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Martignani offers trio of treatments for Black Sigatoka Small, medium and large plantations can choose from one of three sprayer options tailored to their needs. ABOVE—Martignani’s electrostatic
by Maura Maxwell
sprayers are used widely across Latin
@maurafruitnet
M
America, Africa and Asia
artignani has developed
be truck mounted or pulled by
productivity agro-ecological production system
a suite of electrostatic
tractors and is for plantations of
created by the multinational, helping it to cut
spraying solutions to
200ha or more. It is equipped with
production costs, reduce its environmental impact and
treat the deadly banana fungus
a powerful double-air intake fan. It
increase yield.
Black Sigatoka that meet the needs
is powered by a 140 HP John Deere
of different-sized plantations.
engine, which allows it to cover up to
rainy season and to the irregular topography of the area,
20ha per hour with ranges up to 50
we have managed to carry out the treatments once a
metres.
week with Martignani from the beginning of the season,”
The first, the K800 Electrostatic Backpack Sprayer, is recommended for small plantations of 1-2ha and
Martignani has been a leading
“Despite the limitations for mechanisation due to the
says Alex Morales, Fyffes’ farm development manager in
is equipped with an electrostatic
supplier of electrostatic low
charge device to optimise the
volume sprayers for many years. Its
treatment, ensuring homogeneity,
solutions guarantee the efficient,
of farms is excellent. No banana plantation in this
precision and no dri .
modern and quick delivery of
area can do that with its own means, as it depends
treatments and are used widely on
on aerial fumigation. We have reduced costs and our
M612 Major, meanwhile, can be
banana plantations across Latin
environmental footprint while enhancing productivity.”
carried or pulled by tractors and is
America, Africa and Asia.
The Power Take-off Whirlwind
suitable for medium to large-sized
The company says its
Ecuador. “This ensures that the phytosanitary management
Morales adds that although Finca San Jorge is a 100 per cent organic banana plantation, the indicators
plantations. “Thanks to its raised
electrostatic charge treatments
suggest productivity levels will be similar to those on a
cannon, this sprayer can work
guarantee the highest accuracy and
conventional plantation.
approximately up to 10ha per hour,
homogeneity in covering banana
with ranges up to 30 metres,” the
plants and absence of dri .
company says.
“This is especially relevant as in an organic production system the availability of supply complying with organic
On Fyffes’ farms in Ecuador,
regulations is limited. That’s why the frequent and
Finally, the engine-driven
Whirlwind M612 Major sprayers
efficient monitoring of Black Sigatoka is the key to
Whirlwind M819 Master Plus can
are a key component of the high
sustainable banana production,” he says. _
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