Liming Co.’s Tanzanian subsidiary, Lifeng Co., has launched new agricultural products and promoted localized plant protection solutions, aiming to address challenges faced by local avocado growers and boost crop yield and quality.
Local Avocado Cultivation Challenges
In recent years, Tanzania’s avocado farming sector has been grappling with multiple hurdles. Restrictions under local pesticide policies have left growers with a severely limited range of available fungicides and insecticides. Additionally, the lack of proper planting techniques and guidance on pesticide use has led to low application rates of pesticides and fertilizers. These factors have resulted in significant fluctuations in both the quality and yield of avocados, accompanied by a steady decline in export prices, putting pressure on local farmers’ incomes.
New Products and Plant Protection Scheme
To tackle these issues, Lifeng Co. successfully registered two new products for avocado crops earlier this year: FARMERBIN® (a 60% pyraclostrobin and metiram water-dispersible granule) and LINKZOLE® (a 40% difenoconazole suspension concentrate). Both products utilize technical materials developed in-house by Liming Group.
Building on these new offerings, Lifeng has developed a six-application pesticide scheme, combining the two new products with other existing products in its portfolio. The company provides targeted guidance to farmers during critical growth stages of avocados, such as the pre-flowering and post-flowering periods, to ensure proper and effective use of the products.
On-Site Demonstration and Training
Lifeng recently hosted an on-site demonstration event for avocados, titled “Quality Pesticides, Bountiful Harvests,” alongside the launch of the new products. The event drew a large number of growers from major avocado-producing areas in Tanzania.
At the demonstration park, avocado trees treated with Lifeng’s plant protection scheme showed notable improvements: leaves were darker green and thicker, the overall tree vigor was stronger, and the fruit surfaces were smooth and blemish-free. Incidences of anthracnose, leaf spot disease, and damage from boring pests were significantly reduced compared to untreated trees.
During the event, Lifeng also invited local agricultural technology experts to conduct specialized training sessions. The experts covered key topics including avocado planting management, fertilizer application, and pesticide use. Farmers actively participated in the Q&A session, leading to a lively atmosphere that lasted for over two hours.
Future Business Expansion Plans
This demonstration event marks the second phase of Lifeng’s promotional efforts, following its earlier “Visible Quality” campaign. It signifies the company’s shift from showcasing product performance to verifying the actual application effects of its solutions in real-world farming scenarios.
As Tanzania’s agricultural production and sales peak season begins in November, Lifeng plans to expand its business scope to other local cash crops, including coffee and cashew nuts. The company will develop full-cycle plant protection schemes tailored to these crops using its own product range. It also intends to establish additional demonstration parks and organize more on-site events to help more farmers increase their incomes.
Looking ahead, Lifeng will continue to leverage the comprehensive advantages of Liming Group in technical materials and formulations. It will closely align its efforts with market demands and the concerns of local farmers, continuously optimizing its plant protection solutions. The company also aims to accelerate the registration process for more of its independent products, with the goal of providing efficient full-cycle crop management services to Tanzanian growers and contributing to increased agricultural output and higher farmers’ incomes in the country.
