR OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 2, 2012, AMSTERDAM VISIT US AT

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TM

S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2I S S N 1 7 5 1 - 8 4 0 7

Y O U R G A T E W A Y T O T H E M I D D L E E A S T A G R I B U S I N E S S

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEMSFROM GUTTRIDGE

OPTIMISING FEED MILL OUTPUT

INTERVIEW WITHYEHIA ELAZAB, CEO ASTRACHEM

AL DAHRA AGRICULTUREA SUCCESS STORY

WANGARA WOVEN PLANTER BAGS

5024 56 6822

SAUDI AGRICULTURESEPTEMBER 24-27, 2012, RIYADH

SAHARASEPTEMBER 23-26, 2012, CAIRO

HORTI FAIROCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 2, 2012,

AMSTERDAM

VISITUS

AT

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2 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

Editor in Chief Mohammed Nasser Editor Marie Matthew Associate Editor Andrew Thomas Graphic Designer Elizabeth JohnMarketing Manager Shibu Vargis Production Manager Abdul ShareefContributors Neville J. Chandler, P.K. James, Douglas Bott, Shakeeb Kolakadan, Dr. Terry Mabbett

Head Office Matt Media International Ltd, Woodgreen, London N22 5AR, UK.E-mail: [email protected], Web site: www.gulfagriculture.comMiddle East Office Al Saad Advertising & Publishing L.L.C., P O Box 25694, Sharjah, UAE, Tel:+971 6 5639494, Fax:+971 6 5639449.

Gulf Agriculture is read by agri professionals, farm managers & owners, landscape consultants, contractors, agri-equipment suppliers, horticulturalengineers, greenhouse managers, agronomists, veterinary surgeons, ministries, poultry & dairy breeders, importers, distributors, manufacturers and whole salers of food and agri inputs.Printed and published by Matt Media© Intl. Ltd.(U.K.) 2012

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CONTENTS

All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are requested to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstance. The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for anyerror or omissions contained in this publication.

NEWS UPDATE PAGE 04

IDEAL BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS PLATFORM FOR MAJOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS PAGE 18

ALYASEEN AGRI. KEEPS AN EYE ON ITS CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS PAGE 20

25 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONGER PAGE 28

FOCUSING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS PAGE 30

HORTI FAIR 2012 TURNS FULL POWER OF THE SPOTLIGHTS ON INNOVATIONS PAGE 32

ASIA SEED CO LTD: ALWAYS A STEP AHEAD PAGE 34

SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT TAKES THE LEAD IN 21ST CENTURY FLOW MONITORING PAGE 36

NEED GREENHOUSE, BE SURE TO TAKE A LOOK PAGE 40

DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS PAGE 42

OFFERING FULL RANGE OF PLANT NUTRIENTS PAGE 45

FOLIAR POTASSIUM NITRATE APPLICATIONS INCREASE THE YIELD OF OLIVES AND THEIR OIL CONTENT PAGE 46

BIOHEALTH — THE SUCCESSFUL ANTAGONIST TO SOIL BORN FUNGI PAGE 48

LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE RETAIL AND LANDSCAPING PAGE 55

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE FOR SOIL DISINFECTION PAGE 59

SPANISH AGRICULTURE: AN OVERVIEW PAGE 61

“HIGH QUALITY, WELL CARE” PAGE 63

RURAL DEVELOPMENT & AGRICULTURE IN VIETNAM PAGE 65

40

GULF AGRICULTURE

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4 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Ferm O Feed invests in a brand new productionfacility for organicfertilizersFERM O FEED works hardto achieve the realisation ofa new production facility forits core business producingorganic fertilizers. This newfactory is FERM O FEED'sanswer to the increasingdemands from the marketdue to decreasing supply infood and healthy, fertile soil.The production facility willbe built on the biggest plantof Den Ouden in Helmond,the Netherlands, situatednear important highways.Also, this location hasoutstanding possibilities fortransport over water.

The realisation of thisnew factory is expected toimprove the autonomousposition of the company,that produces liquid andpellet fertilizers. CurrentlyFERM O FEED relies onthird parties when the needsof customers exceed FERMO FEED's capacity.Although these partnershipsare a solid solution, thecompany raises the standardand aims for an even betterand direct service for itsclients.

New Holland completesfirst delivery of a fleet ofover 100 machinesNew Holland Agriculture - aglobal manufacturer andseller of agriculturalequipment and part of CNH- with its distributor GT Group Ltd., recentlydelivered 12 combineharvesters to the GeorgianMinistry of Agriculture aspart of a larger purchaseprogram. The company willultimately supply theMinistry with a total of 92

tractors and 25 combineharvesters, complemented by50 grain and maize headers,25 sunflower header kits and22 dozer blades.

The first twelve TC5070combine harvesters fittedwith 17-foot grain headerswere handed over toMeqanizatori LLC, theMinistry of Agriculture'sfarming mechanizationservice provider. Themachines, built at NewHolland's manufacturingplant in Plock, Poland, arethe first units of the entireprogram to be delivered andare ready to start harvestingaround the country.

These first units will bejoined by thirteen morecombines and sixty-sevenT6000 Series units from theNew Holland plant inBasildon, UK, which willsupply the majority of thetractors. Twenty-twoTK4060 crawler tractorsbuilt in New Holland'sspecialty tractor plant inJesi, Italy, and three highhorsepower T8.390 tractorsmade in Racine, USA willalso be provided.

As part of CNH, eachNew Holland plant isdedicated to specific productfamilies.

This means that eachfacility has developedspecialized technical andmanufacturing expertise toachieve the highest levels ofquality in its products inorder to fully meet each ofits customer's requirements.

These 117 machines willbe used by Meqanizatori toprovide service to farmers inall regions of Georgia withready-to-use equipmentfeaturing the most advancedtechnology.

The wide selection of

NEWS UPDATE

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6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

NEWS UPDATE

models and attachments in thisnew fleet will enableMeqanizatori to deliver abroader range of services inorder to efficiently cover a largevariety of farming applications.The 101-horsepower TK4060crawler tractors - the first to besold in Georgia - are ideal forworking on slopes too steep forwheeled tractors and, with 88PTO hp, rise to the challenge ofbig tillage and PTOapplications. The longwheelbase 340-horsepowerT8.390s are built to perform inheavy applications and are verywell suited to secondarycultivation, drilling, topdressing and transport. TheT6000 Series, which rangesbetween 112 and 165horsepower, is a natural choice

for livestock, arableapplications or for contractors.

New Holland, with GTGroup's service technicians, hasstarted training for over 230operators in the country onproduct use and maintenance toensure the farmers will get thebest performance from thesemachines.

New Holland has beenpresent in Georgia for more thana decade. The company has

developed extensive experienceand know-how regarding localfarming needs and, along with itsdistributor GT Group, hassupported the Georgiangovernment since the delivery ofits first large fleet of 122 tractorsand 25 combine harvesters toMeqanizatori in 2010.

“We are dedicated tosupporting Georgia's requestsand their efforts to mechanizethe country's agriculture by

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8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

introducing advanced farmingpractices,” commented StuartCampbell, New HollandBusiness Director Central Asia& Caucasus. “That is why whenwe undertake to supply such alarge fleet of equipment, thisincludes much more than theprovision of advanced andreliable agricultural machinery,but also top-notch support, fromparts availability, technicalassistance and training foroperators and technicians totailored financing packages.”

New Holland offeredMeqanizatori a competitive 6-year financing package atattractive rates. This was madepossible through the support ofECGD, the UK Export Credit

Agency, which saw thesignificance of this project forNew Holland's UK-basedmanufacturing plant.

Empower's district coolingconsumption rose 23.2% Emirates Central CoolingCorporation (Empower), thelargest district cooling serviceprovider in the region, hassaid that consumption ofdistrict cooling provided bythe company rose by 23.2percent in July 2012,compared to same period lastyear. The company alsoreported that its total squarefootage committed to districtcooli has achieved aremarkable increase.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO ofEmpower, said that the increasereflects the economy rebound inthe UAE and it shows that thecountry is on the right way topartially outperformconventional AC systems in thefavour of district cooling. Headded that with every increasein district cooling consumptionthere is savings being achievedin electricity and waterconsumption in Dubai whichcontributes in reserving thenatural resources of the emirate.He stressed that Dubai isincreasing its dependence ondistrict cooling for the better ofthe environment and to reduceoperating and maintenancecosts of chilling.

NEWS UPDATE

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1 0 GULF AGRICULTURE

Chemical weed control onpaved surfaces: better forthe environment In collaboration with the IVAMresearch and consultancyagency (University ofAmsterdam), scientists fromPlant Research International(Wageningen UR) determinedthe environmental effects of themost common weed controlmethods on paved surfaces suchas sidewalks and roads. Life-cycle analysis (LCA) showsthat the careful use of chemicalson pavement has better resultsfrom an environmentalperspective than non-chemicalmethods such as burning,brushing, hot air and hot water.

Considerable discussion iscurrently taking place in theNetherlands on the Dutch

government's proposal toprohibit the professional andprivate use of herbicides onpaved surfaces. The LCA showsthat prohibiting chemical weedcontrol on paving will notimprove the environment.

The analysis focuses on theentire life cycle, from theproduction of raw materials towaste processing. The LCAscore consists of 17environmental categories thatare compared individually,standardised and weighed andthen totalled. The scores areexpressed in LCA points; thehigher the LCA score, thepoorer the method'sperformance.

Based on the total LCAscores, the chemical weedcontrol methods using

glyphosate have much lessimpact on the environment thannon-chemical methods.Chemical techniques achieve atotal score of 0.3 - 0.5 LCApoints. The environmentalimpact of brushing is mainlydetermined by the extra wear ofthe pavement as a result of therotating brushes. As a result, theLCA score of brushing variesfrom 2.8 for no wear to 7.0 fora 25% shorter lifespan of thepavement.

Biological pesticide tocontrol Date palm leafhopper Dubas bug Russell IPM has launched aninnovative biological pesticideFytomax N for the successfulcontrol of Date palm leaf hopperDubas bug in IRAQ.

NEWS UPDATE

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

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IT’S TIME…w w w . m a s s e y f e r g u s o n . c o m

Visit your local dealer for more information or email us at: [email protected]

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1 2 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Fytomax N specialised Ultralow volume (ULV) formulationis developed for arialapplication.

Specialty, naturally, ready touse, Fytomax N is anAzadirachtin basedmultifunctional biologicalpesticide extracted from Neemtree. The novel ULVformulation is ideal for Aerialapplications without mixingwith water. This powerfulbiopesticide is also available inEC formulation. The keyadvantage of this solution is thedual impact on both adult andeggs of Dubas bug, preventingand interfering with the insect'sdevelopment, Fytomax N hasbeen applied from aircraft ondate palm orchard in Iraq.

Date Palm leaf hopper,

Ommatissus lybicus commonlyknown as Dubus bug, is aserious pest of date palm. Arialapplication of Fytomax Nresulted satisfactory level ofcontrol Dubas bug in IRAQ.Owing to biodegradableproperties Fytomax N can beapplied close to harvest time.

EIMA International, a world class eventThe EIMA Internationalagricultural mechanizationreview is preparing for theexperience of a 2012 recordedition. The great biennial ofmechanization for agriculture,gardening, greenskeeping andcomponents will take over117,000 m2 under cover inpavilions and another 20,000 m2

outdoors for trials of machinery

and equipment for thebioenergy production linecompared to a total of 105,000m2 allocated for the 2010review. Overall, the exhibitionset up on 137,000 m2 will be theworld's largest in the sector tomark the highest achievementin the history of the event.

Explained at a pressconference held in the Bolognacenter, was that the expansion ofthe exhibition area was requiredin part because of the return tothe EIMA International fold ofthe gardening and greenskeepingsector with the specialized EIMAGreen Salon to flank three othertheme salons, EIMA Componentsfor a focus on components,EIMA Energy for a look atbiomass energy production andEIMA M.i.A on multifunctional

NEWS UPDATE

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agriculture. The upcomingedition is drawing 1,700exhibiting industries from 40nations, organized in the 14sectors of specializationcharacteristic of the review, andon the side of attendance,expectations are for numbers wellover the 166,400 visitors whoarrived for the 2010 exhibition, afigure which included 26,000from 140 nations.

