FCI Trade Summit – Africa Focuses on Food Productivity

Posted by David Frabotta|20 May 2014

Farm Chemicals International’s second FCI Trade Summit in East Africa highlighted the region’s potential for the increased use of crop inputs. Government policies, NGO programs and private investment are combining to drive innovation among the region’s smallholder farmers.

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Day 1 ended with a cocktail party on beautiful Pweza Pier at the White Sands Beach Resort 13 May in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Limin_Sponsor_slide

Limin Chemical and Link Forward sponsored the cocktail reception and hosted more than 100 people at the party.
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Almost 200 people attended the FCI Trade Summit during the two-day event.
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The ORYX Band and Dance Troupe played traditional African rhythms and entertained guests with traditional dance.
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Attendees mixed and mingled well into the evening.
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Christi Venter of Global G.A.P, left, and CropLife Tanzania Executive Director Harish Dhutia, at right, had a lot to talk about: She spoke in the first session on day 1 about how to bring good agricultural practices to east Africa while Mr. Dhutia finished up the final sessions on day 2 by speaking about crop protection trends in Tanzania.
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The dancers' traditional African dance moves were a highlight of the evening.
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Most people stayed at the party until well after sunset.
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Dr. Sylus Chcuchu of Farmlink Enterprises Africa is well versed in the crop protection and agriculture issues facing Kenya.
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Attendees relax and watch the sun go down at the cocktail party.
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A traditional East African dancer’s moves, appropriate on a nightclub dance floor or at a rural village ceremony, captivate partygoers.
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Wu Mingu of Link Forward shares a few comments with reception attendees.
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Cathy Chang introduces cocktail reception sponsors Limin Chemical during the night's festivities.
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Cathy Chang and Selina Li of Target Exhibitions salute a pleasant conclusion to the first day of the conference.
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More than just a networking opportunity, the cocktail party let representatives from the 36 exhibiting companies get real and build relationships.
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Traditional African dancers share their cultural celebrations at the cocktail party.
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Huang Zhendong of Jiangsu Agrochem Laboratory Company takes photos with colleagues Tian Hao of Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group, left, and Xiao Xiao of Beta Chemicals, second from left.
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Dr. Raymond Hoyum, president of Advantage International.
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The coastline visible in the distance heads south to Dar es Salaam's city center, a distance of only about seven kilometers but a taxi ride of anywhere from one to four hours due to congested roads.
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Hors d’oeuvres at the party included bite-sized vegetable, shrimp, or beef bruschetta, chicken and samosas.
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Under the full moon that night, Mangesh Gaikwad, assistant manager of international marketing with Isagro Asia and colleague pose as the evening starts to wind down.
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FCI Publisher Eric Davis and Li Hongjun of Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group.
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Attendees continue to mingle well into the evening.

The program at the FCI Trade Summit – Africa focused on how the spread of good agricultural practices, agronomic advising, soil health and crop protection contribute to a holistic farming strategy that will enable smallholder farmers to be more productive, profitable and sustainable businesses.

More than 35 suppliers exhibited at the event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the region’s largest importers and distributors were able find new sources to meet a burgeoning demand for crop protection products. Networking and meeting opportunities dotted the schedule as well, including a cocktail reception on the opening day.