SABI magazine June July 2019

MAGAZINE TYDSKRIF THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN IRRIGATION INDUSTRY • DIE TYDSKRIF VIR DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE BESPROEIINGSBEDRYF

ISSN 2071-1883

Drip irrigation focus Mighty macadamias Unusual nuts Cannabis boom at Cape Town expo

SABI Congress 2019 Durban “Change and Opportunities”

Volume 11 • Issue 5 • SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

BE IRR SP IG RO AT EI ION IN G

Assessing fitness of irrigation water

CONTENTS

contents Carol Posthumus

SABI Congress 4

carol@sabi.co.za Editor

Riana Lombard riana@sabi.co.za

Netafim profile

Drip irrigation

Pg4

Advertising Sales

René van der Merwe

5

Pg5

A system for dripper comparison

6

Brainy irrigation

9

Perfect water management solutions

admin@sabi.co.za

15

Subscriptions and circulation

Macadamias

Annemarie van der Westhuizen

Mighty Macadamias in Malawi and Zambia

10

An unusual nut from the UK

16

annemarie@sabi.co.za Training Officer

Pg10

Agri

Liam Hamer-Nel liamh@mweb.co.za | alliancephoto.com Graphic Design

Contributors:

Mike de Villiers, Meiring du Plessis,

Pg18

Tony Faulkner, Abed Masarwa,

Pg21

Lee-Anne Smith.

Printing Colourtone Aries, Cape Town, RSA Tel: +27 21 981 8873

Distribution & Media Support www.mediasupport.co.za

Cover Photograph Drip irrigation, photo courtesy Netafim SA.

Published by SABI (South African Irrigation Institute / Suid Afrikaanse Besproeiingsinstituut) T: +27 21 850 8220 | E: carol@sabi.co.za Web: www.sabi.co.za Address: PO Box 834, Strand, 7139, Western Cape, South Africa

17

Cannabis Expo in Cape Town

18

Agritech 2020

35

Technology

John Annandale, Jerry Austen, Nico Benade, Sanette Carrick,

Macassar undercover farmers get a boost

Pg26

Disruptive agri technology to bring progress

21

Satellite farming app

22

Water Assessing fitness for use of irrigation water at specific sites

26

Strategic Water Partners Network in profile

34

Landscape How to fertilise your garden

26

Gold for South Africa at Chelsea Show

37

Golf innovation

42

Motoring Mercedes vans great on the farm

Regulars From the editor

2 SABI Approved Designers

39

President’s message

3 Subscribe now

47

Company members Seasonal climate

SABI magazine / tydskrif is a bi-monthly publication.

44

23-25 Training update 36 Advertisers’ contents

Dam levels 38 Contacts and diary

47 48 48

© Copyright: South African Irrigation Institute/Suid-Afrikaanse Besproeiingsinstituut (SABI).

Requests to reproduce material herein should be addressed to carol@sabi.co.za.

All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein by authors or advertisers are not necessarily subscribed to or endorsed by SABI or the editor.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

1

From the Editor

Editor’s message Dawn of a new era

T

he theme of this year’s SABI Congress reflects the air of change in South Africa – as Carol Posthumus the country entered a new chapter with the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa coming into full effect recently, aptly announced as the “dawn of a new era”.

On his inauguration at Loftus Versfeld stadium with a capacity crowd and impeccable emerald green playing fields on a chilly May day President Ramaphosa said: “Let us forge a compact for an efficient, capable and ethical state, a state that is free of corruption, for companies that generate social value and propel human development, for elected officials and public servants who faithfully serve no other cause than that of our people. We must be a society that values excellence, rewards effort and rejects mediocrity.”

A ‘climate of change and opportunity’ is the theme of the Congress, and the many changes in technologies

and socio-economics – and politics – all have a profound effect on irrigation in agriculture and landscape as well as water conservation.

Hopefully, much new ground is to be made in the new era in South Africa. Irrigation in agriculture and landscape has the potential to positively boost areas, and hopefully create new opportunities and jobs – something that will have to be an unwavering focus in a brighter era.

Jobs and education Education, jobs and new opportunities have to be the keywords replacing the indignity and sheer wastefulness of corruption and rampant

greed that has so sadly prevailed at great cost to our society in past days.

We can fervently hope and pray that freedom of media will be renewed and grown aplenty in South Africa. A free media is essential for the growth of all that is good in government and the private sector.

In this edition of SABI magazine, we are thrilled to bring you a range of fascinating articles, with SABI members taking pen to paper, sharing much technical reportage, research and case studies with us. Thank you to all our talented writers!

Drip irrigation, mighty Macadamias and Cobnuts (a nut from the UK) are all topics in this edition. Fertilisation, irrigation water quality and the Cape Town cannabis show – a huge boom - are featured on the menu this time too!

Do enjoy the Congress and happy reading.

About SABI

Cape Town-headquartered SABI (South African Irrigation Institute) aims to boost optimal irrigation methodologies, water conservation and sustainability.

SABI promotes the sharing of irrigation knowledge via: • SABI membership and branch activities • SABI Congress, the bi-annual leading African irrigation event to be held in August 2019 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

• IrrigationWise Academy courses in agriculture and landscape, presented nationwide with courses from entry to an advanced technical level • SABI magazine, the Institute’s official technical journal and the only irrigation magazine in South Africa.

People from the irrigation, water, agricultural, landscape and related disciplines join SABI as they believe that responsible irrigation water use can result in water savings, increased socio-economic benefits, healthier communities, enhanced agricultural production, sustainable and attactive environments and further benefits such as energy saving.

To advertise in SABI magazine visit: www.sabi.co.za, contact SABI on

Protest for action against climate change

Youths protest for action against climate change outside Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa.

Credit: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

2

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

+27 021 850 8220 or email info@sabi.co.za

President’s Message

Super SABI Congress

I

t’s for good reasons that SABI National Congress is established as one of the most respected irrigation events in Africa. With a long and proud history, Congress is certainly a venue where new ideas are explored and we get to see and hear about future technical trends and high-tech solutions.

It is always super to network with fellow SABI members and attendees from the industry and related arenas like the water sector from all over South Africa and Africa. We often have members and industry players from countries such as the USA, Europe and Australia joining us for this mustattend bi-annual event.

This year’s Congress with its theme of Changes and Opportunities resonates well with the new positive era that South Africa has entered. Held in the beautiful

environs of Durban, Congress is sure to be a sunny and informative gathering this year.

This edition of SABI magazine celebrates SABI Congress 2019.

Thus, it is apt that we are publishing an excellent article on “A System for Dripper Comparison” from Netafim authors Jerry Austen and Abed Masarwa. Netafim is the Platinum Sponsor for this Congress, and we thank them as well as all our valued sponsors of Congress.

SABI member Tony Faulkner, who is based in Malawi, reports on two flourishing macadamia projects he is working on in Malawi and Zambia. We were pleased to feature some of Tony’s fascinating macadamia projects in this edition, which utilize solar power. Our thanks to all our members who put pen to paper for this edition, we do appreciate your efforts.

A further article on the assessment of the use of irrigation water at a specific site using a risk-based approach is another good read.

We welcome the Strategic Water Partners’ Network’s information article to the pages of SABI magazine. SABI is a member of the SWPN, and we know you will enjoy reading about the SWPN’s history and activities.

Willie Vosloo – Preside

nt

SABI magazine’s crew visited the Cannabis Expo in Cape Town – several irrigation companies exhibited here – and we understand this was a jam-packed event. You can read about all this huge-growth boom in this edition too.

We are looking forward Congress 2019 in Durban!

See you at Congress.

to

SABI National Congress 2019

SABI National Congress 2019 Climate of change and opportunity

T

his year’s Congress theme reflects the new chapter South Africa has embarked on, with change and opportunity featuring in our socio-economy– along with the significant challenges of an urgent need for optimum irrigation and water conservation. The issues of food security and limited resources are one of major arenas that new technologies and smart agriculture and irrigation are addressing.

professionals, as well as other interested parties at the Congress from related sectors. Top class presentations will be made by representatives of industry on various topics of current importance and interests.”

With this, climate change is the urgent imperative that everyone – no matter their endeavour – is looking to address.

Furthermore, the creation of jobs is the major socioeconomic issue facing South Africa, one which all sectors are called on to assist with.

Over the two and a half days of presentations, the following themes are to be discussed:

gation that powerfully address and find solutions to serving our world’s ‘climate of change and opportunity. We know that delegates, presenters and exhibitors will find Congress a rewarding experience. We are grateful for the support that the irrigation industry provides Congress, and express our thanks to our generous sponsors.”

Riana says that Congress will be well attended, as always, by South African delegates, with representation too from our fellow African colleagues on the continent as well as visitors attending from abroad.

“Congress features the meeting of irrigation designers and

SABI GM Riana says that as Congress is an established event at the heart of the increasingly dynamic South African and African market, the SABI National Congress will again be the unique place to explore and upgrade knowledge.

“We are certain that Congress, as a premier technical conference, will once again provide new thinking and a fresh look at technologies and solutions in agriculture and landscape irri-

4

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

66 Soil and water – our valuable resources 66 Crops under irrigation – new practices 66 Optimised solutions for energy requirements 66 Designing systems for changing climates 66 Advances in under cover farming 66 Landscape and turf irrigation design (including grey water systems) 66 Water measurement and management technologies plus applications

S A W Africa knowledge product success

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

To book or find out more, please email Riana Lombard at riana@sabi.co.za or info@sabi.co.za, or call SABI on 021 850 8220.

SABI National Congress 2019

SABI National Congress 2019 - Profile

Netafim - Platinum Sponsor

I

ncreased water scarcity requires that we continuously reconsider the way irrigation water is delivered to plants.

This is why Netafim™ exists.

Netafim is the global leader in smart irrigation solutions. It has 29 subsidiaries across the globe, one of which is Netafim South Africa, located in Kraaifontein in the Western Cape.

Netafim South Africa has been serving South Africa and its neighbouring countries with irrigation solutions and services since 1992.

In 2018, we were nominated as one of the top subsidiaries in the global company. At the premises in Kraaifontein, we house one of only 17 Netafim manufacturing plants across the globe.

requirements and costs, and increases profitability. It further optimises moisture and aeration conditions and leads to a concentrated and efficient root zone.

The development of drip irrigation made possible Precision Fertigation™. This is the optimal root-zone management tool, delivering just the right combination of water and nutrients directly to the roots of each plant, according to the development cycles of your crops.

More than drip Driven by our slogan, ‘Grow more with less™’, our focus goes beyond drip irrigation. We offer holistic irrigation solutions to growers of all shapes and sizes. The aim? To empower these growers to grow more with less.

Drip in the field, South Africa – UniRam

A new concept Netafim was founded in 1965, when it introduced the concept of drip irrigation to the world.

Drip irrigation allows producers to apply precise and uniform amounts of water and nutrients directly to the root zone of plants.