EIMA International iscoming along at a time spokenof by FederUnacoma PresidentMassimo Goldoni as especiallydynamic and interesting, a timewitnessing substantial growthin demand in the Asian giantsas well as in Turkey, Russiaand Brazil and recovery in thetraditional Western Europeanand United States markets. Atthe end of 2011, India reported

sales of tractors of greater than30 HP up to 470,000 units for a20% increase over the previousyear's sales, sales in Chinareached 350,000 units for a 9%increase, U.S. sales rose to168,000 units for a 2% rise, theincrease for Western Europecame to 13% at 162,000 units,37,000 units for Russia for asurge of 76%, and 60,500 forTurkey for a gain of 68%.Increases in recent years inBrazil were followed by anatural decline of 7% due tothe extremely high number oftractors registered, 52,300units. According to the findingsof surveys conducted byAgrievolution, the internationalforum of manufacturersassociations in the world'sleading countries, the currentyear should continue on thepositive side. In the firstquarter tractor sales rose 1% inthe United States over thesame period in 2011 to 33,700on national territory, in Russiathe gain was 50% to 6,300units in the first two months ofthe year and Germany reportedsales for the first quarter at8,300 units for a 14% increasein sales following thesubstantial 26% growth in2011 with 36,000 tractors sold.Goldoni confirmed that

NEWS UPDATE

Urbinati has been at the forefront of the horti-floral-nursery equipment since itsfoundation in 1980. Born out of the insight and the technical knowledge of hisfounder and CEO - Nino Urbinati- the company has known a solid and steadygrowth for the last 30 years employing today over 70 people.

Technical innovation, customization, responsive and effective after-sale servicesare the cornerstones ensuring the highest degree of customer satisfaction.

And the doors of the company will be open at next 28-29th of September for allvisitors and sector' experts to show the products 2013 of the company so as thelatest news in the agricultural sector.

The Urbinati team including his Engineers - along with some of the mostqualified and experienced technicians of the sector - will wait all people during theUrbinati Academy to show the excellence of a full made Italian production andevery Urbinati machine operating besides the possibility to meet internationalexperts of the sector discussing personal solutions for their activities.

The Open Day program includes also meetings and representations connected tothe Mac frut exhibition that it will take place in conjunction with the event andUrbinati will be there at Hall G at Orto-group Stand.

For more information about how participate at the event please follow the newwebsite www.urbinati.com or contact the company at the references below:Urbinati Srl, Via Della Liberazione 18 - I 47030 San Mauro Pascoli (FC)Tel + 39 335 7161 537 or [email protected] (Mr Adel Zaraa)

Worldwide open day

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

recovery on these international markets favorsexports by Italian industries and noted the highlyposition balance sheet for 2011 for tractor exports,up 14%, as well as for other types of machinery.He said the current year is promising and citedNational Statistics Institute data showing increasesfor the first four months coming to 18.4% in valueto Euro 534 million for tractor exports and 8.3%for other types of machinery, valued at Euro 963million. The domestic market, on the other hand,is still plagued by recession and hopes are that thearrival of EIMA International might mark thereversal of this trend. Figures elaborated byFederUnacoma on the basis of registrationapplications in the first half of the year reportedby the Ministry for Transport disclose domesticmarket declines for tractor sales, down 21.9%, forcombine harvesters, off 7.5%, for tractors withloading platforms, falling 23.7%, and trailers,declining 15.2%.

Verbeek serves poultry farmers with betterhatching eggs and day old layer chicksIn Zeewolde, in one of Holland's new polders, onan industrial site, in less than 9 months Europe'slargest layer hatchery was built. But the newVERBEEK hatchery is so much more than just thebiggest. It is the best too!

Dutch Minister of Agriculture Henk Blekeropened the hatchery by unveiling the newVERBEEK logo. In his openings speech hereferred to the dioxin crisis in Germany, andstressed the importance of Good ManufacturingPractice. He insisted on the Layer Cage Banbeing implemented fully in all EuropeanMember States, in order to maintain a levelplaying field.

Prof. Anton Pijpers of the University ofUtrecht, Veterinary Faculty, and Ron Eek ofLohmann Tierzucht were two of the valued guestspeakers at the openings ceremony. Sustainabilityin the layer industry was the main theme of allthe lectures. Ron Eek emphasized that LTZ isaiming at sustainable production for some yearsalready now. High production, low feedconversion, good eggshell quality and lowmortality all contribute to a very efficientproduction. On top of that, LTZ is performingselection in alternative housing systems. And notonly for production traits, but monitoring factorslike feather cover, cannibalism and consistencyof droppings too. Thus LTZ is carefullybalancing an equilibrium between Profit, Peopleand Planet, according to Ron Eek.

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1 8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Saudi Agriculture 2012 -The 31st InternationalAgriculture, Water &

Agro-Industry Show, will runfrom September 24 to 27, 2012,at the Riyadh InternationalConvention and ExhibitionCentre. The trade show, whichis accredited by UFI, the GlobalAssociation of the ExhibitionIndustry, will be heldconcurrently with SaudiAgrofood 2012 - The 19thInternational Exhibition forFood Processing and Packaging.

Saudi Agriculture 2012serves as an ideal business-to-business platform for majoragricultural producers,manufacturers, dealers, agentsand distributors along with keypolicy makers and high-rankingofficials from the SaudiAgriculture Ministry. Other keyareas of focus of the trade eventinclude Fisheries & FishFarming, Greenhouses,Handling & Transport Systems,Irrigation & LandscapingEquipment, Machinery & Spare

Parts, Organic Farming,Packaging Systems & Products,Pesticides, Pumps & PipeSystems, Seeds & Soil NutritionProducts, Spraying Machinery,Water Treatment, WaterManagement Systems, andWarehousing.

Saudi Agriculture 2012, heldunder the patronage and supportof the Saudi Ministry ofAgriculture, is being organised tohelp shore up ongoinginvestments in food and beverageproduction and enable the country

SAUDI AGRICULTURE SHOW PREVIEW

IDEAL BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS PLATFORMFOR MAJOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERSSAUDI AGRICULTURE 2012, HELD UNDER THE PATRONAGE AND SUPPORT OF THE SAUDI MINISTRY OFAGRICULTURE, IS BEING ORGANISED TO HELP SHORE UP ONGOING INVESTMENTS IN FOOD AND BEVERAGEPRODUCTION AND ENABLE THE COUNTRY TO MEET ITS INCREASING, LONG-TERM FOOD REQUIREMENTS.

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

to meet its increasing, long-termfood requirements.

Saudi Arabia has been amajor destination for regionaland international suppliers andmanufacturers in the foodproduction value chain becauseof the enormous growthpotential of the Saudi foodmarket. Saudi Agriculture, thecountry's prime agriculturaltrade event for the past 30years, certainly serves as amajor entry point for investorsand other key industry playersfrom the Middle East, Europe,the Americas and Asia toexpand their presence in theSaudi food sector and contributein addressing the country's long-term food security challenges.

In 2011, Saudi Agricultureattracted around 26,000

professional visitors includinghigh-ranking officials, majorproducers, manufacturers, dealers,agents and distributors looking toexplore partnership and growthopportunities within the largestand fastest growing agriculturemarket in the GCC region

More than 630 specializedexhibitors from the Middle East,Europe, the Americas and Asiain addition to local companiesshowcasing the latest inagricultural products, servicesand equipment.

The Saudi Governmentannounced at the beginning ofthis year its highest budget todate; US$186 billion withUS$16 billion allocated to theagricultural sector. This is in linewith the Ministry ofAgriculture's strategy to support

the continued growth of theindustry. In addition to existingprojects, the budget allowancegoes to new investments increating wheat silos, spreadingwheat storage facilities andbuilding mills to fulfill thenation's growing needs.

The Kingdom of SaudiArabia with a population of 28million is the largest individualmarket in the region. The Agro-Food sector in the Kingdom iswitnessing a steady growth rate,due in part to the rapidlyincreasing population. In 2011,15% of Saudi consumers haveseen a rise in their disposableincomes, while 50% maintainedthe same level. All thiscontributed to a 28% increase inconsumer spending, 5% ofwhich were spent on food.

SAUDI AGRICULTURE SHOW PREVIEW

1 9GULF AGRICULTURE

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Mahdi Y. AlramadanChairman

2 0 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Alyaseen AgriculturalCompany - during its33 years of active

involvement in the Saudiagricultural market - hasattained an outstanding position

and accomplished a handsomeand a continued annual salesgrowth of about 15% for thelast 10 years. Its services to theSaudi growers has expandedover the years from one branchin its home town Hofuf, tocover now all the mainagricultural areas through its

eleven branches. Each branch isfully prepared to give thecustomers all needed support.

Alyaseen business plan of“Technology Transfer” and themarketing strategy followed toguarantee customer'ssatisfaction and loyalty, haspaid well in giving Alyaseen awide range of customer basefrom the large shareholdingagricultural companies to themedium and small growers.

For that matter, Alyaseenhad used very well its wealth ofover 33 years of accumulatedexpertise in the Saudiagriculture market to put astrong focus on introducinginnovative specialty inputmaterials such as highly pureand soluble fertilizers, highyielding hybrid seeds, andeffective agrochemicals fromrenowned international sourcesas a result for its diligent searchfor innovative AgriculturalTechnologies to be transferredto the Saudi market.

To complement its mission,Alyaseen has established aTrial Station with the purposeto put each and every newtechnology under tests andobservations to ensure itsviability and suitability to thecustomers prior to putting anymarketing and sales forcesbehind it.

Currently, Alyaseen hasmore than 200 differentspecialty items of agricultural

inputs from internationalsources.

Alyaseen also value verymuch its relations and aim tobuild a strong and long lastingpartnership with itsinternational suppliers throughexclusive agreements.

Alyaseen together with thesupplier's experts play amagnificent role in educatingboth Alyaseen technical staffand also the major customerson all aspects of using thenewly transferred agriculturaltechnologies. This is done byarranging for the suppliersexperts to visit Saudi Arabiaand give several lectures andworkshops in differentlocations for the best ways touse their technologies.

Within Alyaseen plan togrow and expand the base of itswork, it has added in 2010 aGardening Department sellinginputs for large gardens such ascoated hybrid grass seeds forlawns and football pitches,alfalfa seeds, and public healthproducts and in 2012 addedstill a specialty MachineryDepartment selling distinctmachines for nursery, vegetableproduction, and seedlingplanting.

ALYASEEN Agri. is verywell positioned now to be theleading Saudi Agriculturalcompany to serve both itscustomers and its internationalsuppliers.

SAUDI AGRICULTURE SHOW PREVIEW

ALYASEEN AGRI. KEEPS AN EYE ON ITSCUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS

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Guttridge Ltd, the UK-based bulk materialshandling company, will

exhibit for the first time at thisyear's Saudi Agriculture (31stInternational Agriculture, Waterand Agro-Industry Show) inRiyadh in September. This movecoincides with Guttridge's plansto open a new office in Riyadh,from where the company willprovide direct, local support tocustomers throughout the region.

Guttridge is an establishedand highly respectedmanufacturer of conveyors andelevators, and this year iscelebrating 50 years in business.The company's materialshandling systems are used acrossa wide range of industrialsectors, including both theagriculture and food industries.Saudi Agriculture thereforeoffers an ideal platform forGuttridge as the show runsconcurrently with Agrofood and

Saudi Food-Pack, at the RiyadhInternational Convention andExhibition Center, Kingdom ofSaudi Arabia, from 24 until 27September 2012.

“This is an exciting time forGuttridge as we look forward toestablishing a new office for theMiddle East, in Riyadh,” saidSales & Marketing Director PaulGott. “We see this as a veryimportant step in ensuring thecustomer support excellence forwhich we are known as ourbusiness continues to flourish inthis region.”

