Monsanto recently introduced a package including all inputs for maize production for small-scale farmers in Africa. This is called the Combi Pack.

The Combi Pack is focused on smaller farmers and contains the correct amount of hybrid maize seed, herbicides and a voucher for fertilizer for a farmer to plant from about a quarter of a hectare to 5 hectares.

With this, Monsanto wishes to ensure that small-scale farmers have all the inputs necessary for successful maize production. "We have found in the past that many of the smaller farmers only focused on some of the inputs. Either they buy proper hybrid seed and then save on fertilizer and herbicides or the other way round. We believe that this Combi Pack can keep these farmers on their land in future. We will also provide training to farmers regarding the use and application of the products in the Combi Packs," says Kobus Lindeque, Area Director for Monsanto Sub-Sahara Africa.

In the container farmers can buy either Yieldgard (Bt maize) or conventional hybrid maize seed of top quality, and Roundup herbicide for pre plant spraying, Bullet herbicide for after emergence application and a voucher for fertilizer. Not only are the farmers given the opportunity to use modern technology such as biotechnology, but they are also encouraged to use conservation tillage methods and reap the rewards of good soil practices. The Combi Pack forms part of the company's focus on value adding.