This brings higher yields, lower water use, and less dependency on weather, enabling greater control over yields.

The use of drip irrigation enhances crop planning and irrigation scheduling, reduces manpower

sure and more. In our products, technology and clever solutions are used to overcome these challenges. Solutions come in the form of pressure-compensated drippers, high durability dripper lines, fully automatic self-cleaning disc filters, ultrasonic bulk water meters, reliable and durable sprinklers and much more.

Our offer includes a wide range of leading irrigation and complementary solutions across all crops, conditions and terrains.

This includes drippers and dripper lines, micro and macro sprinklers, valves, filters, water meters, crop management technology (CMT), and ever-developing digital farming solutions.

Our greatest goal is to overcome stumbling blocks. Working in an agricultural environment, implies a host of physical challenges to irrigation and crop production in general. These are challenges such as dripper clogging, root penetration, sloping fields or orchards, poor water quality, low water pres-

which embodies our focus on digital farming solutions, crop management systems and holistic irrigation solutions.

NetBeat NetMCU

GyroSA in orchards - Western Cape

Quality and knowledge Our success is built on 3 pillars: its quality products, the expertise of its employees and the years of accumulated knowledge, and experience with which the products are applied.

Given the strong reliance on expertise, the Netafim sales team is structured as technical advisors, rather than sales consultants. We sell our products through a retail network, while the agronomy team offers unique agronomic support.

Netafim believes that it can make a difference not only as a technology provider, but also as a promoter of more sustainable practices.

This is why we want to drive mass adoption of smart irrigation solutions to fight the scarcity of food, water and land.

Brainy irrigation We are now introducing NetBeat™,

As an all-in-one platform, NetBeat™ is the only irrigation and fertigation management and control system that integrates real-time monitoring, smart analysis and decision support, and automation and control. Cloudbased software allows third party data integration, remote access, support and updates.

It is the first irrigation system with a ‘brain’ and will allow the farmer to leverage data, making it work for him to maximise the farm’s true potential. With Dynamic Crop Models™ (DCM) at its core, the platform tracks the plant’s developmental stage, based on crop physiology models, it then recalibrates itself according to actual and forecasted environmental data from multiple sources, such as weather, soil, crop sensors and remote imagery. Daily recalibrations result in a seven-day irrigation plan tailored to the field and the crop’s daily needs.

We continue to work hard to lead the irrigation revolution in South Africa and beyond.

Visit www.netafim.co.za for more information.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

5

Drip

A system for dripper comparison

By Jerry Austen and Abed Masarwa, Netafim.

A

farmer and his crop care not about the specifics and technical details of a dripper. Their only concern is what the dripper delivers. They need a dripped supply of water into the wetted bulb-shaped root zone, on demand, during the lifespan of the crop. This dripped supply must never vary or decrease over time. It must be accurate and constant over the crop’s lifespan. For a farmer, this is the essential feature of a dripper.

A dripper is a dripper is a dripper?

Not really. We know that there is a vast difference between drippers and, specifically, dripper quality.

Sometimes for good reason and other times not. The water’s quality of supply to the root zone requires a commensurate quality dripper.

A good quality dripper can defined as one that emits predetermined flow rate that accurate and constant over intended lifespan.

be a is its

This article proposes a method of evaluating and comparing drippers for use in a given situation when a choice needs to be made.

In previous articles, Inside a Clean Dripper (Parts 1 and 2),

published in the June/July 2017 and February/March 2018 issues of SABI Magazine, we looked Figure 2. The labyrinth of a non-PC dripper with the exit ‘bath’ to the left, at the features that contribute where a hole would be made through the dripperline wall for the droplet to keeping a dripper clean and to exit the irrigation system working. Essentially, these features A method has now been devised features of a dripper that contribute are those that contribute to the that quantifies these common to dripper quality. In essence, the dripper’s quality. features and formulates a score higher the turbulence coefficient, by which one dripper’s quality the lower the dripper’s sensitivity to The main structural features that can be compared with another’s. clogging and the better its ability to were mentioned in Part 1, such This make it possible to make an maintain its constant flow rate over as the filtration area, the labyrinth educated choice in choosing a its intended life. This is achieved depth, width, and length, are dripper that best suits the applica- by the vortexes that develop in the common to all drippers. These are tion in question. labyrinth that create a self-cleaning all measurable. Other features that stream which purges contaminants were mentioned in Part 2, such as The concept simply involves two out of the dripper. the anti-root intrusion and antiaspects: the dripper’s net filtration siphon devices are unique to a area and its turbulence coefficient. The higher the turbulence coeffispecific dripper. These features are cient, the better the quality. not measurable.

The turbulence coefficient

In Part 1 mentioned above, we defined a dripper’s structural features as an inlet filter, an inlet orifice, a flow path whose shape is a labyrinth with teeth, an exit ‘bath’ and finally an orifice that is made through the wall of the dripperline from which the droplet leaves the irrigation system and goes into the root zone.

Figure 1. The filter at the inlet to a modern boat-shaped non-PC dripper

6

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

With the exception of the inlet filter, the turbulence coefficient embraces all of these structural

K=

254 ) P ) QW ) DV ² N ) Q²

K - turbulence coefficient P - pressure differential through the labyrinth in metres W - width of labyrinth water passage in mm D - depth of labyrinth water passage in mm N - number of teeth in the labyrinth Q - labyrinth flow rate in litres per hour

Drip

254 ) 10 ) (0.60 ) 0.59)² 44 ) 1.0² K = 7.2 Dripper B

If Dripper A’s depth and width were increased by 0.01mm to 0.61mm x 0.60mm and all other measurements remained the same, that is the same pressure differential through the same number of teeth still produced a flow rate of 1.0 litre per hour, the turbulence would have to have been greater and the turbulence coefficient would increase to 7.7

It may not of course be desirable to increase the required pressure, in which case to return to the original 10 metres pressure with the current labyrinth design, the manufacturer would change the labyrinth dimensions such as reducing its length; in other words, reducing the number of teeth. Less teeth: higher turbulence coefficient.

Keeping all other measurements the same, an increase in pressure differential as seen in Dripper D, can only be achieved by the actual design and manufacture of the dripper itself. It is a fact that the higher the quality and precision of 254 ) 10 ) (0.61 ) 0.60)² manufacture, the shorter the flow K= path will be. Conversely, the lower 44 ) 1.0² the quality and precision of manuK = 7.7 facture, the longer the flow path will be that is necessary to achieve The length of the labyrinth: the the same pressure differential. shorter the better.

The length of the flow path If a flow path is shorter, it will suggests that there is less of a path have less teeth. to become clogged. Indeed, this is true. More important however, is Dripper C that a shorter flow path indicates stronger turbulence and therefore This dripper has the same flow better resistance to clogging. rate as Dripper A at the same pressure: 1.0 litre per hour at 10 The effective filtration area metres. However, the flow path is longer. There are 82 teeth instead At the entrance to a dripper’s of 44. The turbulence coefficient labyrinth is a filter whose total reduces to 3.7. area is usually larger than the labyrinth’s width x depth dimensions.

254 ) 10 ) (0.60 ) 0.59)² It is common belief that the true K= 82 ) 1.0² filtering area is the total area of K = 3.9 the inlets. However, the size of the dripper filter is not necessarily an indication of the real filtering area.

The quality of the design The effective filtration area is the and manufacture of the area that the water passes through dripper labyrinth. on its way to the dripper labyrinth.

The better the quality of design It is this value that we take. and manufacture of the labyrinth and especially actual teeth Effective Filtration Area - EFA themselves, the greater the turbu- in mm². lence coefficient.

The dripper quality score combines effective filtration area in millimetres with the turbulence coefficient. At this point, the exercise becomes subjective.

Dripper

A- DQ=(1*24)+(10*7.2) = 96.3

C- DQ=(1*47.2)+(10*3.9) = 86.2 E- DQ=(1*36.3)+(10*2.4) = 60.3

In other words, if we decide that ETA and the turbulence coefDripper quality score ficient contribute equally to the (DQ) = EFA + K dripper quality, then Dripper A The two cannot be logically scores the best. combined by simply adding the two values together as above, If we should say that the EFA signifias the turbulence coefficient is a cantly contributes more to dripper dimensionless value but the EFA is quality than turbulence coefficient, say double, then the weight for EFA a value in mm². would be 2 instead of 1.

Further, the two factors, namely EFA and turbulence coefficient, do not necessarily contribute equally to dripper quality.

W1 = 2

Filtration area weight factor

W2 = 10

Turbulence coefficient weight factor

To overcome this, the score brings We will get the following: in a weighting to each.

A- DQ=(2*24)+(10*7.2) = 120.3

W1 - Filtration area weight factor

Dripper

K=

If we choose to weight as above, The dripper quality score (DQ) with approximately equal contriis a comparative figure. It is used butions to dripper quality, we will to compare two drippers for the get the following: same application.

C- DQ=(2*47.2)+(10*3.9) = 133.3 E- DQ=(2*36.3)+(10*2.4) = 96.6

W2 - Turbulence coefficient weight factor

In this case, Dripper C with a larger The value of these two weighting EFA but lower turbulence coeffactors is chosen by the user doing ficient than Dripper A scores best, the comparison. because of its EFA, but Dripper E, which also has a larger EFA than The EFA is usually a value between Dripper A, does not score higher 10 mm² and 100 mm² and the because its turbulence coefficient is turbulence coefficient a value not sufficient. between 1 and 10. Numerically, EFA is generally ten times that of If we should say that the turbulence turbulence coefficient. coefficient contributes more to the dripper quality than EFA and To bring them into line and treat we were to place the weighting in them as contributing equally to favour of the turbulence coefficient, dripper quality, it would be reason- then we could double its original able then to choose their values as: weighting from 10 to 20.

W1 = 1

Filtration area weight factor

W1 = 1

Filtration area weight factor

W2 = 10

Turbulence coefficient weight factor

W2 = 20

Turbulence coefficient weight factor

Let us compare Dripper A with We will get the following: Dripper C and a new Dripper E. All A- DQ=(1*24)+(20*7.2) = 168.7 three are 1.0 litre per hour drippers but have differing EFAs and turbuC- DQ=(1*47.2)+(20*3.9) = 125.2 lence coefficients.

Dripper

K = 8.7

Dripper quality score

E- DQ=(1*36.3)+(20*2.4) = 84.3 A- EFA = 24.0 mm², K = 7.2 Dripper

Let us look at the effect of Dripper D these features on the turbuWe are now left with just one lence coefficient. me asurement: the dif ferential The depth and width of the laby- pressure through the labyrinth. If rinth: the greater, the better.

Dripper A’s features in all respects remained the same but the presDripper A sure differential to achieve 1.0 litre per hour increased to 12m, then At 10m pressure, the flow rate is the turbulence coefficient would 1.0 litre per hour through a laby- increase from 7.2 to 8.7. rinth with 44 teeth and width x depth dimensions of 0.60mm x 254 ) 12 ) (0.60 ) 0.59)² 0.59mm. The resulting turbulence K= 44 ) 1.0² coefficient is 7.2.