All Guttridge conveyors andelevators are manufactured at thecompany's large modern factoryin the UK. Here engineers usethe latest 3D design softwareand computerised productionmanagement systems, togetherwith state-of-the-artmanufacturing machineryincluding CNC laser cutters,press brakes, painting and

assembly facilities. “Much of our work in the

Middle East involves deliveringprojects - systems rather thanindividual machines,” continuedMr Gott. “Here our close in-house control of the whole sales,design and manufacturingoperation provides us with anunrivalled ability to meet ourcustomers' exacting design,delivery and qualityrequirements. In addition, ourpractical experience built upover many years allows us tooffer reliable and completelycurrent technical advice to assistcustomers in their choices and inthe delivery of the overallproject.”

Visit the Guttridge team atSaudi Agriculture, Stand No.706-3 or for details of thecompany's materials handlingsolutions please visitwww.guttridge.co.uk

SAUDI AGRICULTURE SHOW PREVIEW

GUTTRIDGE WILL DISPLAY MATERIALS HANDLINGSYSTEMS AT SAUDI AGRICULTURE SHOW

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Could you tell us moreabout the goals andgrowth approach of

Astra Industrial Group(AIG)?

Astra Industrial Group is aSaudi holding companyestablished in 2006, with anumber of group companies ledby a focus on creativity,innovation and long-termvalues that the local communityand all our stakeholders.

The Group is committed tosustainable development byensuring high operationalefficiencies, financial stabilityand effective administrativecontrol. Our success has beenled by offering high qualityproducts and excellentindustrial output, thushighlighting ourcompetitiveness in the localand regional markets.

In which sectors are AstraIndustrial Group a marketleader?

Astra Industrial Group iscontinuing its strategy ofexpanding locally andregionally in thepharmaceutical, chemical andsteel industries as well asmaintaining the stability of thegroup's through highoperational efficiencies andguaranteeing added valuethrough our industrialproductivity and commitmentto quality.

Led by our success in thelocal markets and sustainedgrowth, the Group hasdeveloped and diversified itsproducts and expandedcontinuously across all itssubsidiaries and to newgeographies in the Middle Eastand North Africa as well as

SAUDI UPDATE

ASTRACHEM: GROWTH POWERED BYINNOVATION AND GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION

Astrachem is one of the leading companies in theagrochemicals and fertilizers sector in the Kingdom ofSaudi Arabia, with a strong footprint across the widerMiddle East, Turkey and North Africa. A subsidiary ofAstra Industrial Group, a public listed company in SaudiArabia, Astrachem has recorded significant growth inexports, which accounted for over 48 per cent of the totalsales in 2011. Yehia Elazab, Astrachem's CEO, providesan overview of the company's expansion plans and goals inan exclusive interview with Gulf Agriculture Magazine.

Yehia Elazab, CEO Astrachem

I N T E R V I E W

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some European and Asiancountries.

Can you provide an overviewof the Group's performancein 2011?

Despite the multiplechallenges that the groupencountered and theexceptional circumstances thatprevailed in the region duringthe year as well as theincreased competition, the year2011 proved to be anexceptional year for the Group.

The Group companies havecontinued to modernize andexpand its existing facilitiesand established new factoriesto keep pace with the growingdemand for our products. Thishas been instrumental inattracting new customers andestablishing our footprint innew markets while

maintaining the existingcustomers. Sales increased to arecord of 1.9 billion riyalsduring 2011, an increase of27% compared to 2010.

In 2011, Astra Polymersopened a new factory in theindustrial area of the PetroRabigh complex in Saudi Arabia.The company also made thedecision to establish a newfactory for dyes and plasticadditives in India to serve themarkets of the Indiansubcontinent and Southeast Asia.

At the same time, TabukPharmaceutical Industriescontinued to construct its state-of-the-art factory in Dammam.This was in addition tostrengthening the position of itsfactory in Sudan, increasing itsproduction capacity andupgrading the level and qualityof products.

AstraChem has beenrestructuring the Astra Novafactory in Turkey, where wehave a 67% ownership stake,and we are transferring it to anew location to increase theenergy supply and expedite theintroduction of new products.Simultaneously, theInternational Building SystemsFactory (IBSF) is completingits new factory in Jubail.

At the organizational level,we have applied the resourcesmanagement system andprocesses (SAP) in theoperations of the holdingcompany and three affiliatedcompanies in the kingdom.

This is a main component ofour unification project by whichthe group plans to use the latestinformation systems to linkoperations across all groupfacilities and subsidiaries.

SAUDI UPDATE

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012 2 5GULF AGRICULTURE

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2 6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

The system will provideaccurate information andharness advanced technologyfor the planning andmanagement process forprocurement, production, sales,logistics, and financialreporting to enhanceperformance and improve theaccuracy of financial controland performance analysis at thegroup level.

The achievements of thegroup and its subsidiariesreiterate our commitment toexcellence which has earnedthe confidence of customersacross the local and regionalmarkets. It also reflects on thesuccessful implementation of asound business strategy and thediligent work of ourprofessional management teamand dedicated staff.

Astrachem is one of theleading companies in thechemical fertilizers andAgrochemicals industry inthe kingdom of Saudi Arabia,the Middle East and NorthAfrica. Being the CEO ofAstrachem, can you pleaseexplain to us the origin, earlygrowth, distribution networksand its focus ?

Astrachem is driven byinnovation and growth invarious sectors in theAgriculture and Miningbusiness. This focus steers thecompany to be the leadingorganisation in theagrochemicals, animal feedand fertilizers industries inSaudi Arabia, the Middle East,Turkey and Africa.

Astrachem was formed fromtwo primary Saudi companiesinvolved in the production anddistribution of agriculturalchemicals - the AstraAgricultural Company Limitedand Astra Industrial ComplexCo. for Fertilizers and Pesticides.

In 1988, Astra AgriculturalCo. Ltd. was established inRiyadh, after which thecompany expanded to 12branches covering all majoragricultural areas in SaudiArabia to provide tailoredsolutions for the market andmeet the farmers' needs foragrochemicals, fertilizers,public health and veterinarypesticides, vegetable seeds,seed potatoes and otheragricultural products.

In 1995, the companyestablished its ownmanufacturing facilities inDammam, which wasregistered under the name ofAstra Industrial Complex Co.Ltd. to manufacture compoundfertilizers and otheragricultural chemicals andpesticides.

Astrachem has a growingnetwork of sales anddistribution centers in SaudiArabia and the region inaddition to branches in manycountries in the Middle East,Turkey and North Africa suchas Algeria, Morocco, Tunis,Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Oman,Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine,Syria, Sudan and Egypt.

The prudent strategy of thecompany has been to rely onqualified human resources, useadvanced methods and means,and develop products to beinnovative.

The intermediate plan forAstrachem is to focus onestablishing one of thestrongest distribution channelsin Saudi and across the regionto serve market-specific needs.This will be undertakenthrough the well-trainedagronomists and technicalprofessionals of Astrachem ineach market and in eachspecific segment.

As Astrachem is part ofAIG, an investment group, wewill strive for moreacquisitions and joint ventureswith multinationals in variousfields. We plan to expand intothe mining of raw materials,leveraging the region'sresources and potential.

We have invested and willcontinue to invest in our R&Ddepartments in Saudi andTurkey in various fields todeliver top quality and new

SAUDI UPDATE

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

innovative agriculturesolutions to our customers.

Can you provide us detailsabout your product range?

Astra Industrial ComplexCo. is an integrated supplier offertilizers, agrochemicals andproduction inputs whichinclude the followingproducts:� Agrochemical Products:

pesticides, herbicides,acaricides and fungicides

� Public health Products � Veterinary Products -

produced and imported.� Fertilizers: NPK Water

Soluble, compound NPK,Single Fertilizers, Liquidfertilizers, Suspensions,biostimulanets ,Florabellefertilizers and TraceElements fromMultinationals.

� Indoor and outdoorvegetables seeds

� Potato seeds� Potting Soil & peatmoss � Plant Growth Regulators� Other agricultural inputs

Due to the impressivesuccess of Astrachem'sproducts in the domesticmarket, the company hasexpanded by establishingcompanies and newsubsidiaries in many countriesin the Middle East and NorthAfrica region. Thus, the exportmarket has become key,exceeding 48% of the totalsales during 2011.

Can you explain more aboutyour operations in Turkey?

To strengthen ourcapabilities in foreign markets,Astrachem acquired 51%shares of an existing Turkishcompany that specializes inproducing agriculturalpesticides, insecticides andactive ingredients in 2010 andrenamed it “Astranova”. In2011, the company raised itsstakes to 67% and now hasmoved to a state-of-the-artnew facility with the latestequipment and methods ofproduction.

AstraNova Turkey is thefirst company in Turkey andthe Middle East to produceactive ingredients forpesticides. ASTRANOVA willsupply producers in the localmarket and other regionalmarkets with various activeingredients. This is one of thefirst steps to distinguishAstrachem from regularblenders to t he league of araw material supplier and ablender. This will give ourcustomers the advantage ofserving them closer andquickly, as we are lessdependent on the suppliers ofkey ingredients. Astrachem'sestablished network willincrease Astranova's sales inmarkets adjacent to Turkeyand other regions, where itprovides a logisticaladvantage. We are indiscussion with a few

multinationals for a possiblejoint venture in Turkey too.

How do you ensure that theproduct quality matchesinternational standards?

To ensure the quality of ourproducts, we have worked toimplement internationallyapproved quality standardssuch as those outlined by theFood and AgricultureOrganization (FAO), WorldHealth Organization (WHO),the International Commissionfor the cooperative Analysis ofPesticides (CIPAC) and theInternational Centre forFertilizers Development(IFDC).

As part of our commitmentto in protecting theenvironment, we apply thestandards of the U.S. Agencyfor Environmental Protection(US EPA) and has alsoobtained production licensesfor major internationalcompanies that a long historyof development andproduction of pesticides, suchas FMC and Chemtura.

Astrachem tirelessly seeksto develop its products andkeep up with the changingdemands of the agriculturalsector and the environmentalhealth sector. The companyhas approximately 172chemical compositionsregistered in its name, and it isexpected to record 12 othercombinations in 2012.

2 7GULF AGRICULTURE

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2 8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

SAHARA PREVIEW

Sahara, the internationalagricultural exhibition forAfrica and the Middle

East will be held from 23-26September, 2012 at CairoInternational ConferenceCenter, Egypt.

The show will offerexhibitors maximum benefitsfrom their participation,providing the perfectenvironment to network withnew potential partners, launchnew goods, win new business,increase revenue, discover thelatest products, trends, ideas andinnovations in agriculture sector.

As in the past, the show willoffer international and localmanufacturers and suppliers, an

excellent vehicle to expandtheir business potential. Theroots of success are embeddedin the twenty years of traditionbehind the exhibition, which isa special forum for agriculturalprofessionals with commitmentand clear visions.

The exhibits will cover thefollowing sectors includingDeep water well-drilling,Pumps, Modern irrigationsystems, Seeds, Fertilizers,Plant protection, Tissue culturetechniques, Greenhouses,Agricultural machinery, Animalproduction, Fisheries,Environment protection, Agro-industry, Landscaping andgardens, Packaging, Energy andNurseries.

This year the show once againfeatures a record participation byleading Egyptian and internationalcompanies, which wouldconverge at the expo to reveal thelatest products and technologiesfrom the world market.

THE ROOTS OF SUCCESS AREEMBEDDED IN THE TWENTY

YEARS OF TRADITION BEHINDTHE EXHIBITION, WHICH IS A

SPECIAL FORUM FORAGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS

WITH COMMITMENT AND CLEAR VISIONS.

25 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONGER

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SAHARA PREVIEW

2 9GULF AGRICULTURE

The show will attract a largenumber of trade visitors,administrators of the executivepower bodies, governmentofficials, managers and expertsfrom the Egyptian Ministry ofAgriculture and LandReclamation directors, farmmanagers and experts from bothnational and foreign companies.

Egypt's entire labor force, 30per cent works in theagricultural sector contributingsome 13.7 per cent of thecountry's entire GDP in 2010.Agriculture contributes 30 percent to Egypt's commodityexports, which makes it a majorrevenue-generator.

