Seed distributors in Ukraine explained their refusal from Brevant brand
Most Ukrainian distributors refuse from selling Brevant brand seeds by the company Corteva Agriscience. According to experts, this brand includes old and weak Pioneer or Dow Seeds hybrids. This season, the company started selling a better selection without intermediaries, SuperAgronom.com reports.
"Now Brevant's portfolio in Ukraine includes 13 corn hybrids, 9 sunflower hybrids and 12 winter rapeseed hybrids," the publication reads.
The survey results show the following feedback among those who produced hybrids from this portfolio, distributors and seed experts:
- these hybrids were the least popular in the Pioneer portfolio among agrarians;
- there were the largest stocks of these hybrids in the distributors' warehouses;
- corn hybrids have mainly rather weak moisture-yielding capacity and drought resistance;
- sunflower hybrids are mostly old and no longer relevant (they were registered before 2015, and 2 of them registered in 2017 have no needed characteristics);
- resistance to broom rape (Orobanche) is insufficient or absent. This may not be a problem for regions without an infestation, but due to its presence in Poltava region already, this factor is becoming increasingly important for a greater number of producers;
- only 2 of the presented are drought resistant sunflower hybrids. Both high oleic, all linoleic hybrids are classical, resistant to only 5 races of broom rape (with two exceptions), and in marketable crops, this resistance often failed;
- three rapeseed hybrids are drought resistant, others are classic. The hybrids are quite good, but almost all of them do not have significant advantages over the better-known brands in the market;
- the price of seeds remains high enough, despite the lack of modern characteristics and advantages. In this case, producers started purchasing more of Ukrainian hybrids of the same quality which are twice cheaper. E.g. sowing unit (Su) of Brevant seeds costs about UAH 3000-4000 (with discounts for a large consignment and depending on the hybrid, the price can be UAH 2700), while the Ukrainian hybrid of the same or better quality can be purchased at UAH 1500-2000/Su.
On the SuperAgronom.com request, Corteva Agriscience Ukraine CCO Andriy Andriyushko informed that there were no problems with selling the Brevant brand seeds at that time.
"Today we have no refusals from selling the Brevant brand. The commercial policy for distribution was presented on November 1, and now everyone is studying the offer of Corteva Agriscience, in particular, the Brevant brand portfolio, which has improved all the technological advantages of Corteva Agriscience genetics," comments Andriy Andriyushko.
According to SuperAgronom.com distributors will sign contracts on the purchase of seeds though de facto (in real practice) they will not proceed with such transactions.
Previously reported that in H1 2019 (six months ended June 30) Corteva Agriscience cut research and development expense by 17% (USD 116 mln) to USD 568 mln. The company's research and development expense in Q2 2019 reduced 24% to USD 269 mln.