C- EFA = 47.2 mm², K = 3.9 E- EFA = 36.3 mm², K = 2.4

Dripper A, which has the far superior turbulence coefficient scores highest as expected and the ranking would be the same as when the two weighting factors were more even.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

7

Drip Classes of drippers We began by defining a good quality dripper as one that emits a predetermined flow rate that is accurate and constant over its intended lifespan. The lifespan of the dripper is dependent on the crop for which it is used.

Dripper F wins hands down. But Dripper F is a pressure compensating dripper intended to irrigate a field crop over a five- to ten-year period. The other three are nonpressure compensating drippers that are intended to irrigate a field crop for no more than two or three seasons. There would be no reason to consider Dripper F in comparison to the other three drippers if the use was for instance, only a few seasons of vegetables. This is, unless Dripper F was less expensive, which is highly unlikely given that it is pressure compensating.

If we look at a high-end dripper, Dripper F. This is still a 1.0 litre per hour dripper, but its labyrinth is so short that it has only 11 teeth and its turbulence coefficient is 9.3. It has a large EFA of 42 mm². If we choose the weight as above, with approximately equal contributions It is necessary to have a system of defined dripper classes and only to dripper quality, compare scores within a given class.

W1 = 1

Filtration area weight factor

W2 = 10

Turbulence coefficient weight factor

We will get the following:

Dripper

A- DQ=(1*24)+(10*7.2) = 96.3 C- DQ=(1*47.2)+(10*3.9) = 86.2 E- DQ=(1*36.3)+(10*2.4) = 60.3 F- DQ=(1*42)+(10*9.3) = 134.8

Class 1 – High-end pressure compensating dripper

Class 2 - Standard pressure compensating dripper

to compare apples with apples. Or rather, drippers with drippers.

These are drippers similar to Class 1, but the required lifetime may not be as long: ten years or less.

An example would be sub-surface drip on sugar cane. (Dripper F is a Class 2 dripper).

Constructing a calculator would be the next logical step, whereby a user simply inputs the parameters as defined above for as many drippers as they choose to compare, and a score is immediately calculated.

Class 3 – High-end non-pressure compensating dripper

For more information, visit www.netafim.co.za

These are drippers similar to Class 1 with regards to lifetime (ten years or more), but without the ability to handle slopes, distances and questionable water quality.

Class 4 - Regular non-pressure compensating dripper These are non-pressure compensating drippers like Class 3, but are only required to last a few growing seasons: less than ten years. (Drippers A, C and E are Class 4 drippers).

These are drippers that would typically be used for longer than ten years in orchards and the like, over varying terrain, slopes and long distances, as well as with water of Comparing equals questionable quality.

Such a system of quantifying a dripper’s quality and using that measurement for its specific use, as defined by the class, allows you

reeks

WATER POMP IS ONS BESIGHEID Franklin Electric se hoogs effektiewe SF-reeks end suigpompe het ‘n vlekvrye staal impeller, kophoogtes van tot 160m en vloeitempo tot 600 m3/h. Hulle word gebruik in die landbou en ligte industriele markte.

Kontak ons vir betroubare handelsmerke, uitstaande diens en pomp stelsels van wêreldgehalte.

T: +27 11 723-6500 | www.franklin-electric.co.za

KWALITEIT • BESKIKBAARHEID • DIENS • INNOVASIE • KOSTE

Irrigation innovation

Netafim brings the next irrigation revolution to South Africa

N

etafim South Africa officially launched NetBeat™, the first irrigation system with a brain, for implementation in South Africa and SADC countries. The launch took place at the beautiful Landtscap Estate in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch on 5 June 2019.

“At Netafim, we are confident to call NetBeat the greatest irrigation innovation since drip irrigation,” said Etienne Erasmus, MD of Netafim South Africa. “As an all-in-one platform, it is the only irrigation and fertigation management and control system that integrates real-time monitoring; smart analysis and decision support; and automation and control.”

Netafim has been involved with the automation of agricultural irrigation and other farming activities for the past 20 years and has brought many digital farming tools to the table. “We started as a dealer of automation technology, but in 2002 decided to build our own irrigation controllers,” said Mark Hill, digital farming manager at Netafim South Africa. The first product was the Netafim Mid-Range Controller (NMC), which was developed to fill a gap between small-scale and large-scale controllers. The development of irrigation controllers, fertigation controllers and later monitoring equipment followed.

Erasmus added that Netafim is working hard to bring the exciting fourth industrial revolution into the world of irrigation. “It was obvious that the company needed to take its existing automation and crop management technology to an even higher level. Never did we know how special this move will be. We would have never been able to imagine the unlimited potential of digital farming.

Where will self-learning crop modelling take us?”

NetBeat MCU

Bringing it together All of the automation capabilities existed in silos. This left the farmer with the daunting task of analysing and processing the segmented data. “We needed to create a platform that would combine it all.

Netafim experts from around the world convened at the Netafim headquarters in Israel to pen down the framework for NetBeat as we know it today. It is the result of four years of the best software development experts putting their heads together,” said Hill.

Digital irrigation innovation NetBeat allows you to leverage data, making it work for you to maximise your farm’s true potential while minimising water usage and gaining greater piece of mind. The platform tracks the plant’s developmental stage, based on crop physiology models, it then recalibrates itself according to actual and forecasted environmental data from multiple sources, such as weather, soil, crop sensors and remote imagery.

Hill explained that, although NetBeat was the first to combine these functionalities, this could easily be replicated by competitors. “Something had to differentiate NetBeat. Enter the integrated Dynamic Crop Models™ as decision support service. This opens up very important artificial intelligence capabilities that combines the more than 50 years of agronomic knowledge within Netafim with data from the field into irrigation and fertigation recommendations. These tailored recommendations can be accepted, rejected or even edited by the user.”

Hill explained that the platform’s massive computing ability is made possible by the fact that it is cloudbased. It further makes possible multiple remote access and control, the integration of cloudbased third-party data and keeps the farm’s data safe.

NetBeat RTU

management simple. Even for complex systems. This is why both the user interface and the application are easy to use and offers most any capability that a farmer could need.

Hill said a common misconception is that digital farming solutions are out of reach for smaller or even medium-scale farming operations. Although this may be true of many other digital farming platforms, NetBeat™ offers a digital irrigation management platform that is scalable to the size of the operation’s requirements and budget. Scalability is made possible by adding MCUs and RTUs according to the size of the farm and the attached requirements.

Grow more with less

A gateway MCU connects to a secure cloud server via an array of connection methods, whilst the RTU’s connect to the MCU via a bi-directional Lora radio connection. “NetBeat is capable of operating normally, with marginally reduced functionality, without being connected to the cloud.”

Easy to use and scalable

Netafim is driven by its slogan, ‘Grow more with less™’. “This is a perfect fit for farmers in the water-scarce South Africa and SADC-region, where the global trend of limited resources and higher input costs hit especially hard,” said Erasmus. The monitoring, analysing and automation capabilities to use every input more efficiently and finally grow more with less and get more bang for his buck.

“I believe that NetBeat will have an important impact on food production in our region. The capabilities of the platform are experienced and implemented differently in each of the many countries where it has been launched. It is a journey that we are excited to start.”

NetBeat was designed to make irrigation and fertigation

For more information visit www.netafim.co.za

“This does however not mean that the system requires a full-time internet connection.” NetBeat™ consists of mainly two hardware components - a main control unit (MCU) and a remote-control field unit (RTU). Both are equipped with the latest technology, making it capable of all supporting devices currently available and yet to come.”

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

9

Macadamias

magnificent macadamias Malawi and Zambia

Growing In

Report by Tony Faulkner

Introduction

Over 11 000 ha designed

Sinde Farm in Zambia

Macadamias are renowned as a nutritional nut and, by all accounts mighty macs are a growing sector.

Tony first entered the irrigation industry over 30 years ago and is originally from Zimbabwe. Initially Tony worked for as Irrigation Designer for Wright Rain (Africa), focusing mainly on conventional sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, as well as two years as a manager on an irrigation farm.

Tony shares insights on the irrigation on Sinde Farm with SABI magazine.

Last year the Southern Africa Macadamia Association reported that the forecast of over 53 000 tonnes in 2018 was 20% higher than the previous year. SAMAC’s operations manager Barry Christie reported from the INC XXXVII World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Seville, Spain that demand for the Queen of Nuts still outstrips supply.

SABI member and independent irrigation designer and consultant Tony Faulkner, who is based in Malawi, has for the last few years been involved in a number of medium-to-large scale irrigation projects in Southern Africa.

We were delighted that we can feature some of Tony’s fascinating macadamia projects in this edition, which also utilize solar power, making them all the more interesting in these electricitychallenged times. From hyenas chewing on systems to being off the grid, all come in a days’ work in creating a flourishing irrigation farm with macadamias, it appears!

He says: “In 1989 I came up to Malawi, working for Farming and Engineering Services (part of the Lonrho group), as an Irrigation Designer / Department Manager.

In 2001 we did a management buyout and took over the company.

“I sold out my shares and left FES in early 2017, and set up as an Independent Irrigation Designer / Consultant, based in Lilongwe, Malawi. Overall, I have designed just under 11 000 hectares of irrigation, ranging from small to large scale systems utilizing sprinkler (conventional, dragline, semi-solid set), pivot, drip and micro sprinkler.

“Over the last few years, I have been involved in a number of medium to large scale macadamia projects (100 - 600 ha), using micro-sprinklers, two of which are solar powered irrigation systems.”

Sinde Farm is located in Eastern Zambia; on the Malawi and Mozambique borders. The Farm is 1100m amsl, with most rainfall occurring between mid-November and early April. Rainfall can vary over the Estate, on average 850mm per annum.

Micro tubing protected from rats

Soils on the farm range from loamy to sandy soils.

Originally tobacco was the main crop, however the farm started planting Macadamia 7 years ago. Tobacco is still grown, inter-planted between the young macadamia trees. Initially the macadamia was treated as a dry land crop, with supplementary irrigation using large water bowsers and hoses. However, since the dams have been constructed and the micro sprinkler installed, most of the area planted is now under the command of irrigation.

Harvesting of Macadamia can start with a small crop in year 4 / 5, depending on variety, and occurs from January through to March.

Pump station phase 2 & 3

Dam 4 feeding Dam 3

Solar power and system Notably, as the farm is not on the grid, diesel generators/engines, and solar power for the borehole pumps have been used. A solar powered irrigation system, on 50 hectares of macadamia, was installed on a trial basis in 2017.

Unfortunately, the rest of the current planted Macadamia does not lend itself to a solar powered system, due to the topography (insufficient head for gravity feed); however, there are potential areas for further Solar powered projects, utilizing water from Dam 5, in the future.