New policies have beenadopted, which seek toencourage agricultural

investments. The governmentprovides the infrastructure andservices required, such asirrigation, roads and otherutilities, together with credit-lines and tax exemptionstailored to meet the conditionsand potentials of each and everyregion. In addition to the winter,summer and Nile inundationgrowing seasons, Egypt has all-year-round and multiple-yearplantations such as sugar cane,fruit and wood-producing trees.

The country's cultivated areais estimated to have reached 8.47million feddans (8.159 millionacres) in 2006; i.e. 3.5 per centof Egypt's area. Meanwhile,vertical cultivation has broughtthe crop area up to 14.6 millionfeddans (14.065 million acres).

Meanwhile, a long-term plan isbeing implemented at present toincrease the area of landreclaimed by 2017 to 3.4 millionfeddans (3.274 million acres)with 150 thousand feddans(144,508.670 thousand acres)added to Egypt's cultivable areaevery year.

Egypt is an intensive user ofmodern technologies toimprove agriculturalproductivity in view of thenatural resource base scarcityand population pressure. Withthis in mind, the very creationof the Ministry of Agriculturein the beginning of the 20thcentury was preceded by theestablishment of technicaldivisions and the developmentof research capabilities.

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The 2012 Irrigation Showand EducationConference is taking

place Nov. 2 - 6 in Orlando,Fla. This is the one placewhere the industry meets toexplore new products andtechnologies, meet withbusiness contacts and takeadvantage of education andinnovative ideas that canpositively influence yourbusiness. In recognition of itsinternational visitors, theIrrigation Association isholding an internationalwelcome reception on Nov. 3for an evening of networking,conversation and celebration ofefficient irrigation worldwide.

New IrrigationTechnologiesand Products

The Irrigation Show offersmany opportunities to learnabout the vast array ofagricultural irrigationtechnologies and products thatcan help you reduce costs whilemaximizing water-useefficiency. Attendees will havethe opportunity to explore thebest the industry has to offer

from the top manufacturers,visit with product experts andsee the latest irrigationinnovations at the New ProductContest. Over 300 exhibitorsare expected this year alongwith 5,000 attendees.

Agricultural IrrigationSessions and Events

In addition to 200,000 squarefeet of irrigation equipment,systems, services andaccessories, the event offers aseries of educational sessionsand briefings that focus onagricultural irrigation solutions.Also for 2012, there are morenetworking opportunitiesdesigned to help you buildstronger business relationships.

Here is a sampling of thisyear's highlights foragricultural irrigationprofessionals: � Education classes featuring

real-world applications andcase studies available inlandscape and agriculturaltracks.

� Agricultural irrigationseminars addressing the

underlying concepts andimplementation “how-to's” ofwater management.

� Nearly 40 agriculture-focusedtechnical sessions providing aforum for sharing researchfindings and best practices.

� Certification exams for thoseinterested in becomingcertified irrigation designersor certified agriculturalirrigation specialists.

� Center Stage briefingsfeaturing updates on IAinitiatives, includingagricultural irrigationstandards and codes.

� Networking events andOrlando attractions, includingopening and closing nightparties, an internationalwelcome reception andcommon interest groupmeetings for drip/microirrigation, nursery andgreenhouse and pressurizedirrigation.

For full program details andmore information onregistration, hotel discounts andvisa information, please visitwww.irrigationshow.org.

IRRIGATION SHOW PREVIEW

FOCUSING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS

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3 2 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

The most strikinginnovations at the HortiFair is not only have a

chance of winning theInnovation Award this year.They also compete for the PressAward, which is beingpresented for the second time.The prize ceremony will beheld in the Amsterdam RAI onthe morning of Tuesday 30October and exhibitors whowant to compete must ensurethat the new products they areintroducing at the fair areregistered before Monday 17September.

“The Horti Fair is the biggestinternational trade show forTechnology, Innovation andInspiration in Horticulture,”says its director Frans-PeterDechering. “It is the trade fairwith the most innovations in thefields of plant breeding,greenhouse technology and

cultivation technique.” TheHorti Fair is taking place in theAmsterdam RAI from 30October to 2 Novemberinclusive. The new productsthat have won the InnovationAward and the Press Award willbe announced on the morningof Tuesday 30 October.

The Press Award wasintroduced last year and isconferred by a jury ofrepresentatives of the pressfrom major horticultural titles inthe Netherlands and elsewhere:Erik Titulaer from KAS, Ad vanGaalen fromGlastuinbouwtechniek, FabianBrockotter from Groenten enFruit, Henk van Esch fromOnder Glas and Peter Voskuilfrom the Bloemenkrant, inaddition to the international jurymembers Heinrich Dresslerfrom the German GB DasMagazin für Zierpflanzenbau,

Linda Kaluzny-Pinon from theFrench Culture Legumière andSteven Vale from Britishjournal the CommercialGreenhouse Grower.

All exhibitors who registerthe new products they arelaunching at the trade fairbefore Monday 17 Septembercompete free of charge for theprestigious Innovation Awardand Press Award. A jury ofexperts decides whichinnovations are the moststriking and are beingnominated for the InnovationAward. The reasons may betechnical or environmentalprogress, or increasedprofitability, but may alsoinclude aspects like ergonomics,sustainability, economicimportance and rangeexpansion. The nominees willbe announced at the beginningof October.

HORTI FAIR PREVIEW

HORTI FAIR 2012 TURNS FULL POWEROF THE SPOTLIGHTS ON INNOVATIONS

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3 4 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Asia Seed has beencommitted todeveloping high quality

F1 vegetable seed with itsstrong breeding programtogether with a number ofexperienced breeders forvarious types such as cabbage,broccoli, pepper, watermelon,cucumber and tomato to coverall kinds of vegetable crops forthe international market.

The company has nowgained good international levelrecognition after several yearsof commitment in the seedindustry and still strive the bestto move forward and expandthe business activitiesworldwide in order to enrichfarming society.

Asia Seed, the pioneer in theseed industry has been makingits best efforts in entering intothe virgin market of Middleeast, Africa and eastern Europeas well as existing market.

The company is starting tosettle down and the brand isalso gradually building up therecognition.

As a result of continuedattendance in the internationalconferences, exhibition fairsand the testing various seedsamples with local businesspartners, the company isstarting to settle down and thebrand is also gradually buildingup the recognition.

The company has continuedto invest highly on the researchwork and developing thecompetitive varieties withhighly experienced breederswith the ultimate goal ofsupplying best quality seed andmeeting the various demands onthe market.

With the success ofintroducing brassica crops suchas cabbage, broccoli, thecompany has started to launchother species like tomato,watermelon and carrot that thecompany has been working onbreeding with target market forMiddle east and northernAfrica.

SEEDS

ASIA SEED CO LTD

ALWAYSA STEPAHEAD

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3 6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

These are not easy timesto run an irrigationdistrict in California,

USA. Honing its efficiency,protecting its workers, workingto comply with new watermeasurement regulations andfacing a year of drought, theSouth San Joaquin IrrigationDistrict (SSJID) is staking itsfuture on accurate flowmonitoring and automation.

“If you look at the district'sfirst 100 years, from 1909 to2009, we have ditch tenders out24/7 opening gates or turningvalves and looking at theirwatch to track water use,” saysJeff Shields, general manager ofthe district, in his office inManteca, California. “Now, in

2012, farmers will take out theiriPhone and order their water.They'll open a secure websiteand get readings from soilmoisture probes five feet deep,and get data from a weatherstation next to their turnout.”

The role of ditch tender, ordivision manager, in the 21stcentury goes far beyondmonitoring the system,scheduling deliveries withfarmers and checking gates -now it also includes computerskills, notes Shields. His team ofdivision managers is upgradingand maintaining the evolvingsystem, working at the front linesof the battle to keep waterflowing to the district's farms.

“Agriculture is going to have

to demonstrate the efficient useof our water,” Shields pointsout. “Agriculture is oftencriticized as inefficient. But it'shard to prove otherwise whenyou can't account for thedelivery of water. In a year likethis [with a predicted shortfallof 15% in the district's waterallocation], it will be especiallyimportant.”

Shields adds that automaticdata gathering and turnoutmanagement gives him greaterpeace of mind than sendingditch tenders into the field inthe middle of the night, wherethey sometimes face dangerouscharacters in isolated areas.“With pipelines and meters, wecan secure our system,” he says.

IRRIGATION

SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT TAKESTHE LEAD IN 21ST CENTURY FLOW MONITORING

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

“So it's not just about meteringtechnology, but meteringtechnology ties it all together.”

Wider BenefitsGreater efficiency in the

irrigation system has far-reaching benefits, Shields adds.“First and foremost, it's to meetyears when we have drought,”he notes. “But we also expectto have more surpluses moreoften. When we have surplus,we can try to export water forother farm uses.”

Conserving water throughoutthe system also complementsSSJID's On-Farm WaterConservation Program, a $1.2-million-per-year cost-shareprogram that helps customerslaser-level fields, installtailwater recovery systems tominimize water waste, orswitch to high-efficiency dripor microsprinkler systems.

Most farmers with dripirrigation currently pump theirown groundwater to feed theirsystems. Overdrafts ofgroundwater are a concernthroughout the San JoaquinValley. Groundwater is oftenmore saline than canal waterdrawn from Sierra snowmelt -salts from groundwater cansteadily decrease soil quality.High-horsepower groundwaterpumps also burn fuel and createexhaust fumes, adding to theCentral Valley's chronic airpollution problem.

By building new, pressurizedirrigation systems, SSJID cansupply canal water to the dripand microsprinkler systems onmany farms, replacing dozensof individual on-farm pumpswith just a few central pumps,and delivering clean, low-salinity water to farmers whocan use it more efficiently thanever. In fact, notes Shields,drip irrigation reduces water

use in almonds and grapes byabout one-third whileincreasing yields by 30 percent.

Though adoption of driptechnology was nearlyunanimous among farmers inSSJID's first pressurizedsystem service area, not everyfield along the pressurizedpipeline is on drip ormicrosprinkler. Some growerswill continue to flood some oftheir land, either because it's aless expensive way to managerow crops like corn, or becauseone or two floods per year helpcontrol root-eating rodents inorchards and vineyards. Floodirrigators along the pressurizedsystem will benefit from theupgrade, too, enjoying

improved scheduling for waterdeliveries.

Good Sensors Are VitalIn an average year, the South

San Joaquin Irrigation Districtimports 300,000 acre-feet (370million cubic meters) of water bygravity from the New MelonesDam on the Stanislaus River tothree storage reservoirs. Thewater supplies farmers on 49,000acres of land - most planted toalmonds, grapes or annual rowcrops like corn - in San JoaquinCounty. The district's maincanal feeds 28 laterals, whichaccount for hundreds of miles ofditches, pipes and gatesthroughout the county.

In turn, laterals are linkedby a network of interceptorpipelines and retention pondsthat allow managers greaterflexibility in transporting anddelivering water through thesystem. Over the past decade,infrastructure improvementshave also included monitoringand automation innovationsthroughout the district.

The district's commitment tomonitoring and automation hasput SSJID on track forcompliance with the CaliforniaWater Resources Act, a statuteenacted in 2012 that requires

IRRIGATION

3 7GULF AGRICULTURE

THE SONTEK-IQ IS CAPABLE OFACCURATE MEASUREMENTS IN ASLITTLE AS 3 INCHES OF WATER — AHUGE BENEFIT COMPARED TO OLDERTECHNOLOGY, NOTES AVILA. SMALLAND EFFICIENT, THE SONTEK-IQ ISIDEAL FOR REMOTE LOCATIONS,WHERE BIGGER EQUIPMENT WOULDBE UNWIELDY AND MANUALOBSERVATIONS WOULD BEIMPRACTICAL.

‘‘

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3 8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

IRRIGATION

irrigation districts to start billingfarmers on their cumulativewater use. The result ismandated flow monitoring. Thelaw requires volumetricmeasurement for every property- about 1,200 measurementpoints across the South SanJoaquin district, and as many as30,000 throughout northernCalifornia. Just as important,operating such a refined systemwill demand constant monitoringof water throughout the networkof canals and pipelines thatservice each grower.

