DuPont launches farming products at Cambodia

DuPont has launched eight of its chemical crop-protection products and three varieties of its Pioneer Hi-Bred corn seeds in Cambodia on Wednesday (Dec 3) after receiving the approval from the Ministry of Agriculture.

DuPont's agricultural products were available in Cambodia previously through third parties, but it will now offer its seeds as part of a service that will include training and local outreach for farmers, an approach it took in six other ASEAN countries.

Cambodian firm Nokorthom Agriculture Development will distribute the eight crop protection chemical products in the country, including Prevathon and Steward lines of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

The company has yet to confirm the distributors for its three Pioneer Hi-Bred corn seed hybrids primarily used for livestock feed.

This launching is just the beginning of DuPont's sales efforts in Cambodia, and other products will soon follow, according to company executives.

Hsing Ho, DuPont's director for business development in South and East Asia, said they intend to go aggressively into the Cambodian market.

The company's Cambodian office, which was opened in March 2008 and employs just four staff members, will expand, said Ho.

Lukach and Sakorn Tripetchpisal, the Thailand country manager for Pioneer, said DuPont's corn seeds could help Cambodia improve its yield from an average of less than six tonnes per hectare to levels similar to those in the US, which is close to 11 tonnes per hectare.