Solar panels

10

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

Submersible pump for solar system

STRONG

WIRELESS IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT PROVEN QUALITY UNPARALLELED WARRANTY POWERFUL REMOTE MANAGEMENT TOOLS The best line of irrigation solutions is durable, rugged, easy to use and integrated.

Zimmatic® by Lindsay is your single source to make the most of your operation. That’s our strong point. www.lindsayafricagb.com Richard Joseph +27 (0)82 853 0265 richard.joseph@lindsayafrica.co.za

Frederik Nel +27 (0)72 517 7581 frederik.nel@lindsayafrica.co.za

Lindsay Africa | 6 Talana Close, Sacks Circle, Bellville South, Cape Town | +27 (0)21 986 8900 © 2017 Lindsay. All rights reserved.

Zimmatic is a trademark of the Lindsay Corporation and its subsidiaries. www.zimmatic.com

Macadamias

Sinde Farm Dams

Rain water Harvesting

The farm has 4 existing dams, and 1 potential dam site: • Dam 1 - approx 60 to • Dam 4 - small holding Dam 80,000 m3, (Phase 1 – Solar) (on a small catchment with a • Dam 2 - 0.9 million m3 spring) (Phase 4a and for Phase 4) • Dam 5 - Still to be constructed • Dam 3 - 1.3 million m3, the – circa 2.5 million m3 newest dam (Phase 2 & 3)

Dam 2 has an earth lined channel, 2400m in length, that brings in an additional catchment area.

Solar System on Macadamia

Additional Areas under Macadamia The balance of the irrigation, some 540 hectares, are pumped with conventional pumps and motors, powered by generators, until such time as alternative forms of power can be established.

Solar Pump Unit The pump unit, inverter and solar panels were sourced direct by the client from Grundfos.

Specs yy 1 x Grundfos SP125-3, Submersible Pump c/w 30 KW motor yy 1 x Grundfos RSI 3x380 V IP66 37KW 72A Inverter c/w Sine Wave filter yy 204 x Solar Modules SW260 Poly 31.4V panels yy Average water production – 890 m3 / day Infield Specifications Crop

Macadamia

Area

58 ha Macs (plus 4 ha Bergamot)

Tree spacing

Macs - 15m (between rows) x 5m (in row)

Irrigation System

Micro-sprinkler (Gulf)

Operating pressure Nozzle size

1.0 bar 1.4mm (Black)

Flow rate

60 l/hr

Spreader

Orange concave (to start on young trees)

Water application / day

100 litres/tree/day gross (at maximum)

Notes yy The wide row width was selected by the client for a couple of reasons - they have a lot of available land (encroachment is a problem), ease of spraying and reduced pest problems (compared to high plant populations)

yy Water application was based on anticipated maximum demand, stipulated by the client. yy Micro sprinkler was chosen ahead of drip, for water distribution particularly on the sandier soils, and for ease of management on filtration.

The System The submersible pump is mounted on a raft situated in the dam. The water is pumped to a Night Storage Dam (NSD), at a high point on the farm, through an underground PVC mainline. Sufficient water is pumped during the daylight hours to enable 24-hour irrigation, either directly from the pump or by gravity. At this stage, as the macadamia plants on this system are quite young, irrigation is done during normal working hours.

Design The top fields are 20m below the bottom of the NSD, additional head has been allowed for friction loss (pipe, filters) and operation of the PRV’s with venturi’s. All poly laterals run either on the flat or down hill, sized according to slope and distance (max 25mm).

Each field is controlled by a Dorot valve (PRV), individual blocks controlled by manual Dorot valves.

Problems A number of problems have come to light. Hyenas like to chew on the PRV’s and the rats like to chew on the micro tubing. To overcome these problems all valve stations, have large valve chambers constructed around them and old small-bore PVC pipes are used as covers for the micro tubing. We have also had theft of micros and tubing, but that has reduced.

Mchezi Hill Estate Dams The Mchezi Hill Estate has a total of 5 dams.The 3 dams below are on the same catchment and are the ones currently in use: • • •

12

Top Dam - 0.3 million m3, Middle Dam- 1.6 million m3 (main pumping station) Bottom Dam- 0.3 million m3

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

Water is released from the Top dam to the middle dam for Phases 1 & 2 Macadamia (also supplies water to coffee under Pivot).

Dam 4 has been placed on a stream that brings in an additional catchment area for Dam 3.

The spillway feeds into Dam 3, via a canal, 250m in length. There is also a 150mm outlet, in the wall, which can be used to feed Dam 1 (by gravity through a pipe).

Redundancy Due to the size of the farm, the amount and intensity of rainfall can vary considerably between catchments, thus Phases 2, 3 and 4 will be interlinked, so that water can be obtained from either Dam 3 or Dam 2.

Dam 1, for the Solar system, can be topped up either from Dam 2 (pumped), or Dam 3 and Dam 4 (by gravity)

Malawi’s Mchezi Hill Estate’s macadamias Mchezi Hill Estate is situated in Kasungu, Central Malawi, the Estate is 3 600 hectares in extent and is 1100m amsl, with an average rainfall of 750mm.

Most rainfall occurs between December and March.

Soils are variable, from loams to sandy loams and are generally deep.

Macadamia planting commenced end 2015, and is ongoing.

Phase 1 – 75 ha (irrigation installed 2016) Phase 2 – 130 ha (Solar irrigation installed 2018) Phase 3 – 115 ha (2019/2020)

Panel with Inverters

Mchezi Hill Estate’s Solar System Solar is also put to excellent use in this Estate, as on Sinde farm. The estate is on the grid, however the country experiences load shedding during the dry season, of anywhere between 6 and 12 hours per day.

Solar power was selected, after the successful installation of the Sinde project. Although the capital costs are high, the estate no longer has to rely on the intermittent electricity supply from the grid.

Pump Units yy 3 x Grundfos SP95-7, Submersible Pump c/w 30 KW motor yy 3 x Grundfos RSI 3x380 V IP66 37KW 72A Inverter c/w Sine Wave filter yy 198 solar panels in each array yy Average water production – 2400 m3 / day

Time of harvesting is similar to Sinde, as described above.

There is a 3300m long earth channel that brings in additional catchment area for the Middle dam The Bottom dam, will be rehabilitated and increased in capacity to service Phase 3

The other 2 dams need to be rehabilitated and increased in size for future Macadamia plantings on a separate part of the estate.

Macadamias

Main dam - KASUNGU

Infield Specifications – Phase 2 Crop Crop

Macadamia, planted 2017 / 2018

Area

130 ha

Tree spacing Planting orientation Irrigation System Operating pressure Nozzle size

10m (between rows) x 5m (in row) Strictly - North / South (for sunlight penetration) Micro-sprinkler (Gulf) 1.0 bar 1.2mm (Gray)

Flow rate

50 l/hr

Spreader

Orange concave (to start on young trees)

Water application / day

100 litres/tree/day gross (at maximum)

Notes yy The tree spacing was selected by the client as ’standard’. yy Water application was based on anticipated maximum demand, stipulated by the client.

Valve station PRV

Infield Valve Station

Solar Arrays

yy Micro sprinkler was chosen ahead of drip, for water distribution and for ease of management on filtration. yy Phase 2 (Solar) has been linked to Phase 1, to save power (Phase 1 on the grid), whilst the trees are still young and water requirements low.

tion of the NSD was determined by the height of the top fields and accessibility for construction equipment. The same valves and design criteria, as for Sinde farm were used.

Both farms excellence in irrigation systems and solar design power certainly give us good insight into why macadamias are flourishing in Southern Africa.

The System Three submersible pumps mounted on rafts are situated in the main dam. Water is pumped up to an NSD situated part way up a large hill, through an underground PVC mainline. Sufficient water is pumped during the daylight hours to enable 24-hour irrigation, either directly from the pump or by gravity. At this stage irrigation is done during normal working hours.

Problems This Estate suffers from the same problems at Sinde, with hyena and rats, but theft (initially) was much higher, due to the proximity of villages.

Strong winds (mostly Easterly) during the months June through to October cause the young trees to lean, and the irrigation water to drift, consequently micros are placed according to the prevailing wind and not slope. Wind breaks have been planted by the Estate.

Design This Estate is well suited for solar pumping; as they have a good amount of sunshine hours during the dry months. The fields are also situated adjacent to the dams with a large hill just beyond the fields.

The mainline is relatively short, as static head is quickly gained from the base of the hill. The posi-

SABI magazine wishes Tony and these farms case studied every ongoing success.

Interestingly, global supply of macadamias has increased over 50% in the last 5 years to 210,000 tonnes in-shell. According to the International Nut Council, the crop is projected to double again by 2023, boding well for farms such as Sinde and Mchezi Hill Estate.

S A W Africa knowledge product success

Specialists in solar systems for irrigation

Submersibles driven from solar

Lorem ipsum

Motors Night Storage Dam

Micro on windward side

SABI | JUNE/JULY2019

13

VSD’s

Pumps

Gearboxes

Service

Renewables

Kimberley +27 53 832 3681 George +27 44 878 0349 Jhb +27 11 392 2217 Cape Town +27 21 949 6862 Durban +27 31 502 2959 Kitwe +260 977 280479 13

Do something positive for water

 Become an individual or company member  Advertise in SABI Magazine or subscribe  Boost your irrigation knowledge by attending an agricultural or landscape course

MAGAZINE TYDSKRIF SOUTH AFRICAN IRRIGATION INSTITUTE SUID AFRIKAANSE BESPROEIINGSINSTITUUT

IrrigationWise Academy L E A R N TO G R O W

+27 21 850 8220 – info@sabi.co.za – www.sabi.co.za

SANCID

South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage

Advertorial

Perfect water management solutions

A

ll of us need to be more aware of the current water crisis and focus on water saving methods, especially in the agriculture sector. Water scarcity and drought have become a great reality and are forcing farmers to look at alternative irrigation methods: smart or water wise methods. With the fast-growing population, the need for food grows rapidly, and to produce more food, more water is necessary.

That said; the agriculture sector already uses 70% or two thirds of available water resources around the world.

Water-intelligent processes Not only the agriculture sector, but also commercial and mining sectors are compelled to re-think their current processes and to adapt and change to smarter or more water-intelligent processes.

Every drop of water needs to be used resourcefully; there is no more room for water wasting.

Fortunately, there are companies like Agriplas, who can assist with these processes and changes.

The farmer is challenged to think smarter about irrigation, including his choices regarding irrigation and scheduling methods, fertilizing options, wireless web-based automation and many more choices. With a great irrigation plan, it is possible to grow more product with less water.

