Briefly discuss Barnaba Rotich (Background-Personal and a professional)
My love for farming started way back when I was a little kid. I was raised in a farm and as I was growing up I enjoyed playing with farm machineries and had fun during agricultural classes throughout primary and secondary school. So I was delighted when I got admitted to JKUAT to pursue a Bsc. Degree in Horticulture.

In December 2001 I did my last exam on a Friday and started work with Dudutech the following Monday and within one year I got promoted from Field Trials Officer to a Production Manager in charge of one line of insects and thereafter to the position of Production Coordinator in charge of all insect production lines. By March 2005, I was seconded to Dudutech’s sister company in South Africa to set up one of the biggest IPM projects in the Southern Africa at the time. I came back to Kenya after one year stint and took a new role as Technical Manager again in insect production and got promoted to Commercial &Technical Sales Manager a position I have been for 5 years.

You have been dealing with flower growers for most of your professional life, if you would have to give your remarks about use of biologicals in the sector, what would they be?
Pest management in the flower industry is very dynamic and bio-control has steadily grown over the years from simply a marketing gimmick to the most sustainable way of managing crop pests and diseases that actually works.

Briefly discuss challenges you have in your professional work?
Dudutech being the first bio-control company to develop IPM strategies in Kenya, probably Africa; this meant we had to learn everything about bio-control on our own. Companies in Europe and America always guarded their technology jealously and had no experience in our kind of climate anyway. As we managed what were essentially key pests on our crops, there always arose an emergency of new threats due to reduced use of “generalist” pesticides.

What would you point out as your strongest attribute that has made you succeed?
Consistency and respect for team members and peers. In addition is my ability to allow team mates to work unconditionally. Am also pragmatic in handling challenges. These have played a key role in my success.

In your experience briefly discuss production, distribution and application of biological to growers in Kenya.
Bio-control in Kenya is a long story whose start was only Diglyphus isaea to manage leafminer and Phytoseiulus persimilis for management of the Two Spotted Mite. To date range has grown to a portfolio of over 20 different products among them; insects, mites, beneficial fungus, nematodes and bacteria. What was started by a single company; Dudutech Ltd has grown to have three key companies in Kenya and other smaller but upcoming companies. Some multinationals who have all along produced conventional agrochemicals are also seriously investing in biological lines. To date, bio-control has grown into other crops including cereals. Across the border, our neighbouring countries have also come to embrace the technology.

Bio-controls agents are very specific on the pest or disease they target. This therefore means that growers and pest control practitioners need to understand the ecology and biology of individual pest and their interaction with respective bio-control agent in order to put in place the best possible management strategy. The beauty of biological control agents is that, they have no MRLs and no resistance build up by pest.

In fact this is the future of the sector. In your experience, discuss the challenges biologicals are facing in the country (Users, Government and distributors?
Registration of bio-controls still remains a hard nut to crack in Kenya compared to Europe. In Europe for instance one does not need to register products that are not formulated such as insects, predatory mites and Nematodes. What is needed is prove of species identification and documented original habitat. However, formulated products in Europe go through a rigorous procedure compared to Kenya. Therefore patience is needed before one gets full registration. In addition, these products have no quick knock down effects hence users need to adopt prophylactic strategies in order to keep pest populations below economic threshold levels.

Handling living organism is not easy and therefore both suppliers and growers must make sure that bio-control products especially those based on predatory mites, beneficial insects and nematodes are not kept for too long between the time of product supply and use. One may need a cool chain to transport them so as to maintain the quality of products and get full benefits. It is easier handling the formulated products as they are much more stable and can withstand a wider temperature range but growers must make sure they check the shelf life before use. In general, bio-control products should not be stored for long as the fresher it is the more virulent it is.

In reference to the current debate on the international markets on MRLs, discuss why growers are safe using biological.
Biologicals are the best thing to have happened to farmers. These products have no MRLs or PHIs. One can spray and harvest within hours as they are safe to crop handlers, environment and consumers. If used well, the products will also give you a superior quality produce with longer stems and longer shelf life especially for vegetables.

How would you describe your time at Dudutech? Are you passionate about what you do?
I have had my best time at Dudutech. Having been among the pioneers of bio-control industry in Kenya and involved in all stages of development and growth of the company from onset, is the best thing to have happened to me. I joined the company six months after start and this gave me an opportunity to work in all departments.

