AGRI-PULSE – RUSTENBURG – South Africa has always been a water-scarce country, subject to periodic droughts and erratic rainfall patterns.
However, South African farmers’ eagerness and willingness to adopt the latest agriculture technologies, including advanced irrigation technologies that integrate into precision agriculture systems, helps to optimise farming inputs for maximum yield and efficiency.
According to Arno Abeln, Managing Director of Agrimark Operations, the replacement value of South Africa’s installed irrigation drip, microfilters, pumps and pipe infrastructure, is estimated at R34 billion at today’s prices and based on hectares under production today.
“Assuming an annual replacement rate of 3%, the annual market size is R1 billion, based on its current size. Looking to the future, as more farmers are expected to switch to precision farming, the need for this type of technology will increase.”
South African farmers have been forced to become water-wise, as long-term climate forecasts envision longer droughts and more erratic rainfall in coming years - with implications for agriculture and food security. In addition, while the size of South Africa’s water resource will not grow, its population is expected to grow by 17% in the coming 10 years, effectively reducing per capita water availability.
“Agriculture in South Africa consumes 60% of the available water resource and thus, producers have a responsibility to farm sustainably – which is not possible without sustainable irrigation practices.” If not managed properly, water consumption can increase the strain on the system. Abeln explains that several characteristics of the everyday use of irrigation systems necessitate the periodic replacement of components.
“Over time, the peroxide used to clean irrigation systems erodes the pipe walls, so eventually the pipes don’t give you the same flow rate. Many farmers apply liquid fertilisers via their irrigation systems, and these fertilisers can also reduce the lifespan of the dripping lines. “You may have a dripper installed to give 0.7 litres per hour, but then a grain of sand or a micro-small stone gets caught up in the dripline, and suddenly this dripper doesn’t give you 0.7 litres per hour any more, which leads to inefficient production.”
Abeln notes that amid the past three years’ difficult economic conditions and steep increases in farming input costs, many farmers may decide to postpone the scheduled replacement of irrigation components. “This is risky, because if you put off replacing 5 hectares of irrigation on a wine farm for two or three years, you suddenly must replace 15 or 20 hectares. In the meantime the worn components cost you more money due to reduced efficiency.”
Crop production under netting has been one of the biggest game changers in irrigation farming over the past decade, as it reduces evaporation and the overall water requirement.
“Agrimark is committed to helping our farming and retail customers improve water stewardship. For the long-term sustainability of our relatively good food security in SA, it would be advisable that government and private sector invest in expanding dam and water irrigation systems in SA,” concludes Abeln.