“We're not just transportingwater from point A to point B,”notes Frank Avila, SSJID'stelemetry systems/SCADAsystem supervisor. “Deliveriesare being applied. By the timeyou get halfway down a lateral,you might only have one-third of

the water you started with, andvelocities are always changing -they're not consistent.”

Avila emphasizes theimportance of reliable meteringequipment at every level of thesystem.

“Automation can't be doneunless we get good data fromthe field,” he says. “Althoughwe have good communications,good HMI [human-machineinterface] programs and goodPLCs [programmable logiccontrollers], we still depend onthe sensors in the water to giveus good data that we can makegood decisions from.”

SonTek-IQ: Compact and Easy

Over the years, Avila hasdeployed three SonTekArgonaut SW acoustic Dopplervelocimeters and six Argonaut-SL side-looking velocimeters inthe district's main canals andbig laterals. The introductionof the new SonTek-IQ flowmonitor - with its compactprofile and five-beam pulsedDoppler design - allows him totake the next step in trackingflow in smaller laterals,drainage ditches and pipelines.

The SonTek-IQ is capable ofaccurate measurements in aslittle as 3 inches of water - ahuge benefit compared to oldertechnology, notes Avila. Smalland efficient, the SonTek-IQ isideal for remote locations,where bigger equipment wouldbe unwieldy and manualobservations would beimpractical, he adds. With asimple mounting flange andtwo bolts, the IQ is easy todeploy without earthworks. Theinstrument's all-in-one designrequires no converters to collectdata, so it efficiently connectsto a datalogger, SonTek FlowDisplay, or telemetry unit.

Avila connects SSJID's IQs toradio transmitters broadcastingto his control center.

“This meter, right out of thebox, is going to give you a goodmeasurement,” he says.“SonTek has put somethingtogether that's actually a pleasureto work with. It's a really simpletool to put together, and you getyour results right away. With acouple of wires, you can get yourdata to your radio and back tothe data center - the view panelgives you 4 to 20 mA out so youcan do what you need to do.”

That simplicity of set-up,reliability and low powerdemand - the SonTek-IQ drawsonly 0.5 watts - will also makethe compact IQ a big tool formonitoring SSJID's growinginventory of pipelines, Avilapredicts.

“I'll run a cable all the wayto a vent pipe or whatever Ihave access to,” he explains. “Iusually crawl in there and lookfor a bottom that looks clean,where sand and materials arewashed away, so I know I'll geta nice linear flow over thesensor. Then the sensor doesthe rest.”

Avila points out that theSonTek-IQ deliversunprecedented accuracy in flowmeasurement right from the start.

“It's been a quest of mine tohave a sensor you could takeout of the box, put in a locationwhere you want to use it, test itone or two times and be withintwo percent of the flow,” Avilaadds. “In industry or science,two percent may seem like a lotof variation, but in my world,it's a great thing.”

Shape of the FutureMonitoring flow in open

channels and pipelines - withthe ability to accurately reporton flows in depths ranging from

WITH A SIMPLE MOUNTING FLANGEAND TWO BOLTS, THE IQ IS EASY TODEPLOY WITHOUT EARTHWORKS.THE INSTRUMENT'S ALL-IN-ONEDESIGN REQUIRES NO CONVERTERSTO COLLECT DATA, SO IT EFFICIENTLYCONNECTS TO A DATALOGGER,SONTEK FLOW DISPLAY, ORTELEMETRY UNIT.

‘‘

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

several feet to just a few inches- is a vital element in managinga scarce and highly scrutinizedresource, notes Shields.

Instead of the old practice offlood irrigation every 10 days -which subjected crops to root-choking floods followed by daysof drought stress in the summer -farmers are learning to directwater at the root zone at the idealtime and rate, he explains.Growers can also injectfertilizers and some cropprotection chemicals into theirrigation water with drip ormicrosprinkler systems, makingapplications more precise andreducing the number of tractortrips through the field or orchard.

The bottom line is yieldincreases of up to 30 percent,more precise farming andsignificant improvements inwater efficiency - each a vital

achievement in today'senvironment.

Second Century of ServiceMeeting farmers' needs for

increased precision, frequencyand reliability in water deliveriesrequires the district to manage itswater much more closely thanever. SonTek-IQs deployedthroughout the maze of canals,ditches and pipes that coursethrough south San JoaquinCounty will be providing vitaldata to help SSJID achieve theaccuracy and efficiency that willhelp carry the district through itssecond century of service.

The first phase of SSJID'spressurized irrigation system -19 miles of pressurized pipelineservicing 3,600 acres oforchards and vineyards - isonline, and future phases areplanned for other areas of the

district. The district'smonitoring and automationsystem is expanding steadilyuntil it reaches the turnout atevery farm, improvingreliability and efficiency foreach field the district serves.

It's all part of the district'slong history of preparing for avibrant future in one of theworld's most productivefarming regions.

“The key for us is we've beenhere for 100 years,” Shieldsnotes. “We're going to be herefor another hundred. We'regoing to have to irrigate with thebest available technology. Wedon't look at this as a one- ortwo-year payback or return oninvestment. One hundred yearsago, people invested in buildingthis system. We owe it to themto make these investments in thefuture.”

IRRIGATION

3 9GULF AGRICULTURE

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4 0 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

China has the range ofclimates and soilsfavorable for the

production of a diversity ofhigh quality tropical,subtropical and temperatevegetables, flowers, and fruitsuitable for domestic andexport consumption. It is alsothe world's largest producer andconsumer of horticulturalproducts. With themodernization of agricultureand fast development ofhorticultural industry, thegreenhouse technology is also afield that develops very fast,and to some extent, thetechnology is same as the otherleading countries inhorticulture. Among them,Kingpeng Corp. is for sure themost successful one.

Started from 1959,Kingpeng has involved in

greenhouse business more than50 years. As a leadinggreenhouse manufacturer fromChina, Kingpeng could provideservice of greenhouse design,manufacture, installation andplant production in allfunctions of greenhouses. Now,Kingpeng has become a world-known brand by its tailor-madedesign, high quality product,reasonable price, excellentperformance and satisfiedservices.

Kingpeng could providedifferent kinds of greenhouses,plastic film greenhouse, glassgreenhouse, Polycarbonatesheet greenhouse, tunnelgreenhouse, shade house, andnet house etc. Thesegreenhouses could be used forvarious functions, flowerproduction, vegetableproduction, seedling, nursery,breeding, demonstrationgarden, retailing center, andstorage etc.

From 2001, Kingpeng startedto be involved in theinternational market and made agreat show-up and incredibleachievements since then. Up tonow, Kingpeng has exportedgreenhouses and equipments tomore than 30 countries, and lotsof it in the hot climate region,like Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, SaudiArabia, Egypt, Angola, Congo,Algeria, Zimbabwe etc. Besides

this, we also exported to UnitedState, Cananda, Russia,Ukraine, Kazakhstan,Philippine, Indonesia, Thailand,Bangladesh, Japan, Iran,Ethiopia, Vietnam, Turkey etc.Because of the high quality ofour greenhouse, lots ofcustomers become our agents inthe local market, and also makea good business for their own.

Extra service will createadded value to Kingpeng'sclients, feasibility report, projectconsultancy, productionsuggestions, water-savingtechnologies and all the otherturnkey solutions could also beserved. Famous agronomistscould always help our customersto maximize the production andguarantee the high yields. Thecomprehensive services andsolutions make Kingpengbecome an important player inthis sector in the world.

With the fast development ofKingpeng, it became the onlystock listed company in chinagreenhouse sector in 2008. Forsure, they will play a moreimportant role in the globalhorticultural fields.

For further information orlocal dealers close to you,please visit:www.chinakingpeng.comor contact by e-mail:[email protected]

GREENHOUSES

NEED GREENHOUSE, BE SURE TO TAKE A LOOK

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Mulch mats for weed protection Packing and transportation Arrangement and transportation Arrangement and transportation

Small mulch mats Packing and transportation Metal trunk shaping rings ARBO®-STRONG

Elastic mulch mat ARBO®-SAUNA 100% jute container in 270-360 g/m2 density

AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTOR FOR UAE: ARID LAND DEVELOPMENT CO. LLC, P.O.BOX: 5294 ABU DHABITel: 00971 2 6319244 Fax: 00971 2 6318366 Email: [email protected]

MARTEX® - TEXTILE PRODUCTS FOR RAISING OF ORNAMENTAL, FRUIT,AND FOREST SEEDLINGS, OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECULTIVATIONProducts commonly applied at nurseries, both in temperate and hot climateUsed for raising trees in the forest, idle land, semi-desert area, steppe …….Excellent for tree planting by the road and highway, useful for the purpose ofgeneral cleaning works, composting, and in any similar applications…….

MARTEX® PLANTING BAGS AND CONTAINERS Parking and transportation of planting bags, other types of containers, mulch mats and rings

THE COMPANY FROM POLAND OFFERING PRODUCTS FOR NURSERY SECTOR, AND FOR ORNAMENTAL, FRUIT, FOREST PLANT RAISING OR RECULTIVATION

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4 2 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Tomagro InternationalB.V. is a Dutchagricultural company

based in the Rotterdam WorldTrade Centre, dedicated toproviding high quality productswith first class service to ourdemanding internationalclientele. Established in theearly nineties, our companytoday conductsbusiness on a globalscale.

We market anextensive rangeof Turn-KeyGreenhouseProjects,includingDutch PlantMaterial,Integrated PestManagement and Crop

NETHERLANDS UPDATE

DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HIGHQUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WORKINGWITH THE LEADING PLANT MATERIAL PRODUCERSIN HOLLAND , TO SUPPLY OUR CLIENTS WITH THEVERY BEST QUALITY IN ALSTROEMERIA, ROSE,GERBERA, AND MANY OTHER PLANTS, AS WELLAS FRUIT TREE ROOTSTOCKS.‘‘

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NETHERLANDS UPDATE

4 3GULF AGRICULTURE

Protection Products chosenfrom leading producers in thefield in addition to our ownbranded and manufacturedproducts and expertConsulting Services.

For many years we havebeen working with the leadingplant material producers inHolland , to supply our clientswith the very best quality inAlstroemeria, Rose, Gerbera,and many other plants, as wellas Fruit Tree Rootstocks.

We provide our clientsextensive pre-sales and after-sales services, includingtechnical consultancy, in-situsoil and water analysis,analyzed by our laboratories inThe Netherlands. Our activitiesin our varied market regionsinclude seminars andworkshops, as well as trials andthe introduction of newproducts, and most importantly,working with the local farmersin the field. This is to ensurethat the potential of ourproducts are fully realized andachieved.

Close cooperation with ourpartner companies allows us tooffer you the most up-to-dateinformation, thus providingconsiderable added value. Toensure straightforward andefficient export procedures, wehave close ties with shippingand transport companies aswell as local governmentorganizations.

Through our many years ofworking in the field we havedeveloped relationships basedon trust with some of thelargest growers and producersof cut flowers and fruit in ourareas of business, who areamong our clients today.

We see it as a significantpart of Tomagro's vision tointroduce modern agricultural

solutions to developingmarkets. This is attained byperforming joint showcaseprojects in conjunction withlocal partners from both thepublic and private sectors.

We owe our success and ourreputation for reliability tomany years of experience andsales, extensive travel withinour markets, getting to know

our customers' needs, andtailoring a suitable range ofproducts to suit them best.

Add to this our establishedreputation for added value,personal service, efficiencyand high quality products andyou get Tomagro - a name youcan rely on to bring thebenefits of world classagribusiness to you.

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

ADFERT-SQM MiddleEast is a unique modulefor homogeneous

venture a blend of global andlocal experience whichenhances our expertise indifferent business sectors.

ADFERT can offer a fullrange of plant nutrientsincluding granular, watersoluble NPK fertilizer, foliarNPKs, micro-nutrients,suspension fertilizers, liquidfertilizers and specialtyproducts. ADFERT hasimplemented a strict qualitycontrol and quality

improvement program to ensurethe excellent quality finishedproducts to our clients. We havebuilt a state-of-the-art fulllaboratory in order to test allour Incoming and outgoingproducts with strict parameters.This has enabled ADFERT toassure the very best quality forour clients.