I am passionate with what I do. Each day pause own challenges which are very exciting for my career growth. I enjoy working with growers and the partnership we have in designing and implementing environmentally intelligent farming systems to grow crops in a sustainable manner.

What is your vision for Dudutech Ltd? What are your top priorities?
Dudutech’s mission is to provide safe, effective and sustainable solution to pest and disease management in agriculture globally and promoting environmentally intelligent farming that is better for our people, our environment and our markets. Our priorities are to make sure that everyone is safe, from bees, farm workers and all the way to consumers, now and in the future.

In a nutshell describe Dudutech Ltd products and services to farmers.
The quality of products is paramount in our activities. Dudutech Ltd is an innovative company that focuses on providing high quality, cutting edge technologies to the global farming community. We focus on providing more than just high performing product to farmers; ours is a different mentality or approach. We seek to create long-term ‘win-win’ partnerships that create value for all. We are incredibly accurate. Our business culture is about understanding our customers and carefully planning for their specific needs and then sticking to our plans. This approach ensures a unique personal touch for our customers.

Briefly discuss the Dudutech Ltd team
It is probably the greatest and most inspirational any manager would wish to have. The team is comprised of only Kenyans and is highly experienced with deep knowledge of the organisation. The management team has been working together for many years (more than 10 years) and they understand each other very well. But it doesn’t end there. More broadly, they have a ‘let’s-get-down-to-business’ mentality and are open to new ideas which is an asset to the organisation. To crown them, integrity is very important. If they promise something, they stick to it. The team will always go out of their way to keep our customers satisfied.

Where do you think the most significant growth will occur in the company in the next few years? What new competition are you expecting then?
In Kenya, we foresee massive growth and development of biological products for disease control especially powdery mildew, botrytis and downy mildew products. The Kenyan market is set for faster growth than more established markets and regions such as Europe. As a result, more and more players in biological products are seeking to enter the market. This will create a dynamic environment where expertise and proximity will be critical. We might see a scenario where these products overtake conventional products due to their safety to the user and the environment. The ‘cutting edge’ here is the sustainability

What is your personal work ethic and how does this affect the company culture?
I believe in accountability, responsibility and allowing people to bring out ideas. Out in the field, I have come to understand different business cultures. It is only in the flower sector where you encounter diverse cultures, some culture’s famous virtue, punctuality, collides with others that think good things take time and making someone wait is a sign of authority. I have come to understand all these and treat all these people fairly and with respect. I’m passionate about business. I like to challenge the status quo and take calculated risks, but also to roll-up my sleeves to get down to the nitty-gritty. This sits well with Dudutech Ltd culture and values.

What decisions have you made in your career that looking back you feel were mistakes and what have you learned from them?
I wouldn’t cite any specific decisions. Instead I believe that each day brings something new to learn. Every single time I meet a client, I learn something new. I’ve learned that to be open-minded is essential to doing good business.

Discuss the most pivotal moments in your career that you either learned from and/or that got you where you are?
In all honesty, I’ve only had two pivotal moments in my career life. The first was when I did an interview and got a job two months before sitting for my university exams. The second is working for the first biological control company in Kenya and seeing it grow and an opportunity to set up the first ICM in South Africa in a 21ha chrysanthemum farm.

Describe your ordinary day? Do you have enough personal time?
My typical day involves contact (either in person or by phone) with my team to ensure we’re dealing with business priorities. In the space of a few hours I can cover a diverse range of topics that relate to our work environment; from regulatory to technical development, sales and marketing. When I’m in the office, mostly on Mondays I have an open door policy. The rest of the week I spend meeting customers. Though I have less and less personal time, I spend most of the weekends with my family who are always very understanding and supportive.

Give your final comments
After many years working with Dudutech Ltd, I can get to the heart of farmers issues and offer sound advice on specific problems. Through business partnerships, my team and I bring very specific business values and these can be summed at as competence (we have some of the best products available with good after sale services), preparedness (to find ways to deliver solutions to even the most difficult of customer needs) and delivery on time (perhaps this comes from our business values, but we also recognise today this is an important quality that farmers need to know that they can trust in their business partner of choice). To crown it Dudutech is going places.

Thanks For your time