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The Indian Gherkin Project

Producing more high-quality gherkins

through good agricultural practices


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The situationThe gherkin ( Cucumis anguria ) is a fruit similar in form and

nutritional value to a cucumber. Gherkins and cucumbers be-

long to the same species ( Cucumis sativus ) but are different

cultivar groups. Since there is a growing worldwide demand

for pickled gherkins, more and more food companies have

started to explore opportunities for producing gherkins. This

is particularly true of India given the favourable growing

conditions in that country.

However, many challenges have to be overcome. For example,

there is not much expertise in growing gherkins according to

good agricultural practices (GAP) and many small-scale

farms/farmers need support and training.

Reitzel India Pvt Ltd. is a company operating in Europe, Turkey

and India, has developed expertise with local partners and

started the gherkin cultivation and processing business in In-

dia in 2004. Contract farming with agronomical support from

Reitzel’s technicians is considered to be the most appropriate

method of growing gherkins according to good agricultural

practices in India.

Over a period of time, Reitzel faced many challenges, includ-

ing decreasing yield and quality due to pests such as downy

mildew, borers and fruit flies.

At the same time, Reitzel has to comply with stricter and

stricter EU and US regulations about the use of plant protec-

tion products (PPP) and maximum residue limits (MRL) on

gherkins. So they regularly set up experimentation fields and

PPP lists to prevent any risk of exceeding MRL and to comply

with all regulations.


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Farmers: They receive training and advice on integrated

effective solutions for yield and quality improvement and

increased net profit. The outcome is improved yield and

quality of the production.

Reitzel: Field trials were conducted in order to test Bayer’s

gherkin solution under practical usage conditions before

advising farmers to apply it. Reitzel supported farmers with

expertise on gherkin cultivation, trade requirements and

customer specifications. Here, the close relationships be-

tween Reitzel agri-technicians and farmers proved particu-

larly beneficial.

Reitzel agri-technicians: They adapted the advice given to

implement good agricultural practices and provide adequate

plant protection products, seeds and fertilisers to farmers.

Reitzel factories: The aim is to ensure a continious supply

of fresh and high-quality gherkins to the factories in India,

France, Switzerland and Turkey as well as for export to

various countries in accordance with trade regulations (e.g.

MRL regulations) and customers’ requirements.

Bayer CropScience: An integrated solution was developed

for gherkin management based on the Food Chain Partner-

ship model by applying the 5P programme to support Reitzel

in exporting gherkins from India. With its national and inter-

national expertise, Bayer has been able to provide technical

know-how from seed to harvest, e.g. selection of seed

variety, optimised plant protection solutions and support in

compliance with trade regulations.

The partners involved


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Production: Nunhems, a subsidiary of Bayer CropScience,

provided the gherkin variety Ajax, a high-yielding hybrid

variety with good processing qualities.

Protection: With technical support from Bayer, Reitzel con-

ducted many in-house trials to develop an optimised solution

for plant protection treatments. Bayer and Reitzel experts

developed a decision tree for the best growing solution

according to good agricultural practices and respecting

international trade regulations, e.g. MRL regulations.

Programme monitoring: The programme was jointly

monitored during the growing season by Reitzel experts andBayer food chain managers and project officers.

Passport: This tool recorded all field management data,

providing adequate traceability and cost management infor-

mation. It was developed in the respective local language

and implemented at every project farm level.

Post-harvest: Reitzel developed best grading practices and

implemented these together with Bayer field agronomists.

Bayer invested in certified analysis of harvested gherkins in

order to check any exceedance of MRLs for plant protection

products. All the farmers involved in the gherkin food chain

partnership project have been trained and supported

throughout the growing season by Reitzel technicians with

the support of Bayer experts, e.g. training in the safe

handling of plant protection products and using modern

application technologies. The 5P programme for gherkins

was developed according to good agricultural practices

with consideration given to the principles of sustain-

able agriculture.

Develop and implement effective solutions to improve the

yield and quality of gherkins, creating a win-win situation for

all partners involved by implementing good agricultural prac-

tices and respecting the principles of sustainable agriculture.

The objective

This food chain partnership started with the signing of a

Memorandum of Understanding between Reitzel India and

Bayer CropScience in 2008. Both parties shared their expec-

tations with regard to this partnership and agreed on theimplementation of the 5P process:

The solution


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left:

Amit Sharma

Senior Manager - Food Chain Alliances

of Bayer CropScience India

right:

Sridhara S. Nanjangud

CEO of Reitzel India

The resultThe objective was achieved in line with the principles of

sustainable agriculture, and this food chain partnership

continues for the benefit of all the partners involved.

• Farmers: Substantial increase of the net income

• Reitzel Agri: 5,000 farmers advised by 45 agri-technicians

• Reitzel factories: Continuous supply of quality gherkins

with efficient borer and fruit fly management

• Consumers: All-year-round availability of gherkins

• Bayer CropScience: Provision of effective solutions

for more high-quality gherkins


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Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the need

for healthy nutrition. Food chain partnerships help to supply

consumers with high-quality fresh produce, which forms the

basis of a healthy diet. But such partnerships can only suc-

ceed if they involve every player in the food chain – from the

farmer and processor to the exporter or importer and retailer.

Bayer CropScience has the global experience and cutting-

edge expertise to create a successful partnership at every

level.

For more information contact:

Food Chain Partnership Team India

Bayer CropScience Limited

Bayer House, Central Avenue,

Powai, Mumbai-400076

Maharashtra

India

Mobile: +91 98 2049 1734

Phone: +91 22 2571 1036

Fax: +91 22 2570 0554

Email: [email protected]: www.bayercropscience.com

Bayer CropScience AG

Food Chain Management

Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50

40789 Monheim

Germany

Phone: +49 2173 38 5834

Fax: +49 2173 38 3383

Email: [email protected]

Internet: www.foodchainpartnership.com

© 2011 by Bayer CropScience

FCP-11-1522

REITZEL INDIA PVT LTD

# 98 - 99, KIADB Industrial Area

Bangalore – Mangalore Highway

Anchepalya, Kempanahalli Post

KUNIGAL 572 126, TUMKUR DIST

India

Phone: +91 81 3229 2315


Internet: www.reitzel.ch

Reitzel SA

14–16 Route d’Ollon

1860 Aigle

Switzerland


Internet: www.reitzel.ch

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