ADFERT high quality clientservice and logistics ensure fast

delivery and guarantee productavailability during the seasonbased on plant's needs invarious regions.

FERTILIZERS

4 5GULF AGRICULTURE

OFFERING FULL RANGEOF PLANT NUTRIENTS

For more information:ABU DHABI FERTILIZER INDUSTRIES CO. WLLP.O. Box No 71871 Abu Dhabi U.A.ETel: +971 2 5511700, Fax: +971 2 5511702

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4 6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

The olive tree is one of thefruit trees with the highestextraction of potassium

per tonne of produced fruit; anelement which plays afundamental role in theformation and transport of sugarsthat subsequently transform intooil. Therefore, adequate levels ofpotassium allow to obtain highyields and to increase the oil

content in the fruits. Moreover, when potassium is

applied in balance with the othernutrients, it allows to diminishthe problems of alternate bearingbecause it enables the productionof photo assimilates for both fruitgrowth and shoot growth. As amatter of fact, insufficientpotassium levels will cause allthe photo assimilates to go to thefruits, which entails weakenedshoots and subsequently loweryields during the next season.

Several studies performed inthe Middle East have shown thatfoliar sprays with potassiumnitrate increase the yield ofolives and their oil content.Potassium has a positive impacton several key functions of thedevelopment of the plant and itsfruits, such as the stomatalregulation which controls thetranspiration process (water useefficiency) and thephotosynthetic process(formation of sugars), theefficient use of nitrogen, andmultiple stress resistance:drought, temperature anddiseases.

Especially foliar applicationsof potassium are efficient andvery helpful because this elementis easily absorbed through theleaves, particularly in arid areaswhere scarce rainfall duringsummer drastically reduces the

uptake of nutrients by the tree.In 2011, three demo trials

were conducted on olives treesby SQM at three different sites inthe Eastern Desert in Jordan.Planting density was 500 treesper hectare and a foliar spraytreatment was compared to anon-foliar one.

The performed trialsconsisted of 6 monthly sprayswith potassium nitrate, appliedfrom April until September, withdoses varying from 4% till 6%in 5.000 litres of water perhectare (Table 1).

Results (Table 2) have shownthat well-balanced foliarapplications with potassiumnitrate, increase fruit set and thefirmness of the fruits, along withthe quantity of olives per tree.On the other hand, by improvingthe photosynthetic capacity ofthe leaves, the availability ofassimilated nutrients for fruitgrowth is also improved,resulting in a bigger olive sizecompared to crops which did notbenefit from a foliar potassiumnitrate application.

FERTILIZERS

Summary of the agronomic and financial benefits

Fruit sets

from +12% to+16%

Olive size 6%

Number of olives per tree

from+10% to+12%

Olive oil (based on the oil content of 1 MT of olives pertreatment) 2%

Net Profit (gross incomeminus costs of potassium nitrate) +700 US$/ha

Cost-Benefit ratio 1:1,3

Spray programme with potassium nitrate onolive

Potassium nitrateMonth

% Kg per 1000 litres Kg per 5000 l/ha

April 4 40 200

May 4 40 200

June 5 50 250

July 5 50 250

August 6 60 300

September 6 60 300

Total 300 1.500

FOLIAR POTASSIUM NITRATE APPLICATIONS INCREASETHE YIELD OF OLIVES AND THEIR OIL CONTENT

Table 1

Table 2

Olive tree treated with Potassium Nitrate

Untreated Olive tree

SEVERAL STUDIES PERFORMED IN THEMIDDLE EAST HAVE SHOWN THATFOLIAR SPRAYS WITH POTASSIUMNITRATE INCREASE THE YIELD OFOLIVES AND THEIR OIL CONTENT.

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IPM DUBAI 2012

toHorti business inNovemberTake a closer look

www.ipm-dubai.com

Simply UniqueSimply IPM

Page 50: Dubai Agri 1232

4 8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Humintech is one of theworldwide largestorganic fertilizer and

humic substance producers,based in Düsseldorf, Germany.Humintech takes the bestGerman oxidized Ligniteresources' (Leonardite) withhigh humic /fulvic acidsquantity and uses the hightechnical production methods toget the high humic acid quality.Furthermore Humintech isactive in research, developmentand industrial production ofhumic matter and humic acidsfor agriculture, animal feed,pharmaceutical and constructionindustries, veterinary medicineand environmental applicationssuch as water purification andsoil remediations.

Humintech produces a largequantity of granulate humicacid as Perlhumus, water

soluble humic acid asPowhumus and liquid humicacid as Liqhumus and 6% Fe-humate as Humiron. Humitechstarted the production of humicacid with variousmicroorganisms as antagonist ofseveral soils born disease.

BioHealth is one successfulantagonist to soil born fungi.

BioHealth® TH/BS WSG

DESCRIPTIONBioHealth® TH/BS WSG is

a blend of selected Trichoderma

harzianum and Bacillus subtilisstrains, humic acids andseaweed extract. Trichodermaharzianum and Bacillus subtilisare antagonist to soil bornepathogens like e.g. Phythium,Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia orFusarium, whose hyphens andorgans can be disposed byTrichoderma's comprehensiveenzyme tools. ThusTrichoderma suppresses thespreading of these pathogens.Bacillus subtilis have evolvednumerous mechanisms for bothattack of other fungi or bacteriaand for enhancing plant androot growth. During a cultureBacillus subtilis nourishes onthe root exudates in therhizosphere and thus builds abiological protective barrieragainst soil borne pathogens.

In latent affected plantmaterial BioHealth TH/ BS®WSG remains ineffective, dueto the reason that the antagonistcannot follow the parasite intothe inside of the plant.Therefore BioHealth® TH/BSWSG has to be regarded as asoil conditioner or rather a plantintensifier and under nocircumstances as a fungicideagainst soil pathological fungi.

FERTILIZERS

Application*:

Crop Objective Recommended application

Inall cropsinoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

3-4 kg/ha divided to several doses (1-2kg/ha)

Vegetables in green houses

(tomatoes, peppers,

eggplants, cucumbers,

zucchini)

Inoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

4-5 kg/ha divided to several doses (1-2kg/ha) during the season

or submerge the seedling before the transplantation

Horticultural trees (kiwi,

citrus groves, banana, wine

grapes stone fruit)

Inoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

4-5 kg/ha divided to several doses (1-2kg/ha) during the

season, or submerge the seedling before the transplantation

Open field vegetables

inoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

4-6 kg/ha divided to several doses (1-2kg/ha) during the season

or submerge the seedling before the transplantation

Cereal (wheat, potatoes, all

kind of beans, barley,

peanut etc.)

Inoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

3-4 kg/ha divided to several doses (1-2kg/ha)before and during

the season

Ornamental plants and

forest nursery landscaping,

turf grass (in general)

Inoculation of sterile soil,

prophylactic mixing before

the infection, soil conditioner

3-4 kg/ha or 1 kg/m during the preparation of substrates

Foliar application

Only in green houses with

high humidity

Prophylactic Prevent from

leaves fungi and bacteria300-500 g/1000 L water every two weeks during the season

Seed treatment

Prevent the seed, early

inoculation, Stimulate the

seed germination and root

growth

1-2 kg/100 Kg seeds

* This recommendation could be varied according to the soil characteristics and farm conditions

Dr. Yasser Dergham Humintech Company, Germany

BIOHEALTH — THE SUCCESSFULANTAGONIST TO SOIL BORN FUNGI

Trichoderma harzianum

BioHealth® TH/BS WSG (Humic acid,Trichoderma, Bacillus and sea weed mixture)

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

ORIGINBioHealth® TH/BS WSG is

obtained through alkalineextraction from GermanLeonardite (highly oxidizedlignite), high quality isolated andselected Trichoderma harzaniumfungus, high quality isolated andselected Bacillus subtilis strainsand extracted from Ascophyllumnodosum seaweed.

BENEFITS� Destroys the hyphens of most

soil born pathogens like e.g.Pythium, Phytophthora,Rhizoctonia or Fusarium

� Increases the resistance ofplant roots against water,disease, temperature and saltstress

� Promotes the growth of rootand regenerates the damagedroot

� Stimulates the growth ofuseful microorganisms in theroot area

� Enhances the germination andincreases their growth

� Aerates compact soils andbinds loose sandy soils

� Increases the water holdingcapacity of the soil. Improvesthe soil aeration and the gasexchange of the soil

� Increases the soil bufferingcapacity and neutralizes the

pH-value in the soil and thusenhances the uptake offertilizers

� Binds salt in the soil and thusdecreases salinization

� Enhances the soil quality andincreases the soil aeration incompact soils and compactslight sandy soilsResource for natural

vitamins and growth hormoneslike cytokinine, which promotesthe root growth

BioHealth® TH/BS WSGis already used in severalcountries worldwide and wehave very good results with itsapplication on plants roots toprevent the roots from harmfulsoil born Fungi and Bacteria.

FERTILIZERS

4 9GULF AGRICULTURE

BioHealth® TH/BS WSG is 100% soluble

HUMINTECH PRODUCES A LARGE QUANTITY OF GRANULATE HUMIC ACID ASPERLHUMUS, WATER SOLUBLE HUMIC ACID AS POWHUMUS AND LIQUID HUMICACID AS LIQHUMUS AND 6% FE-HUMATE AS HUMIRON. HUMITECH STARTED THEPRODUCTION OF HUMIC ACID WITH VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS ASANTAGONIST OF SEVERAL SOILS BORN DISEASE.

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5 0 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Two critical questionsneed to be addressed indesigning the production

line. The first is “What is theoptimum mixer size for thefeed mill?” and the second“How many batches per hourshould be produced? “ It isimportant in every case to finda balance between batch sizeand batch cycle time. Forexample, if the aim is toproduce thirty tonnes of feedper hour, the production lineand equipment could bedesigned to produce 30 batchesof 1 ton each per hour, 15batches of 2 tons each perhour, or 10 batches of 3 tonseach per hour.

Optimum Mixer SizeTypical mixer sizes in

feed mills range from lessthan 1 ton to 6-8 tons perbatch. The majority of feedingredients, about 95%, are

usually added to the mixer asdry bulk. Process steps beforeand after the weighing andmixing line are virtuallycontinuous, and therefore themixer must be able to keeppace with the pellet mills. Thecapacity of the mixing line iscalculated as batch sizemultiplied by the number ofbatches per hour, i.e.

Output (t/h) = batch size (t)x no. of batches / hour

Each given output can bemet by varying batch size andbatch frequency.

Mix timeDepending on mixer

design and on qualityexpectations mix time mayvary from around 60 secondsto 4-5 minutes, or even longer.While in a double ribbon mixerit takes more than 200s toachieve a good Coefficient ofVariation (CV), a paddle mixermay achieve a comparablelevel of homogeneity in lessthan 60s. Considering timerequirements for mixer fillingand discharging, total cycletimes of 2-6 minutes mightresult, which corresponds to 10-30 batches per hour.

Sequence of the batch mixingprocess

The time sequence of thebatch mixing process isillustrated in figure 1 and canroughly be structured in fourblocks:1. Dosing time2. Mixer fill- and discharge

time3. Mix time4. Discharge time of bin after

mixer.The batch cycle time is the

shortest time span in the

diagram after which the mixermay be re-filled. Figure 1represents a best case scenario.The batch cycle time in thisexample is 3min 15s, time for

filling and discharging themixer is 15s each. The totalmix time is 2min 45s. Half ofthe mix time is reserved formixing dry ingredients beforeliquids are sprayed into themixer, spraying time is 1minwith 30s final mix time toincorporate the liquids into thedry mash. Assuming allbatches take the same time justover 18 batches would beproduced per hour.

