Tradecorp has been helping the flower industry in Kenya for the past 15 years in maximizing yields and plant quality with its superior range of micronutrients & speciality fertilizers. These products are designed to enhance soil health, nutrient availability and fertilizer performance. Founded in 1985 in Spain, the company has a broad experience in crop nutrition.
This was stated by Mr. Vincent Claux, the Technical director of Europe and Sub- Saharian Africa, during a seminar held for flower growers in Kenya in April 2016. During the seminar held in Naivasha, Vincent took the growers through their range of solutions for the sector. ‘’We are a one stop shop for all your nutritional problems’’, he said. Tradecorp solutions include micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, & Co.
Tradecorp Product Range
- Tradecorp AZ Bentley Plus - A unique combination of chelates for flowers
- Final K - A unique Potassium for high quality flowers
- Calitech - Don’t forget Calcium- which is one of the best in the country.
- Phylgreen – anti-stress strategy with the new Tradecorp seaweed range
- Delfan Plus – Unique Amino Acids
- Saltrad – Tradecorp salinity corrector
- Lower 7 - Tradecorp acidifier
Why Use Micronutrients
Micronutrients are elements essential for plant nutrition and are required in very small (micro) quantities for healthy plant growth, but are vital for metabolic reactions of plants just like vitamins in human beings. These are zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), boron (B), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and Cobalt (Co). The micronutrients are present in the soil but they are sometimes not available. This is due to soil and nutritive solution pH, soil interactions (clay or organic matter), interactions with other ions present in the soil, interactions with soluble phosphates, low plant uptake, improper irrigation management and climate conditions. In addition, continuous crop cultivation over the years and degradation due to physical factors, results in depletion of micronutrients, affecting the productivity of soil. This leads to deficiency in crops and lowers crop quality and yield.
The company’s chelated micronutrients ensure that the products can be administered in a lower dosage and deliver visible results in 48-72 hours. While the chelated products are priced higher than the non-chelated ones, their end-cost of application is lower per hectare as the nutrients are more efficiently absorbed by the plant when administered in chelated form and there is minimal wastage.
Commenting at the launch, Mr Angus Ker, TC Commercial manager East-Africa, said, “The market for agricultural micronutrients is growing. Chelated micronutrients, represent 7 percent of the total regional market by volume and are growing faster than non-chelated ones. Through integration, Tradecorp will be one of the few companies to address the end to end value chain of micronutrients, speciality foliar fertilizers, and soil correctors, thereby bringing consistency to quality as well as pricing with our partner Elgon Kenya Ltd in East Africa. We firmly believe in feeding the plant and not the soil”
In Micronutrients, Vincent took growers through Bentley Plus - a product with a large pH stability range from 4 to 10, thanks to the combination of EDDHA and EDTA forms. Bentley Plus is the only micromix in the market which offers such “a maximum” insurance factor. In addition, the product is 100% water-soluble and doesn’t contain any anti-caking oil. This leaves your tanks and drip lines clean. The micronutrients are fully chelated it has one of the highest chelation rates in the market. Thanks to the excellent Tradecorp technology. The product is a chemical mix, each micro granule has the same composition. This guarantees uniformity and consistency of micronutrients supply to crops unlike physical mixes.
After the launch, Floriculture Magazine spoke to few growers on the products. Mr. Stephen Musyoka of Oserian Development Company Ltd said, “Bentley Plus can be used for all types of applications: foliar, soil, substrates or hydroponics’’. He added “The product is also compatible with most fertilisers and plant-protection products that are currently in the market’’. Mr. Vincent said the product is one of the best currently in the market to prevent and correct multiple micronutrient deficiencies in hydroponic crops and in fertigation.
Speaking about this launch Mr. Andrew Tubei of Sian Roses, Masai Farm, stated, “The introduction of Tradecorp products is based on an in-depth understanding of farmers’ requirements where there is a clear need for a high quality organic offering in this space. The products have been designed to address this need and enable the grower to efficiently use the products for improving nutrient uptake and crop productivity.”
Mr. Vikash Jain of Elgon Kenya Limited, the distributors of Tradecorp products, said they will be undertaking a mass farmer awareness programme and farm level demonstrations in key target markets, to explain the key features and benefits of the different range of products, and offering first-hand user experience.
The seminar which followed an earlier one for cereal growers was attended by many flower and vegetable growers from the country. Many of the growers who attended agreed it was a timely forum to educate and discuss the benefits of plant nutrition and expand their choices for the future. As the growers stated, it is key now to improve quality of their produce in an ever competitive global market.
“For more information about Tradecorp products, visit www. tradecorp.co.ke or contact East-Africa manager Angus Ker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ”
Who is Tradecorp?
Tradecorp are experts in micronutrients & speciality fertilizers, founded in Spain in 1985. The company has a broad experience in crop nutrition. They strive to be a leading example to both distributors and growers as a producer of innovative specialty products. This is achieved through the commercialization of high quality specialty products and services, which maximize value for their customers. They aim to provide a high quality and professional reference in the micronutrient and specialty fertilizer global market, achieving excellence in service and increasing added value for their customers.
Since 2000, Tradecorp became part of Sapec Group, a company listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange which was established in the mining and chemical sector in 1926. To date, Sapec is an industrial holding company with an extensive portfolio of activities in agro-business (crop nutrition & crop protection), industrial chemicals & environment, agrocommodities distribution, logistics and others.
Sapec boasts a Multicultural team, formed of more than 350 professionals. It has local technical teams that offer farmers and distributors a professional, personalized and close service. They are present in the main agricultural markets of the world.
State of the art FACTORIES
The company has tailor made formulations, thanks to the versatility of their factories, that can make formulations to respond to the specific needs of our clients.
Sanchidrián Factory, Ávila, Spain: In this plant, the company manufactures chelates. It is one of the few factories in the world capable of synthesizing the chelating agent EDDHA, which they use in the production of Ultraferro. In this factory they produce Ultraferro and Tradecorp AZ Bentley, among others products.
Albacete factory, Albacete, Spain: In this plant they manufacture their ranges of liquid fertilizers and some of their ranges of solid products. In this factory they produce Humistar, Humistar WG, Humical, Trafos Range, Delfan Plus, Final K, Calitech, among other foliar products.
Kilcar Factory, Kilcar, Ireland: In this plant they manufacture their fresh, natural and cold seaweed extract which is used in the formulation of their range of seaweed biostimulants called Phylgreen.
Conclusion
After investing substantial financial inputs, every grower needs a company providing a genuine product range with guaranteed results. Tradecorp is that partner you deserve. Among their maximum priorities is the compliance with REACH regulation, which regulates registration, evaluation, authorization of chemical and fertilizer products, with the objective to guarantee a high level of protection of human health and the environment. Most of their main products are suitable for Organic Agriculture. The company is certificated with ISO 14001 for Environmental Management by the Norwegian entity Det Norske Veritas. They are participants in the United Nations Global Compact, for which they respect and promote the 10 principles established in the areas of human rights, labor rights, environment and anti-corruption. As part of their commitment to the environment and good agricultural practices, they are members of GLOBALGAP.
