50,000 farmers to trial Gro-Plus as network of stockists grows
16 February 2011

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In less than a month a further 20,000 farmers in western Kenya have signed up for the upcoming Gro-Plus trial, bringing the total to over 50,000. And with agrovets and hardware shops starting to stock this new seed priming product, it is a very busy time for the Real IPM Company.

Henry Wainwright, managing director of the Real IPM Company, said:

"Last night the number of farmers recruited for the Gro-Plus trial reached 50,271. This is the number of mobile telephone numbers of farmers based in Nyanza Province which IPM can text and communicate with.

Our target for this trial was 50,000 farmers. Some people questioned whether we could achieve this number - but with persistence and hard work from our team, we have done it.

This trial should give us a clear insight into how Gro-Plus performs in a wide range of different circumstances."

The next challenge is to get Gro-Plus out to all these farmers before the next rains and planting season. The target is to complete distribution by the end of February 2011.

To do this IPM text the registered farmers and arrange a specific location and time where packs can be collected. Anyone not registered, or who wants more than one pack has the opportunity to buy Gro-Plus. With three or four events being held each day, the IPM team are working flat out.

Henry continued:

"We have also been working on setting up a distribution network for people to buy Gro-Plus.

We have a full-time sales representative developing sales to agrovets in Naynaza Province. It is essentially that we build awareness and distribution."

RIU's Andy Ward said:

"I'd like to congratulate Henry on reaching his target. I am really impressed by Collins Wanyama and the rest of the team that IPM are putting together in western Kenya. The pack looks really nice too, so I would predict that demand for Gro-Plus is going to be very heavy."