Attention to equipment andprocesses

Increasing batch sizesobviously has an influence onthe size of the equipmentinvolved. For example themixer size will increaseproportionally with the batchsize, just as the output per hourwill increase assumingconstant number of batches perhour. There is also aninfluence of batch size ondosing time, weighingaccuracy as well as mix andspraying time. Special attentionshould be given to sprayingtime when liquid products areused. With increasing batchsizes spraying time may

POULTRY

Fuad Saleh, Evonik Industries, Health &Nutrition, Regional officeAmman, JordanEmail: [email protected]

OPTIMISING FEED MILL OUTPUT

AN EFFICIENT FEED PRODUCTION LINEIS ONE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TOHANDLE THE TYPES AND AMOUNTS OFFEED THAT NEED TO BE PRODUCED.OPTIMISING THE BALANCE BETWEENBATCH SIZE AND BATCH FREQUENCYPLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE.

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

increase relative to mix timewith negative effects on mixquality. This effect is feltstronger with a modern mixerdesign and shorter mix times.

One last aspect is related towear and tear of theequipment; with an increasingnumber of batches per hour,wear and tear will be increasedon all those parts that areactivated when changingbatches, such as: slide gates,pneumatic pistons and drives,and electric drives.

Balance between batch sizeand cycle time

Returning to the initialquestion to evaluate the threeoptions to achieve a mixingline output of 30t/h: � With 30 batches per hour

and 90s total mix time thepercentage of fill anddischarge time of 30s wouldamount to 25% of the totalbatch cycle and mix timewould be 75%. This timingwould imply that liquids aresprayed within less than 30swith a dry mix time of 60s.

� With 15 batches per hourand the same 30s to fill anddischarge the mixer, mixtime is increased to 3min30s, an increase of 233%even though the number ofbatches is reduced by just50%. Consequently theoutput of dosing equipmentmight be reduced as wellwith positive effects ondosing accuracy and on mixhomogeneity.

� With 10 batches per hourmix time would increase to5min 30s which is 366% ofthe 90s in case of 30 batchesper hour. Again there is arelative gain of productivedosing, spraying and mixtime with positive effects onprocess quality.All the options are

technically possible and thefinal choice will need toconsider and evaluate factorssuch as dosing accuracy andhomogeneity of the feed,suitability of spraying systemsand ultimately, the capitalcosts needed for theequipment.

POULTRY

5 1GULF AGRICULTURE

Figure 1: Batch sequence diagram.

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5 2 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Nutriplus CommoditiesFZCO is one of theleading international

commodities tradingcompanies in the Middle East.

Based in Dubai, Nutriplus isinvolved in trading, brokeringand representing forinternational exporters andreputed producers of feedcommodities in the USA andEurope.

“Our major customers arethe end users in livestockfarms, poultry farms - feedmills in the UAE, Oman,Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatarand many other neighbouringcountries in the Middle East”,says Managing DirectorMohammed Haneef.

“Respecting our commitmentand dedication, our buyers andsellers always make aconsistent buy and sale of feedraw material from us. This isdue to our past performancewhich we have achievedthrough our long term supplychain. The company neverbreaks its performance andquality parameters”, he adds.

“The major feed rawmaterials and ingredients dealtare Yellow corn - Soyabean

meal, Feed barley in bulkvessel through MNCcommodity originator. FromUSA we import a range of feedcommodities including Soy ByPass protein - Amino Plus,DDGS - Distillery DriedGrains, Corn Glutten Meal,Cotton seed, Fishmeal etcregularly for the Middle EastLivestock farms and feed mills.Our raw materials suppliedoccupy the major portion of

Total Mix ration for high yieldmilking cows since severalyears”.

“Bringing the right cropwith right quality from thetraditional farmers in Spain orItaly is our special business inFodder grass supply. Westarted moving large volume ofAlfalfa hay from Spain, SouthAfrica, USA on a regularprogrammed method withprompt logistics and assuranceof crop quality”.

“Our suppliers occupy majorshare of export in theirdestination so we are safe interms of performance andlogistics with qualityassurance. Logistic is the gameplan for successfulcommodities business sosuppliers strong with logisticsand supported with farmers orits co operatives are successfulwith a strong business trust andcommitment”.

Nutriplus Commodities isgrowing year by year andadding new innovations in itsbusiness practice. The companyis to start distribution of feedsupplements and additives andexpand its animal healthdivision in near future.

SPECIALISTIN FEED AND

FODDERBUSINESS

BRINGING THE RIGHT CROP WITHRIGHT QUALITY FROM THE

TRADITIONAL FARMERS IN SPAIN ORITALY IS OUR SPECIAL BUSINESS IN

FODDER GRASS SUPPLY.

‘‘

ANIMAL FEEDS

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INTERNATIONAL COMMODITIES MERCHANTS FOR FEED INGREDIENTS & RAW MATERIALS

� Yellow Corn & Soybean Meal� DDGS (Distillery Dried Grains)� Corn Gluten Meal� Soy by Pass Protein (Amino Plus)� Whole Fuzzy Cotton Seed� Alfalfa Hay & Pellets� Sugar beet Pulp pellets� Fish Meal� Protected Fat � Omega 3 Supplement � High Energy Supplement for poultry� Omega Premix� DCP/MCP/Sodium Bicarbonate� Choline Chloride � Lysine� Vitamins & Minerals � Pallet Binder

For Trade Enquiry please contact Mr. Mohammed Haneef (Managing Director)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Mob: +97150 6569416 | Tel: + 9714 2200902 | Fax:+9714 2200903Email: [email protected]

NUTRIPLUS COMMODITIES FZCO - DUBAI

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

KUWAIT UPDATE

5 5GULF AGRICULTURE

Established in 1985, AlShaheen Nurserieshas been ever since developing itself asone of the leaders in the field of

agriculture retail and landscaping. AlShaheenNurseries provides a complete set of agricultureand gardening services. The team is run by wellqualified engineers and experiencedsupervisors, with a long and successful trackrecord in agriculture projects execution. Thecompany is located in Shuwaikh, 4th RingRoad, Nurseries Area. It’s our pleasure tointroduce our wide range of services we offerthe following:� Landscaping and planting division for indoor

and outdoor gardens. Wholesale division (ForAgricultural Companies only).

� Maintenance team for agricultural projects andhouse gardens.

� Designing and implementing irrigationsystems.

� Wide range of indoor and outdoor plants. � Wide rang of flower and vegetable seeds. � Different sizes and colors of plastic net

shades. All kinds of natural and chemicalfertilizers.

� Peat Moss, potting soil, hydroton.� Agent and distributor of indoor and outdoor

pots of different shapes and sizesAlShaheen Nurseries showroom is considered

as a garden center for selling indoor and outdoorplants – Grass – Peat Moss – Potting Soil –Plastic Net Shades – Pots – Rocks –Seeds –Natural and Chemical Fertilizers – Agrilite –Irrigation Sys. – Water pumps – Insect killer –Hydroton – Palm bags. The Company aims toprovide many items to serve different customer’stastes, in addition to provide the best quality andless prices under one roof.

AlShaheen Nurseries owns a farm in Wafraarea specialized in growing plants, flowers, andpaspalum grass, runs by well qualified engineersto provide the market and the Agriculturalcompanies with the best varieties and quality.The farm is considered one of leading farms inWafra in growing plants, flowers, and pasplamgrass.

The Project Division is run by well qualifiedteam of engineers and supervisors to designlandscape and maintain gardens. There is a teamfor designing & implementing irrigationsystems.

The whole sale division was established in2000 to provide the Ministries and theagricultural companies with plants, garden toolsand irrigation systems. Since then, the divisionhas been supplying some of the leadinggovernment and private projects.

LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE RETAIL AND LANDSCAPING

Shaheen M. AlRubaieGeneral Manager

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5 6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

Unprecedented GrowthYoung and Ambitious are two

qualities that perfectly representthe essence of Al Dahraagricultural company. Since itsinception in 1995, it haswitnessed unmatched growth interms of geographic footprint,product and service offeringdevelopment and customer baseexpansion. In less than twodecades, the company hastransformed from a local AbuDhabi based company to amultinational organization withpresence across four continents. Ithas also shifted from a localmandate focused on privatefarming operations to aninternational mindset committedto growing the commercialagricultural business. Al Dahra'ssuccess is not to be measuredsolely by the growth in revenuesand profitability and growth inworkforce and products range.The true measure of success isthe company's commitment toexceptional service and delivery,quality of agricultural produceand logistics services and long-term customer satisfaction andloyalty that it has achieved overthe course of the past few years.Whilst the United Arab Emiratesremains at the core of its strategy,the company is well positioned to

becoming one of the keyinternational players in theagriculture sector and a leader inthe food supply chain business.

Specialized OperationsAl Dahra's main line of

business consists of farming,production and supply of humanand animal food. The companyhas made considerable

investments after being awardeda number of governmentcontracts to establish a solidplatform for the supply of forageand essential commodities to theUAE. Consequently, Al Dahrahas acquired a number ofinternationally renownedproducers of forage such as ACXNorthwest Pacific in the UnitedStates of America in addition toDesagro, Soyn, Alfapla andFagavi in Spain gaining best inclass expertise in the field ofcultivation and production ofAlfalfa and other high nutrientgrass suitable for cattle.

In addition, Al Dahra hasestablished production plants forsuper Basmati rice in Pakistanand India under the brand nameof Brukfield and currently hasmore than 120 internationaldistributors in various countriesaround the world. Brukfieldproduces the highest quality riceusing the most recent andtechnologically advancedmachinery and follows stringentquality control measures.

Al Dahra has set up largecultivation and productionoperations in Egypt for corn,potatoes, citrus fruits and alfalfaand has established a wide localand regional customer base.Other significant investments as

UAE UPDATE

AL DAHRA AGRICULTURE

A SUCCESS STORY IN THE

H.E. Khadim Al DareiVice Chairman and Managing Director

H.E Hamad Al Shamsi Deputy Managing Director

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

part of the company's portfolioinclude plantation of dates inNamibia and olives in Moroccoand managing greenhouseoperations in the United ArabEmirates where it also runs adairy farm. The company is also

currently looking at addingsugar, wheat and flourproduction to its product range.Besides the considerableinvestments in farming andproduction, Al Dahra has alsomade investments in logistics toensure quality across its entiresupply chain, including state-of-the-art warehousing facilities,local distribution fleet andbuilding long-term relationshipswith sea freight vessel operators.

Food Security and Future PlansAl Dahra's leadership vision

and organizational strategy

revolves around ensuring foodsecurity and sustainability to theUnited Arab Emirates and thehost countries where thecompany has made investments.Providing a steady and reliablesupply of basic commodities andfood to face progressively risingfood shortages, price hikes,export bans and climate changechallenges has become in recentyears on top of governments'agendas and priority lists. As aprivate company, Al Dahra takesvery seriously the responsibilityof forging partnerships with thepublic and private sectors tosecure lands overseas, invest incommercial agriculture, ensurelong-term farming operationsand production of qualityproduce. Foreign investments inagriculture not only boostdomestic food supply but alsooffer numerous benefits to localpopulations such asinfrastructure development, jobcreation and transfer oftechnology and expertise. Inturn, by making suchinvestments, Al Dahra is able togenerate sufficient supply tomeet its government contractsneeds and commercial activityin various markets. Al Dahra is -also concerned with buildinglocal and regional reserves with

proper stock rotationmechanisms to mitigate anyuprising food crises. In thatcontext, Al Dahra is currentlyfinalizing the plans to build aregional commodities' hub in thenew Abu Dhabi port (KhalifaPort) coupled with a massiveoff-shore investment in the freezone (KIZAD) for re-export ofraw and finished food products.

Al Dahra's ambition has nolimit; with its determined andcommitted leadership, itsfocused vision and itsexperienced and loyal employeebase, the company has anaggressive and active pipeline offuture expansion plans and iscurrently in the process offinalizing its market entry intoSouth Africa, Argentina,Australia, Greece and Romaniaamongst other target growthterritories.

5 7GULF AGRICULTURE

AGRIBUSINESS

Houssam Mahmoud Chief Executive Officer

An arial view of the cultivation pivots in Egypt.

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

Reduced harvest yields caused by the“tired soil” effect, is well known byall farmers. The action of pathogen

fungi, insects and nematodes, together withthe accumulation of toxins produced byprevious cultivation, are some of the factorsthat lead to the gradual reduction in yieldsand quality of subsequent harvests.