A wide range of irrigation products are available at Agriplas, including the Gulf Micro Sprinklers and Valves, tubing with connectors and fittings, Senninger wobblers, filters (Amiad Filtomat and Sigma range), Fertilizer First-class manufacturing facility Injector pumps from ITC and I-Feeder, Wireless Radios and controllers including Galcon, The company attained a first-class manufacturing Controller3000 and many more. facility, providing their clients with the latest drip solutions. One of their drip production lines is a Agriplas’ s motto of “Perfect water management 40m long manufacturing line and can produce solutions”, is a lifestyle choice of all their highly over 7 kilometres of pipe per hour. They manufac- trained and experienced Technical Advisors. Free ture both flat and cylindrical dripper pipe. The flat training on their products to all agents and endcollapsible pipes take up less space during trans- users will be provided on request. It is their aim to port, making it more economical as well. Agriplas make smart irrigation and saving has quite a variety of dripper pipes, which can be of every drop of water possible, classified as flat or cylindrical, pressure compen- by making use of their knowlsating or non-compensating, 16, 17 or 20mm in edge, providing quality products size. One of the better- known drip brands is the and service excellence.

VERED range, containing a flat heavy-duty pressure compensating dripper. These drippers have Written by Sanette Carrick excellent field performance under harsh conditions and are highly durable and reliable, with Contact Agriplas at a unique and accurate pressure-compensating 021 9177177 labyrinth mechanism. www.agriplas.co.za

Farmers of Southern Africa now have access to the benefits of the first-class irrigation technology provided by Agriplas, a manufacturer and distributor of irrigation equipment for the past 40 years.

sales@agriplas.co.za

The drippers also have large clog-resistant inlet filters. Vered drip is an excellent choice to use in vineyards, orchards, row crops, vegetable plantations or even landscaping. With the water dispensed directly to the root area, evaporation of water is reduced. Other than the Vered range, Agriplas also offers other lines such as Vardit, Lin, Adi, Idit and Minilin drip tape.

Perfect solutions for irrigation management

Enquire about Agriplas products at your nearest irrigation dealer

www.agriplas.co.za CAPE TOWN – Head Office PO Box 696, Brackenfell 756 Tel: +27 21 917 7177 Fax: +27 21 917 7200

GAUTENG

sales@agriplas.co.za

Postnet Suite 57, Private Bag x3, The Reeds, 0061 Tel: +27 12 6610340 Fax: +27 12 6610097

MPUMALANGA

Suite 63, Postnet X 11326, Nelspruit 1200 Tel: +27 13 755 3510 Fax: +27 13 755 3505

Green scribbles from London

Meeting Mr Cobnut

by Lee-Anne Smith

Photos by Chris Jeffrey (LRPS)

M

y research into unusual nuts grown in the UK led me straight to the cobnut, a cultivated variety of hazelnut. And to Alexander Hunt, a nut expert. fussing: they just get on with the job of growing.

Alexander Hunt, a nut expert and cobnut farmer, who farms near Sevenoaks, Kent.

I’d never heard of cobnuts, but after a fascinating chat with Alexander, who grows seven acres of cobnuts on his farm near Sevenoaks, Kent - I quickly made up my mind that everyone should own their own cobnut tree! Even if it’s in a pot on your balcony.

But, be warned: you could easily become besotted with this versatile and hardy nut variety, and may even feel compelled to take it a step further. Like maybe buy a few for your garden, or even plant a small orchard.

With so many consumers swapping meat for alternative protein sources or, who are concerned about the environment, the idea of investing in a commercial nut growing undertaking may not seem too fanciful!

What’s great about cobnut trees is that they need very little maintenance and are virtually disease free. They don’t need too much

Kentish Cobnuts are harvested in their green state from mid-August

16

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

“It’s very simple – no nuts in the UK need irrigation; they aren’t greedy for water and I only recommend that people keep an eye on moisture with good mulching in years one and two,“ explains Alexander, “ When they’re established in the garden or commercially, they are very ecologically friendly.”

Content in virtually any soil though medium loam is ideal - they consistently offer up a delicious (and bountiful) harvest which can be used in many different ways.

What’s not to love about them?

Alexander, whose knowledge of nuts is vast and his enthusiasm bordering on the fanatical, first got involved with cobnuts 35 years ago when he was a student at Bristol University and grew courgettes and runner beans on his parents’ farm to help pay for his student accommodation.

Varieties And his love affair with cobnuts began when a villager offered him the opportunity to pick their hundred-or-so cobnut trees and keep the dividends. The rest is history.

Today Potash Farm is the only one in the UK that sells cobnuts every day of the year. Only two varieties are grown there - traditional Kentish and Gunselbert cobnuts– and both are good croppers.

Cobnut fields

A canny marketer, Alexander sells numerous value-added goods making best use of the cobnut’s delicious taste including oil, biscuits, fudge and chocolates.

Also available is a skincare/ candle range with cobnut as its core ingredient.

He holds ‘walks and talks’ on the farm which are a good opportunity to learn about cobnut production and what is involved in managing a commercial plantation. “We have a showcase plantation of cobnuts here in the village of St Mary’s Platt, as well as Kent’s first edible forest garden (in a sheltered quarry area) which is gathering plenty of interest,” he says.

An important, and growing part of the business, is the sale of nut trees to gardeners and commercial farmers, and the provision of an expert advisory service.

From Eastern Cap e Dr Jacobus Krüger, an Essexbased vet is interested in growing walnuts and he is currently being helped by Alexander with a small pilot project. “We’ll see what happens with my walnut trees over the next three years – I’m testing a number of varieties,” he says.

Jacobus, who grew up on a farm in the Eastern Cape where they grew nuts, says the climate where he lives now - south of Braintree - is very similar to his hometown of Steynsburg. ‘”The biggest danger to saplings is not the weather, its pigeons.

I’ve got my trees covered with net to protect them,” he explains.

Alexander, Mr Cobnut, picking cobnuts

The other danger to the cobnut orchard is, of course, the grey squirrel. Despite the ubiquitous squirrel, around 2,500 trees on Potash Farm are picked, yielding about 20 tonnes of nuts per annum.

The farm has a varied customer base, selling its wares at the wholesale fruit and veggie market, direct at specialist food festivals, events, at its own farm shop, to trade customers (shops, restaurants, hotels) and, of course, online. Significantly, the online business now constitutes 20% of turnover; five years ago this was less than 5%.

Cobnuts are harvested at different times of the year and are sold in their green, golden and de-husked states to customers from all walks of life, including celebrity chefs, chocolatiers, beer and gin makers and bitters manufacturers.

I’m already thinking of how, with summer on the horizon, I’ll enjoy mine. Perhaps I’ll have some succulent green cobnuts sprinkled with salt – like olives - with my G&T. Or chopped and spread out on a pizza, or mixed into a fresh salad! And I’m content in the knowledge that when autumn comes around, I’ll swap them for mature nuts to be savoured with Port and dried fruits!

Want more information about cobnuts?

Contact Alexander Hunt at info@kentishcobnuts.com

Handmade Kentish Cobnut Fudge

Agri

Modular building specialist assists Macassar farmers With office and processing spaces

Kwikspace assisted Macassar vegetable farmers with spaces for their offices and veggie processing.

H

istorically a fishing and boat-making community, the small town of Macassar in Cape Town is branching out to farming. The Cape Agency for Sustainable Integrated Development in Rural Areas (CASIDRA) contacted Kwikspace about providing alternative building solutions that are prefabricated and modular for these emerging farmers.

The emerging farmers of Macassar farm vegetables in tunnels and needed office space as well as a vegetable processing area.

With Kwikspace’s

innovative products for any sector requirement, they had the solution – two double-wide modular units. Each unit is 15 m in length by 7 m in width.

European parliament Votes for reuse of water for irrigation

C

oming in at 588 votes in favour (23 against), the European Parliament, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, recently approved a text defining minimum standards of quality for recycled water intended for agricultural irrigation.

“By ensuring that treated wastewater can be reused more widely, especially in agriculture, water extraction from groundwater could be reduced,” the European Parliament said in a statement.

the way we use and reuse water,” said the rapporteur of the text, Italian MEP Simona Bonafè.

There is 6.6 billion cubic meters of water that could potentially be recovered by 2025.

“Recovered water (that is, urban wastewater that has been processed in a recycling plant) will be used to irrigate food crops, processed food crops and non-food crops,” the parliament said. “We have to move towards a circular economy, including

Notably, the adopted text is the starting position of the European Parliament in negotiations which must now take place with the EU Council, representing the Member States, which have not yet decided “own position”.

SABI | JUNE/JULY2019

17

Kwikspace is a specialist relocatable building manufacturer in South Africa. Their modular construction double-wide structures can be used for industrial, residential and commercial applications. They provide the ideal space without the costs of building fixed premises, providing a significant saving for either longterm or short-term applications.

All electrical fittings like lights, light switches, plug sockets and

required cabling come standard with each Kwikspace office.

With over 50 years’ experience in manufacturing modular buildings, Kwikspace is Africa’s largest manufacturer. They offer exceptional service, fast delivery and an extensive product offering of both standard and nonstandard products.

Cannabis Expo

Big boom –

At the cannabis expo in Cape Town

by Carol Posthumus

U

s SABI magazine staffers recently visited the “largest cannabis expo on the continent” at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town.

Living up to its billing, it certainly did appear to be hugely supported. Kicking off as it did during the week, a lovely rainy day and a “working day” certainly didn’t put the crowds off arriving at the Grand West.

Capetonians, who are somewhat legends when it comes to pitching hours after starting times of events, were there promptly as the doors opened. The team managing the media booth apologised for not answering emails or calls: “It is very busy, quite hectic,” they announced. We could definitely see what they meant. Apparently according to exhibitors “you could hardly move” in the exhibition hall over the weekend.

The cannabis sector – following

18

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

the legalisation of home use last year is certainly a gold rush right now. If you know business friends who are highly entrepreneurial – look them up on LinkedIn and you will find that they are probably investing in some way in hemp or cannabis.

100s of exhibitors There were more than 100 exhibitors showcasing a variety of cannabis and hemp products and services from all sectors in the industry – growing, medicinal, harvesting, product retailers and organisational. We saw SABI members or agriculture related companies in attendance. Cherry Irrigation, Haygrove, Greenhouse Technologies and Netafim. It

seems drip irrigation is well suited to cannabis and hemp plantations.

good thing in a highly entrepreneurial setting.

There were several fertiliser companies exhibiting too – like the Dutch-owned Bloomblastic, and many more.

I received this thank you in my email: “We thank you for visiting us at the Cape Town leg of the immensely popular Cannabis Expo. We take note of your interest and would like to bring the following to your attention: with the current uncertainty of the interpretation of the laws surrounding the sales of cannabis oils in South Africa being unclear, we will only be able to supply you with product once we have clarity from our legal department.”

Crowds formed around cannabis flavoured confectionery sellers (fancy a cannabis lollipop anyone?) and the Canna Coffee stall was constantly busy.

Cannabis health drinks are another popular product deriving from this plant.

Several stalls sold cannabis health products, such as cannabis cream and essential oils.

Interestingly, some of the marketers were in contact with cautionary notes after the event.

