Annemarie Bremner, ProAgri
“Our dream was to get water to Groenvlei farm, located 5 km from the nearest water source,” says WG Treurnicht, who grows wine grapes just outside Porterville, at the foot of the Olifants River Mountains.
The farm joined hands with Agrico Piketberg to make this dream come true. They first set foot in the irrigation industry in 2004 with the planting of rootstocks. Before this, they were dry-land grain farmers.”It was the logical decision to approach Agrico, because I was at university with Walter Andrag,” jokes WG. Yet friendship with the managing director of the company is just one of the reasons for the successful longterm relationship.
“Agrico has been the leader in water management in the Western Cape for decades, and with their expertise they have established a solid footprint throughout Southern Africa. “We started irrigating without any experience. That is why we needed irrigation experts who could provide guaranteed products and service to make the journey with us,” says WG.
With a water source in the Olifants River Mountains, WG built a large catchment dam on the farm Soverby. The big challenge was to transport the water from the dam to the farm Groenvlei 5 km further downhill and handle the unmanageable pressure! While pumps are used on the upper farm, Groenvlei relies on gravity and natural flow. With a drop of more than 70 metres, the pressure in the pipes is up to 8 bar. A burst pipe can be a disaster.
WG says that due to the high pressure, it is extremely important to have a trustworthy supplier and products.
“About 90% of everything Agrico provides us with is buried 1,5 metres deep. There is only one chance to do it right!”
Today, there are 75 hectares of wine grapes and 10 hectares of rootstock that receive water through drip irrigation. The nursery is moved every season for protection against diseases. Therefore, the block needs to be surveyed every season and the irrigation planned from the start. The pipes are removed and rolled up to move them to the new block. Along with thorough planning and a smooth installation process, scheduling is just as essential. It is important that the system communicates and performs as planned.
WG has been practicing conservation farming for many years and the choice for drip irrigation over the more common micro-irrigation in the area has been made with a view to the sustainable use of water.
Niël Carstens, the branch manager of Agrico Piketberg, says one of the great advantages of the farm is its clean water source. The water is not full of minerals like iron or other impurities that tend to clog the drippers. This improves the consistency of the water application and reduces maintenance.
To make the correct recommendation for irrigation, factors such as the crop, soil type, slope and water quality are taken into account. “We try to get the maximum value for our customers from their available water – we do not believe in waste.”
Most of the water management takes place in the filtration house where the pressure and the distribution of the water are controlled. Because Porterville is a winter rainfall region with hot and dry summers, they need to be proactive. Moreover, the seasons are not always predictable
due to climate change, and from 2015 they have experienced many challenges with below-average rainfall.
WG concludes: “Our entire farming is future-oriented. Farmers need to understand that water will become a major challenge in the world. That is why it is important to build a relationship with an organisation like Agrico that is at the forefront of development in terms of water conservation and efficiency.”
We are excited to announce that four brand new Agrico tautliners are on the road. These new additions to our fleet will further enhance our logistical capabilities and ensure that the optimal irrigation solution is making its way to you. Take alook at some photos of these behemoths!
We are pleased to announce that Waterfall Irrigation in Robertson will be joining Agrico, with effect 1 November 2023. We intend to add value in Robertson by providing a complete product range, solid technical support and long term corporate stability.
We are thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Nedbank Commercial Banking, to offer you enhanced financing options for your new centre-pivot irrigation systems.
The rich soil of Norsa farm provides the perfect growing spot for pineapple. But with a significant height difference between the water source and crops, designing an efficient irrigation system is not a straightforward task. In 2016, Rhodes food group entrusted the irrigation giant Agrico to design an irrigation system for the cultivation of pineapples here.
The need to improve load capacity and mitigate energy costs was the primary catalyst behind the recent installation of a solar energy system near Ohrigstad. Agrico Tzaneen wanted to ensure their client Cor Cross enjoyed uninterrupted irrigation and minimal crop and yield losses. With some help, they pulled off a solar system which achieves exactly this.
Agrico lewer ’n verskeidenheid produkte, maar in ons hart is besproeiing die fokus. Dit is ook wat ons hierdie jaar gaan demonstreer by NAMPO Kaap, wat plaasvind 13 – 16 September 2023 in Bredasdorp. Kom maak ‘n draai en vra jou vrae. Ons sien uit om jou te help om jou optimale en mees doeltreffende besproeiingsoplossing te ontdek!