RAISAN-51 is a general soil fumigant,based on Metam sodium, with fungicide,insecticide, nematicide and herbicide activity.

In a period of change in soil disinfection,treatment with RAISAN-51 emerges as arespectful and trustworthy fumigant, withoutany type of ecotoxicological problems,enabling the regeneration of soil fertility andmaintaining or increasing the yield andquality of harvests.

RAISAN-51 is a synthesis organic productbased on Metam and formulated as a solubleconcentrate. When diluted with water itbreaks down into an active and volatilecompound called methyl isothiocyanate(MITC) which spreads in the soil in the formof gas.

RAISAN-51 is authorised for thefumigation of soils for seedbeds, nurseries and

all types of plants (vegetables, strawberries,ornamental plants, grapes, fruit trees, etc.).

Environmental friendlyThe metabolites of the RAISAN-51

breakdown have the same structure and act inthe same way as some natural productsobtained from some Brassicas with the addedadvantage that it is a much more controllableprocess with predictable positive results.

The effectiveness of these Brassica isbecause they synthesize glucosinolates whichtransform in the soil, into volatileisothiocyanates (ITC) with a very similarstructure and action to the metabolites of theRAISAN-51 breakdown (MITC).

Final approval in the European Union Recently, in April 2012, the active

ingredient Metam was approved inaccordance with the Regulation CE1107/2009 of the European Parliamentconcerning the placing of plant protectionproducts.

This ensures the continuity of Metam asone of the few Soil Fumigants allowed by thedemanding European standards.

SPAIN UPDATE

5 9GULF AGRICULTURE

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVEFOR SOIL DISINFECTION

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

Spain is one of the largestcountries of WesternEurope, and it ranks

second in terms of its elevation,after Switzerland. A large partof the country is semiarid, withtemperatures that range fromextremely cold in the winter toscorching in the summer.

Spain has long been WesternEurope's leading producer, andthe world's foremost exporter,of oranges and mandarins.Grapefruit, lemons, and limesare also grown in quantity.Spain's other significantorchard crops are apples,bananas, pears, peaches,apricots, plums, cherries, figs,and nuts.

The principal vegetable cropsare potatoes, tomatoes, onions,cabbages, peppers, and stringbeans. Spain was the leadingproducer of onions in WesternEurope, and it was second only

to Italy in the production oftomatoes. Spain was the world'sleading producer and exporterof olives and olive oil, althoughin some years Italy showedhigher production levelsbecause Spanish harvests arenotably vulnerable to insects,frost, and storm damage.

Spanish livestock industrieshad experienced significantgrowth and modernization sincethe 1950s, but their outputremained well behind the levelsof efficiency and productivityof European Community (EC)countries.

The principal cattle areas arein the north, the northwest, and,to a lesser degree, inExtremadura, Andalusia, theRio Duero Basin, and theMurcia-Valencia lowlands.These regions provided thesuitable pastures that areavailable only in areas with

humid climates or withirrigated land.

The dairy industry hadgrown rapidly. Milk productionfrom cows, sheep, and goats,which had stood at 5.4 milliontons in 1974, reached 6.4million tons in 1986 - well overdouble the production level ofthe early 1960s. The bulk ofmilk products came fromGalicia, Asturias, and Santander.

Sheep rearing predominatedin central Spain and the EbroBasin. Goats are kept in muchthe same area, but they are moreprevalent in the higher, lessgrassy elevations because theycan survive on poorer pasture.Merino sheep, the best knownbreed, are probably importedfrom North Africa, and they arewell adapted to semiaridconditions. Merino sheep, notedfor their fine wool, are widelyused as stock for new breeds.

SPAIN UPDATE

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SPANISH AGRICULTURE: AN OVERVIEW

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Agri Sciences started its activities in January2010 in Izmir city,

Turkey as one of manycompanies and concerns of global GMS HOLDINGScentred in Amman, Jordan.

Established on 26.01.2010,Agri Sciences continues itsactivities on 5,000 m2 of closedand 12,000 m2 of total space atPancar Place, Torbali Townwith the production of EC, SC,SL, WP, SP, WG, SG and DFformulations.

Plant Protection and PlantNutrition products areformulated and manufactured

with latest technologyequipments.

Agri Sciences carries out itsactivities with the same visionand approach primarily inTurkey market as well as inMiddle East, North Africa andMiddle Asia countries.

Following all globaldevelopments and noveltieswith its experts in all fields andembracing the motto of “HighQuality, Well Care” insupplying crop protection andplant nutrition demands ofTurkey and the whole world.Agri Sciences is also

committed to promoting a saferand healthier environment.

“Our aim is to become aworld leader in agro chemistrywith an international clientpotential. Our way to achievethis is ensuring satisfaction ofour clients and businesspartners with team effort andproviding high quality,innovative and safe productsand services.” says a companyrelease. With all our employees,and under our motto of “HighQuality, Well Care”, our visionis to become the “Name ofTrust in Agriculture”.

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

TURKEY UPDATE

6 3GULF AGRICULTURE

“HIGH QUALITY,WELL CARE”

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

The Socialist Republic ofVietnam is a one of thefastest growing

economies in South East Asiaalthough still a relatively poorcountry with a sizeablepopulation and limited landresources. Currently, much ofthe labor force (about 70percent) is engaged inagricultural activities thoughagriculture now accounts foronly 25 percent of GrossDomestic Product. Residents ofurban areas are more likely tobenefit from Vietnam'seconomic growth and haveincreasingly more disposableincome and demand forimported goods and foods.

Agriculture accounts for 22percent of GDP, 30 percent ofexports and 60 percent ofemployment. The majority ofthe rural population makes itsliving by growing and sellingcrops (rice accounts for 45percent of agriculturalproduction), raising and sellinglivestock and fish, and fromforest products.

Because the poorestpopulations are dependent onthe land and water for theirlivelihood, it is critical thatthese natural resources aremaintained, that the people areable to grow a variety of crops,so that they are not dependenton a single crop in case of cropfailure or lack of marketdemand, and able to accessmarkets to sell their products.

Since 2000, there has beenstrong progress in theagricultural sector (whichincludes crops, livestock,forestry, aquaculture and

fisheries) - overall agriculturalgrowth has averaged 4 percenta year. This is partly due topolicy reforms includingongoing impacts of allocatingland use rights to individuals,and the result of market-basedincentives such as higher pricesfor crops.

The growth in Vietnam'sagriculture is amazing: The

annual turnover is increasingwith 4.3 percent and crops likecoffee and rise are increasingwith 20 to 30 percent. The seedsector has contributed to thesuccess by providing newefficient varieties.

VIETNAM UPDATE

6 5GULF AGRICULTURE

RURAL DEVELOPMENT &AGRICULTURE IN VIETNAM

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6 6 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

FRANCE UPDATE

For more than 50 years,the Sicamus Group hasbeen expanding its

business in a regular and acontrolled way. Being theEurope's leading hydrangeaspecialist and the France'sleading distributor of plants,composites, supplies anddecorative accessories, theSicamus Group has based itsdynamic force by keeping anactive and a continuous eye onthe market.

According to commercialdirector Jean-Yves Coulbault,the group produces 2 millionhydrangeas over 4 productionsites, including 70% for export.Its cold room storage facilitiescovering more than 15,000 m3.More than 2 hectares offlowering plants are beingdistributed by Cash-Anjou.

According to him Hydrangea,

Geraniums and Fuchsias are inhigh demand. Besides plantswe also distribute composites,supplies and decorativeaccessories for garden andlandscaping. Our Cash AnjouStore is truly a uniting forcesfor European producers andsellers. Through our CashAnjou we offer:� flowering and garden plants

from Sicamus productionsites,

� indoor and outdoor plantsfrom associated or integratedproducers

� plants produced undercontract or in partnershipwith specialist producers,(France, Belgium, Holland,Denmark, Germany, Italy,Spain and Portugal.)Our each cash includes:

� an indoor plants section(green and flowering plants)

� an outdoor plants section(flowering, garden andbedding plants)

� an indoor and outdoorcompositions section, withbuilt-in workshop

� a florist supplies anddecorative accessoriessection,

� theme showrooms� an indoor car park.

The Sicamus Group iscommitted to a reasonableapproach to the environmentand relies on the quality andresponsibility of men andwomen to produce the bestpossible plants and offer themost appropriate. The SicamusGroup has clear Europeanambitions. Day after day andstep by step, its teams produce,negotiate and circulatethroughout the whole ofEurope.

LEADING HYDRANGEA SPECIALIST

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SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012

FRANCE UPDATE

6 7GULF AGRICULTURE

With over 12 millionyoung plantsproduced per year, the

Lannes Group is one of thelargest growers of Dipladenia inEurope. Also known asMandevilla which is thebotanical name, Dipladenia is aclimbing plant originated fromSouth America. The Lannesfamily started to grow this plantback in the 70's in their facilitylocated in Malause, a small townin the south western part ofFrance. In order to fulfill theincreasing demand on theEuropean market, Huguette andRobert Lannes acquired a new

growing facility in Motril, southof Spain where the uniquesubtropical climate offers thebest conditions to growDipladenia.

Even though Huguette andRobert Lannes are still veryactive in the group, they havehanded over the managementof these two facilities to theirsons, Jean-Philippe (Spain) andPatrice (France). Today, thegrowing surface representsabout 7 hectares of greenhousein Spain and 3 hectares ofgreenhouse in France with apermanent staff of about 100employees in total.

LANNES GROUP: THE LARGEST GROWERSOF DIPLADENIA IN EUROPE

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6 8 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2012GULF AGRICULTURE

AUSTRALIAN UPDATE

“Until 15 years ago,all trees weregrown in hard

plastic pots or film grade polybags and at that time there wasno such product as a verystrong planter bag withhandles.

This was always a bigproblem for productionnurseries as lifting plastic potsor planter bags increased therisk of back injuries toworkers which in turnincreased the cost of insurancepremiums and workerscompensation claims.

In 1992 Steve Turner,owner of WangaraHorticultural Supplies hadseveral meetings withAustralia's largest nursery totry and find a solution to thisever increasing problem. Itwas then that the first trials ofwoven planter bags withhandles were done and after

one spring and summerseason, the trial stock wasinspected and to ouramazement we found that thetrees had a far healthier rootsystem than others grown inhard plastic pots. We now hada far superior product as wehad planter bags with handlesto assist in lifting and anadded bonus was the superiorroot formation that all buteliminated root spiraling.

Today woven planter bagswith handles are usedthroughout the nurseryindustry in most countriesbecause of the ease of handlingand superior root growth.

From 1993 until 2004 thewoven planter bag withhandles was widely acceptedbecause of its ease of handlingand many other features butseveral nurseries could notwork out how to fill themmanually and still retain a

perfect cylindrical shape. In2004 Wangara HorticulturalSupplies decided to change theconfiguration of the planterbag from a commodity type ofbag to a round bottom bag.

Now the Easy-Fill Planter

Bag has all of the qualityfeatures of the past with around bottom panel sewn in tothe bag which now solves theproblem of filling correctlyand allows for perfectpresentation. Easy-Fill roundbottom planter bags are madefrom the finest quality rawmaterials in any size, shape,colour or configuration to suitthe most astute nursery andhave the highest quality andvery expensive u/v additives togive a guaranteed long life inthe worlds harshest climates.

Wangara HorticulturalSupplies are the exclusivemanufacturer of Easy-Fillround bottom woven planterbags with handles and warnpotential users not to be fooledby cheaper copies of planterbags being offered in themarket place as a planter bagis not cheap when you have tobuy it twice.

Wangara HorticulturalSupplies are a privately ownedWestern Australian familybusiness who pride themselveson quality products andcontinued repeat business andwere the first in the world toconceive the round bottomwoven planter bags withhandles and we thankeveryone for their support inmaking it a very successfulproduct.

“WANGARA HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES OFFERSHIGHEST QUALITY WOVEN PLANTER BAGS”

An inferiorcheap copy ofa woven planterbag

A top quality Easy-Fill planter bag on forklift

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