While a growing sector, there are still legal frameworks, which is a

It is clear that a new avenue of economy has opened up in South Africa, providing new opportunities and hopefully good potential for employment growth in the myriad of enterprises springing up.

Fresh products

Maintaining beautiful and playable courses

F

or golf course superintendents and their crews, efficiently irrigating around obstacles, on slopes and in windy weather can be a real challenge. Now, Rain Bird Golf has introduced a new low angle nozzle housing for its 751 Series Rotors that can enhance distribution uniformity under these tough conditions.

“Wind, elevation changes and obstacles like mounds, bunkers and trees can make it difficult to apply water evenly throughout the course,” said Altan Tolan, rotor product manager for Rain Bird Golf. “Installing our new low angle nozzle housing lowers a 751 Series rotor’s spray trajectory, making it easier to direct water under trees or weather stations, fight the wind and improve coverage around mounds and bunkers.”

Rain Bird’s low angle nozzle housing kit includes a low angle housing assembly (a low angle nozzle housing and pre-installed Dual SpreaderTM nozzle for 751 Series rotors), stator and stator poppet. Installing the kit is a

straightforward process requiring only a flathead screwdriver.

“All golf courses have different challenges when it comes to efficient irrigation,” Tolan said. “Our new low angle nozzle housing kit is another example of how we’re continuously innovating new products that help superintendents maintain beautiful, more playable courses with less water.”

For more information about Rain Bird Golf’s new low angle nozzle housing, including performance and installation guides, or the division’s many other waterefficient products for golf course irrigation, visit rainbird.com/golf.

Rain Bird Corporation – Golf Division provides complete irrigation solutions to golf courses across the globe. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leading-edge

products including pump stations, rotors, field controllers, mapbased and mobile central control systems, decoders, swing joints, filtration systems, valves and irrigation accessories.

AQUA-TRAXX PBX ®

THE EVOLUTION OF PRECISION Toro Aqua-Traxx® premium drip tapes are innovative steps in the evolution of drip irrigation.

Aqua-Traxx®, the original premium drip tape, provides unmatched clog resistance, durability and precision placement of your valuable water and fertilizer.

New Aqua-Traxx® FC - the only flow-controlling drip tape available - is Toro’s latest advancement in the evolution of drip irrigation, giving you increased uniformity and control wherever you farm.

TORO-AG.IT I.S.E. S.r.l. - Via dell’Artigianato, 1-3 - 00065 Fiano Romano (Roma), Italy - Tel. (+39) 0765 40191

www.youtube.com/ISEontheweb

Smart agriculture

Technology is ‘disrupting’ agriculture Will bring benefits to 21st century farmers

T

echnology is changing the face of agriculture by enabling farmers to increase production, reduce costs and streamline activity across the entire agricultural value chain to help ensure that long-term food security is maintained, says Standard Bank.

Termed ‘disruptive technologies’ because they are changing the way that food has been produced for generations, Nico Groenewald, Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank, says that technology is also transforming the farmer. A successful farmer today, he says must be technically savvy and ready to adopt the constant stream of agricultural innovations that are being introduced to the market.

“Given that business, in general, is changing rapidly it is natural that technology introduced for other purposes is now being adapted to meet the needs of farmers. The prime example - and possibly the most significant disruptor to enter the agricultural sector is ‘blockchain’. Introduced originally to facilitate global trade in cryptocurrencies, the record-keeping system can now be used by farmers and even traders conducting global trading in agricultural products.

“The world’s first agriculturallybased blockchain transaction took place in December 2016 with the sale of about 23 tons of wheat.

Since then, more than 1.6 million tons of crops worth US$360 million have been moved over the cloud using blockchain.”

yy

yy

yy

yy

yy

Changing tech Other technologies that have already begun changing the face of agriculture are: yy Three-dimensional printing (3D). This can now be used to manufacture replacement parts for farm implements and vehicles. This not only enables farmers to keep vehicles operational for longer, reducing fleet costs

yy

but also reduces downtime and loss of productivity. The past when farmers relied on machinery distributors located in distant towns to order and deliver parts could become something of the past.

Veterinary applications enable lightweight casts to be made ‘on-site’ to support the limbs of injured cattle.

Robots are already transforming operations on some farms. With their ability to operate consistently and perform repetitive tasks to a high degree of accuracy, robots are freeing up farm labourers who can now take on more productive jobs that offer a higher return for the farmer.

Of special interest to South Africa’s wine farmers are the ‘wine bots’ that are in being used internationally to prune vines.

In fields, spraying and weeding robots could contribute to save costs and preserving the environment by reducing agrichemical use by up to 90%.

Drones with their ability to fly in confined spaces and fly set patterns are already being accepted for their ability to fly over and observe fields during growing seasons.

This functionality has been extended to collecting information on soil and analysis, planting, crop spraying and monitoring, irrigation and assessing the health of plants and fertiliser applications.

Sensors are capable of dozens of functions across farms and can be used to undertake

SABI | JUNE/JULY2019

21

specialised work with livestock, or crops. Their advantage is that they are relatively cheap and can conduct air, water and oil analysis, with information automatically being downloaded on laptops. yy Artificial Intelligence, portrayed as ‘thinking computers’ which are already hard at work in agriculture where they absorb data from sensors and convert the information for farmers.

Solar refrigerators “Recently, the World Bank identified several trends helping transform agriculture in Africa. Based on cell phones, applications in Nigeria and Kenya allow farmers

to hire affordable tractors to work their land, increasing their yields by up to 200%. Solar refrigerators are also becoming more popular in Kenya and are helping dairy farmers reduce milk spoilage.”

“There is no doubt that farmers in South Africa who do not evaluate trends could find themselves being left behind in the future production race. Investment in technology can be undertaken on an as-needed basis with farmers introducing agritech as it becomes necessary.

There is no doubt, however, that adopting appropriate systems will become essential tools in farmers’ battles to contain costs and boost yields,” says Groenewald.

POWERING AGRICULTURE PRICES START FROM R36.00 FOR ER14505 AND R110.00 FOR ER34615H

CONTACT US

0861 44 78 44 WWW.BATTERYEXPERTS.CO.ZA

Agri

Agri SA exec to head up WFO working group

O

mri van Zyl, Agri SA’s executive director was recently elected as facilitator for the Global Cooperatives Working Group for the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO). The WFO brings together national farmers’ organisations and agricultural cooperatives from all over the world and is meeting in Luxemburg this year.

“The Working Group is an opportunity for Agri SA to link with global players while showcasing South Africa’s own world class agribusinesses,” said Omri van Zyl. “The Agri SA Corporate Chamber have in a short time become the ideal forum for companies in the South African agricultural value chain to participate and network on a

strategic level. As Facilitator of the Global Cooperatives Working Group, we will be able to add further value to our discussions.”

Building bridges Agri SA holds the South African seat at the WFO and was a founding member of the organisa-

tion in 2011. The WFO is made up of organisations from both developed and developing economies. The mission is to create the conditions for the adoption of policies and programs that can improve the economic environment and livelihood of farmers and rural communities.

in the developed world space with our own 20 cooperatives, following the same international trends as some of the other developed countries. We also intend to understand some of the other developmental best practices to gear some of our developmental activities accordingly.”

“The difference between the developed countries and the developing countries is staggering, and the brief was to see how we can build a bridge between the two worlds. From a South African perspective, we are pretty much

The Working Group will include the USA, Norway, Korea and Netherlands among others. The 2020 session will be in the USA where a policy paper encapsulating the WFO policy on Cooperatives will be launched.

Satellite farming data partnership Get the app now

A

gri SA and Aerobotics have announced a partnership to provide South African farmers with access to free satellite farming data and the latest Aeroview In-Field Scouting Application. The partnership aims to accelerate access to analytical information at scale to assist farmers in the early identification of pest and disease and improvement of yield.

“The partnership is a great example of the potential that can be unlocked when bringing key players in the agricultural valuechain together,” says Omri van Zyl, executive head at Agri SA. “This is a win-win for everyone. We know that South African farmers are early-adopters when it comes to new technology. We’re confident that Aeroview can be used to their immediate benefit.”

22

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

Aerobotics, a member of the Agri SA corporate chamber, is a proudly South African company committed to advancing the future of the farming landscape. The advanced satellite data coupled with the latest crop scouting software will be made available to farmers at no cost or any future commitment.

Time saving technology “Being part of a joint venture that serves to strengthen the backbone of an increasing tech-enabled farming culture is an exciting step towards greater production levels,” says James Paterson, Aerobotics’ CEO. “Working together, we can only look forward to seeing how farmers can actively experience the results of a more convenient, time-saving technology to manage harvest expectations.”

Aerobotics encourages farmers to use weekly satellite data provided on their web-based Aeroview together with its In-Field App to identify weaknesses and stop the spread of pest and disease which

in turn helps to increase a farmer’s yields. The next step is then to get more granular information by purchasing one of Aerobotics’ drone packages to get 3cm or less resolution. This can help growers make better-informed decisions.

Tree and vine crop farmers are using this high-resolution data to get per-tree analytics, monitor their trees over time and improve their yields. Today, Aerobotics and Agri SA are providing all South African farmers with the first part of the feedback loop for free.

Agri SA members do not require to register for a paid account or commit to the app for a set period.

They can simply sign up at www. aerobotics.com.

SABI COMPANY MEMBERS

SABI COMPANY MEMBER

AquaHaus PRECISION IRRIGATION

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

23

SABI MAATSKAPPYLEDE

SABI MAATSKAPPYLEDE

CMYK

IRRIGATION - BESPROEIING

24

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

SABI COMPANY MEMBERS

SABI COMPANY MEMBER

ROTRIXAFRICA I

AT

TI

IRR

ON

industries cc

G

ION IN MO

MECHANISED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

BUILT TO IRRIGATE AFRICA

S A W Africa knowledge product success

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

25

Water quality

Help to assess the fitness for use of irrigation water at a specific site using a risk-based approach

by HM du Plessis1, JG Annandale1 and N Benade2 - 1University of Pretoria and 2NB Systems

W

ater quality guidelines have two main applications.

Firstly, and more commonly, water quality guidelines are used to assess the fitness for use (FFU) of a given water for a specific purpose. Secondly, water quality guidelines are used to determine the desired composition of water that would pose minimal risk when used for a specific purpose, the so-called Water Quality Requirements (WQR).

In this article we will focus on the first of these applications and specifically introduce a newly developed electronic Decision Support System (DSS) that guides the user to assess the fitness for use of a potential irrigation water.

Before embarking on any irrigation development and at regular intervals afterwards, it is prudent to determine the fitness of the water source in order to pro-actively identify and circumvent potential water quality-induced problems.

Several classification systems have been developed to assess the suitability of water for irrigation. Arguably the best known of these is the system published by the US Salinity Laboratory Staff in 1954. They identified salinity (which affects crop yield) and sodicity (which affects soil permeability) as the most important components determining the suitability of water for irrigation purposes. Subsequently several guidelines which consider a much larger range of water quality constituents and their effects have been published.

The South African Water Quality Guidelines, published in 1996 by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, comprise one of the most widely-used tools in water quality management in the country. However, a panel of experts appointed by the Department of Water Affairs in 2008, identified the need for updated water quality guidelines. This article describes the development and main features of the newly established DSS for irrigation, which address these needs and which emanated from a project initiated by the South African Water Research Commission through a directed call with published terms of reference and co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (du Plessis et al, 2017)

Fundamental differences

which is predetermined by the site-specific variables that are provided for as part of the DSS. The DSS allows a user to conduct a more in-depth water quality assessment and guideline generation, by making use of a relatively sophisticated crop growth - soil water balance and chemistry model which uses selectable site specific input parameters, to simulate the response of soils, crops and irrigation equipment to irrigation water quality under specific climatic conditions.

The “new” water quality guidelines differ in several fundamental ways from the earlier 1996 guidelines. Not only are they risk-based, they also allow for much greater site-specificity and are available primarily as a software-based DSS. The software-based DSS operates at two tiers:

i. Tier 1 resembles the current South African generic guidelines, with some modifications. These guidelines are similar to those developed for other countries. Tier 1 relies on the minimum user defined input, and provides a conservative water quality assessment, highlighting potential problems if the conservative assumptions are not met. Should a Tier 1 evaluation indicate potential problems, a more rigorous and sitespecific Tier 2 evaluation is indicated. ii. Tier 2 allows for site specificity, the extent of

Figure 1 depicts the overall structure of the DSS. At the highest level, a user has to decide whether he or she wants to use the DSS to assist with:

i. assessing the FFU of a water for irrigation, or ii. setting WQR for irrigation users, or iii. obtaining additional information, as indicated in Figure 1.

Design, Build, Commission, Maintain All Water Purification Systems Purification of water from: Rivers Dams Boreholes Municipal Outlets

Application specific solutions to various problems such as: Iron & Manganese (Fe & Mn) Bacteria & Viruses

Brackish water (NaCl—Salt) Odour & Taste

Low Alkalinity (Aggressive water)

Water treated for the following uses: Agricultural Potable water Irrigation Industrial

 info@wps.co.za

 021 851 2451

De-mineralized water Process feed water Waste water recycling

 www.wps.co.za

Water quality

Figure 1. Simplified schematic representation of the DSS structure

After selecting the appropriate DSS functionality to access, the user is guided through a decision tree to choose between different options and select the appropriate route in order to process the user’s need and provide output in a user-friendly format.

Water Quality Constituents and Suitability Indicators The DSS provides for assessing the fitness of a given water for irrigation from the concentrations of eight major constituents, two biological constituents, three nutrients and twenty trace elements. Constituents are evaluated for the effect they have on soil quality, crop yield and quality and irrigation equipment. At least the concentrations of the major constituents are required in order to conduct an FFU assessment. While analyses for other constituents are not mandatory, their effect on FFU will only be assessed if analyses are provided.

Effect of water quality constituents on soil quality The impacts irrigation water quality constituents have on soil quality are primarily indirect as a result of the interaction between the water quality constituents and

soil components. This interaction is modified by the fact that soil also acts as a temporary store of water for plant use, and that crops extract almost pure water, leaving most of the water quality constituents in the soil. The degree to which these constituents accumulate in soil and interact with soil components, determines how water quality constituents affect soil quality. The DSS considers the following suitability indicators to assess the effects irrigation water constituents have on soil quality:

i. Root zone salinity; ii. Soil permeability; iii. Oxidisable carbon loading; and iv. Trace element accumulation

Effect of water quality constituents on crop yield and quality The impact irrigation water quality constituents have on crop yield and quality are both direct and indirect. Direct contact of irrigation water with a crop mostly affects crop quality, while indirect impacts mostly affect crop yield.

Indirect impacts are a consequence of the accumulation and redistribution of irrigation water constituents within the root zone. The DSS considers the following suitability indicators

to assess the effects irrigation water constituents have on crop yield and quality:

i. Root zone effects of salinity, B, Cl and Na on yield; ii. Leaf scorching when wetted; iii. Contribution to NPK uptake by the crop; iv. Microbial contamination, and v. Qualitative crop damage by atrazine.

Effect of water quality constituents on irrigation equipment The impact irrigation water quality constituents have on irrigation infrastructure to distribute and apply water, is a direct result of the interaction between water quality constituents and irrigation equipment. This interaction is determined primarily by the material irrigation equipment is made of, or the type of irrigation system used. The DSS considers the following suitability indicators to assess the effects irrigation water constituents have on irrigation equipment:

i. Corrosion or scaling of irrigation equipment ii. Clogging of drippers

Presentation of DSS Output Throughout the DSS, water quality is assigned to one of four colour coded FFU categories, associated with the risk of using the water.

The classification system is based on a DWS system which describes four suitability categories, defined in generic terms applicable to any water use (Table 1).

Table 1 A generic description of the DWS fitness-for-use classification of water Fitness-foruse category

Description

Ideal

A water quality that would not normally impair the fitness of the water for its intended use

Acceptable

A water quality that would exhibit some impairment to the fitness of the water for its intended use

Tolerable

A water quality that would exhibit increasingly unacceptable impairment to the fitness of the water for its intended use

Unacceptable

A water quality that would exhibit unacceptable impairment to the fitness of the water for its intended use

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

27

Water quality Calculating Procedures Both the FFU and WQR are assessed based on the effect water constituents have on soil quality, crop yield and quality, as well as irrigation equipment. For Tier 1 assessments, simplified conservative assumptions requiring no user input, were used to determine WQR, and only the irrigation water composition to establish FFU. In this way, a rapid “conservative� assessment of irrigation water quality is obtained. Should the Tier 1 assessment not indicate potential water quality problems, the water is deemed fit for use on all crops, under all but the most exceptional circumstances. On the other hand, should the Tier 1 assessment identify potential water quality problems, a more detailed, site-specific assessment as provided by a Tier 2 assessment, is indicated.

Tier 2 assessments allow the user to choose between default site specific conditions, in order to provide a significantly enhanced assessment of how the water can be expected to affect a specific crop, under specific climatic conditions, using a specified

irrigation system managed in a particular way, when irrigating a soil of a selected texture. Tier 2 assessments, therefore, allow the user to assess how the implementation of alternative site-specific management options (e.g. a different crop, soil, irrigation system etc.), can be expected to modify an FFU or WQR determination. This is highlighted because adoption of different management practices may reduce or overcome the effects of a specific water quality problem.

Tier 1 calculations of soil-cropwater interactions assume an idealised 4-layer soil in which crops withdraw 40% of their water requirement from the top layer, 30% from the second, 20% from the third and 10% from the bottom layer. The steady state (or equilibrium) concentration of soluble constituents in each layer is calculated from the concentration of constituents in the irrigation water and a 10% leaching fraction for the profile as a whole.

Tier 2 calculations make use of a simplified version of the dynamic Soil Water Balance (SWB) model that is run for a minimum of 10 years using data from an appro-

priate weather station to calculate the water requirements and uptake of a user selected crop. It also simulates transient salt transport and simplified soil chemical interactions. This output is used to derive yield and other outputs, from which the likelihood with which specific yield intervals occur over time, can be calculated.

Root zone salinity, one of the suitability indicators used in the DSS to assess how the composition of irrigation water affects soil quality, was selected to illustrate the differences between DSS output for Tiers 1 and 2 FFU assessments. Note that in all cases the criteria defining the FFU category remains the same.

DSS Output

For the Tier 1 FFU evaluation (Table 2), the DSS calculates a single root zone salinity, which places it in the Acceptable FFU category. Since the value of root zone salinity is given (and not only the FFU category), information is conveyed to the user about how close the root zone salinity is to the boundary of the FFU category.

An FFU assessment of water with a given composition, produces separate output pages that indicate how the suitability indicators for soil quality, crop yield and quality and irrigation equipment are affected.

Table 2.

Tier 1 output of how root zone salinity is affected by irrigation water composition

Root Zone Salinity

Fitness for Use

ECe interval (mS/m)

Ideal

0 - 200

Acceptable

200 - 400

Tolerable

400 - 800

Unacceptable

>800

Predicted equilibrium root zone salinity (mS/m)

234

RELIABLE PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS for the entire agricultural sector.

Overhead Lines

Invicta Vibrator Motors

Indoor Customisable Control Panels

Power & Distribution Transformers

Pole Mount Transformers WWash Motor

All Weather Outdoor Control Panels

Standby/Emergency Generator Sets

Motor Scan

Pushbuttons and Pilot lights Motor Protective LV Switchgear

Direct Online Starters (DOL)

LV Motors, Drives, Softstarters & Switchgear

Zest WEG Group has been servicing the agricultural sector for more than 35 years with its range of robustly engineered products.

All products, designed using modern technology, offer farmers optimum reliability coupled with excellent energy efficiency. From WEG Premium Efficiency electric motors to WWash electric motors with WEG Variable Speed Drives, all have developed a reputation for solid performance in the most demanding conditions. Low maintenance requirements as well as ease of serviceability allow reduced total cost of ownership to the agricultural sector.

Tel: 0861 009378

www.zestweg.com

Water quality For Tier 2 assessments, the DSS calculates at least 10 annual mean root zone salinity values (one for each year the SWB model is run with different climatic data).

These values are likely to fall into different FFU categories and are reported as the % of time for which the values fall within a specific FFU category (Table 3). In this way, information is conveyed

to the user about the longer-term risk of experiencing different levels of root zone salinity and salt buildup or leaching. These differences are brought about by differences in rainfall and crop water demand as a result of climatic differences from year to year.

Table 3.

Tier 2 output of how root zone salinity is affected by irrigation water composition.

Root Zone Salinity

Fitness for Use

ECe interval (mS/m)

% of time root zone salinity is predicted to fall within a particular Fitness for Use category

Ideal

0 - 200

60

Acceptable

200 - 400

30

Tolerable

400 - 800

10

Unacceptable

>800

CONCLUSIONS The DSS described in this paper provides the user with an assessment of how a water with a given composition will affect soil quality, crop yield and quality, as well as irrigation equipment.

A range of suitability indicators were identified for this purpose.

Criteria have been established for each suitability indicator, which enables an assessment of the effect that the water composition could have on the suitability indicator. This effect is categorised as being ideal, acceptable, tolerable or unacceptable.

The DSS provides the user with the ability to conduct either a rapid conservative (Tier 1) or extensive site-specific (Tier 2) evaluation of the suitability of a specific water for irrigation. Should the Tier 1 FFU assessment (that makes use of a number of conservative assumptions) not indicate potential problems with any of the

Reference

suitability indicators, the water is deemed fit for use on all crops, under all but the most exceptional circumstances.

On the other hand, should the Tier 1 assessment identify potential problems with one or more of the suitability indicators, a more detailed, site specific assessment as provided by a Tier 2 assessment, is indicated. The Tier 2 assessment allows the user to select more appropriate sitespecific variables (such as crop, irrigation system and management, soil texture and climatic data) to simulate effects with the use of a soil water balance model, and produce a much more rigorous assessment of soil-cropwater interactions. Running the Soil Water Balance model over a number of years, enables the calculation of the likelihood of yield and other parameters falling in different suitability categories.

DU PLESSIS M, ANNANDALE J, BENADE N, VAN DER LAAN M, JOOSTE S, DUPREEZ C, BARNARD J, RODDA N, DABROWSKI J, GENTHE B and NEL P 2017 Risk based, site-specific, irrigation water quality guidelines: Volume 1 Description of Decision Support System.

WRC Report No.TT 728/17 Water Research Commission, Pretoria Electronic copies of the DSS can be downloaded from: https://www.nbsystems.co.za/downloads.html Please send comments and feedback to meiringd@gmail.com - This article continues in the next edition of SABI magazine, watch this space.

How to ...

How to ...

fertilise your garden - by Mike de Villiers The subject of fertilising your garden can be very confusing, especially if you are an inexperienced gardener. What do the numbers on the packets mean? What are the differences and benefits of organic and inorganic fertilisers and how much do I need? The next decision is when and how often to apply fertilisers. Given that all garden retailers have experienced people to offer advice and the Internet is always at hand, this editorial will provide some guidelines on the subject of fertilisers.

INTRODUCTION Gardening, in these days of climate change, is presenting huge challenges to both experienced and inexperienced gardeners. Water-wise in the buzz word in the drought areas with unseasonal and excessive rainfall in others, where drainage becomes an important issue. Many of us see fertilisers as the answer to fixing our ailing plants and shrubs, but a visit to the garden retailer can be daunting when faced with the large variety of organic and inorganic fertilizers and making the right choices, even with the advice from the expert on hand.

Remember that the quality of your soil and water may also be contributing to your plant’s poor condition. It is recommended that both soil and water tests be done to eliminate these factors and to facilitate the correct choice of fertilisers.

Plants, as with all living things, require nutrients (food) at the right time in order to grow and reproduce. These nutrients are obtained from the soil and are dissolved in the moisture in the soil, to enable the plant to absorb them through their root structure. This process is known as osmosis, where the nutrients move from a high concentration to a lower concentration. Ie. from the soil to the roots of the plant. The nutrients are taken up by the roots as well as being flushed away over time by excessive rain or over-watering, hence the need to replenish the nutrients regularly through the application of fertilizers.

30

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

FERTILISERS Let’s begin with an explanation of what fertilizers are and what do they do for our gardens.

Fertiliser, also known as plant food, is the descriptive term for the mix of elements that we apply to the soil to provide the necessary nutrients for plant growth. The three major nutrients, known as macro-nutrients, are as follows: Nitrogen: This provides the green colour of plants and is abundant in rainwater Phosphorus: Known as phosphates, aids root and stem development and is best applied when planting.

Potassium: Known as potash, aids the production of flowers Macro-nutrient fertilisers are usually classified by the ratio of the above three elements. The bag will be marked with three numbers, say 3:1:5, which represents 3 parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorus and 5 parts potassium and should be applied 2-3 times per year. Plants also require micro-nutrients, but in much smaller amounts. Micro-nutrients include iron, manganese, copper and aluminium.

Fertilisers, containing both macro and micro nutrients are available and provide excellent food for optimal plant growth. These blends are

How to ... often designed to meet the needs of specific plants such as roses and vegetables, amongst others. The optimum time to fertilise your garden is from early spring to mid-summer.

Most plants become dormant during winter, when additional nutrients are not needed.

mixing instructions in order to achieve good results. Liquid fertiliser is used extensively in commercial irrigation systems and is known as “Fertigation”. ]] Base application: Use a watering can or hose attachment to place the fertilizer at the plant’s base. This method is ideal for FERTILISER OPTIONS pot-plants and raised beds. ]] Foliar application: The fertiliser is applied Fertilisers are supplied in a number of different to the leaves of the plants and is excellent forms, each with their own advantages and for the application of micronutrients. disadvantages. The following options are available and if in doubt, advice should be sought WHAT DO PLANTS NEED? before making a final purchasing decision.

Bear in mind that the grade of a fertiliser relates We have focused on the fertiliser aspects of to the mix ratio, say 3:1:5 and is a separate gardening in this section, however do not decision to the form of the fertilizer, either underestimate the importance of water and liquid or granular. Needless to say, the choice soil quality in the choice and application of fertiliser grade should be based on the type of fertilisers. of plant, with input from the results of the soil and water tests, if required. However, experi- Needless to say, the variety of plants found in enced gardeners will have no doubt about what our gardens will vary from annuals to perennials and evergreens, grasses, shrubs, trees their plants need. and vegetables. One must therefore select Organic vs. Synthetic: the fertiliser that provides the correct nutrients Organic fertilisers are made from plant or for each plant group. The following is a brief animal waste, including manure, compost and description of some of the specific nutrient bone meal and have had minimal processing. needs of the major plant groups found in South They also include micronutrients, however African gardens. being a natural product, the ratio of nutrients will vary. Organic fertilisers also contribute Flowers and fruit: Nitrogen is used to improve to the improvement of soil conditions as the greening, a low ratio of phosphate and a large higher proportion of plant matter assists with dose of potassium (6:1:5) will improve flowering both water and nutrient retention. They are and fruit potential and 8:1:5 for roses. also biodegradable and environmentally friendly, however the nutrient release is slow as New plants: New plants, such as trees, shrubs, it is dependent on the material breaking down seedlings and lawns need super phosphate and naturally. Synthetic fertilisers, also known as a general fertilizer as found in a 2:3:2 ratio. chemical or inorganic, are manufactured and New vegetables need super phosphate for refined from petroleum or rock sources. They strong root and stem structures and a general are supplied in exact nutrient ratios and are fertiliser for greening and flowering. immediately available to the plant. Generally, one would need less synthetic fertilizer by Lawns: Nitrogen is ideal for greening and volume than organic fertiliser. It can be seen phosphorus for root development. As there are that a good fertilisation strategy will include no flowers, there is little need for potassium. both organic and inorganic products, applied Suitable lawn fertilisers are 7:1:3 and 3:2:1. at the right time and in the right quantities.

Advice from your local co-op or nursery will confirm your fertiliser selections and will also Granular fertilisers: Granular fertilisers are easy to handle and give you the confidence to create and maintain distribute and the nutrients are delivered to a beautiful garden. It is however essential to the plant at a slower rate than soluble forms read and follow the application instructions as they need to be dissolved by water before for all fertilisers. Nitrogen needs “watering the plant can use them. There are two methods in” otherwise your plants may be “burnt” and too much of any macro-nutrient fertiliser will of application: end-up with the same result. ]] Broadcast application: This is the best method for large areas such as lawns WATER YOUR GARDEN AT and new beds before they are planted.

THE CORRECT TIME Even distribution is essential and can be achieved using a spreader.

The irrigation (watering) schedule is a very ]] Top-dress application: This is achieved important aspect of gardening. This subject through distribution by hand to individual was covered extensively in the “How to” editoplants such as shrubs. Place the fertilizer evenly around the base of the plant and in rial on Water-wise gardening in the June edition of the SABI Magazine in 2018. The following is strips for row plantings. an excerpt from that editorial.

Liquid fertilisers: Liquid fertilisers are readily taken up by plants Water scheduling is extremely important in and therefore need to be applied more regu- waterwise gardening. One must take into larly. These are made from water soluble account the water needs of your plants fertilisers and it is strongly advised to follow the according to both the season as well as the

time of day. Plants are generally dormant in winter and require minimal water to survive.

The optimum time for watering is early morning or late afternoon when evaporation is at its least. Needless to say, evaporation is highest in the summer months and the least in the cooler months, however South Africa has both winter and summer rainfall regions which also have to be considered. For example, change the watering times to the warmer hours during winter in order to prevent frost damage to the leaves of plants or the soil freezing up.

Watering before dawn will avoid outbreaks of mildew, if this is a problem. Also avoid watering on windy days in order to minimize evaporation, however the correct choice of irrigation system will greatly reduce these types of water losses.

WHEN TO APPLY FERTILISERS When to fertilise is another important aspect of using fertilisers. Please bear in mind that these are only guidelines and advice from the experts will prove to be highly rewarding. Also read the instructions on the packages in order to apply the fertiliser correctly.

Most of your plants require nutrients in early spring, however do not fertilise immediately before regular rainfall as most of the nutrients will be leached out of the soil. Annuals need 3 to 4 additional applications during the growing season with high phosphorus liquid fertilizer.

Lawns benefit from additional granular applications in autumn.

Trees and shrubs like a light dose of a balanced granular fertilizer in spring and late autumn.

New bulbs should be fed with a small amount of bone-meal in late autumn. Established roses need weekly feeding with a soluble fertiliser during their blooming season.

SOURCES The information in this editorial has been largely based on a number of articles published on the Internet and is gratefully acknowledged.

It is highly recommended that the reader refers to these articles for the full text as well as additional information on the subject. yy FineGardening. Fertlizing Basics by Sandra C. Gorry yy SA Garden and Home. All you need to know about fertilizer yy Mica Hardware: It’s all in the numbers yy Property 24: Fertilising tips for your garden

by Antonella Dési yy Gardener’s Supply: How to plant a tree or shrub

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

31

How to ...

HOW TO PLANT A TREE

The following description of a tree planting procedure is offered as a guideline only, as there are many variations dependent on the type of tree, soil conditions and experience.

Step 1: Select the correct type of tree for the chosen location `` Bear in mind the future size of the tree and its impact on your garden with regard to root structure and shade etc.

Step 2: Have the following with you when you start the planting operation `` Spade `` Bonemeal `` Organic fertilizer `` Bucket of water `` Stake `` Knife

Step 5: Put a small amount of bone-meal and organic fertilizer into the backfill

Step 7: Begin backfilling and compress the backfill

Step 10: Stake the plant, when required and attach loosely

`` Add backfill to about half way up the root ball and tamp down to eliminate air pockets `` The handle of the spade makes a useful tamping tool `` Continue to fill and tamp until the soil is up to the top of the root ball, but do not overfill the hole

`` Place the stake on the windward side to achieve good support `` Use a soft tie so as to allow for growth of the stem

Step 8: Create a small berm around the plant to hold irrigation water

Step 3: Dig a hole to about twice the size of the root ball

`` The depth of the hole should allow the top of the root ball to be at ground level `` Slope the sides of the hole gently outwards to ground level Step 4: Carefully remove the pot, sacking or plastic surrounding the roots

`` Take care to lift the plant by the root ball and not the stem `` Do not let the exposed roots dry out before or during the process `` If the plant is pot-bound, cut the container

32

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

`` The bone-meal promotes root and plant growth `` The organic fertilizer assists water retention and supplies micronutrients

Step 9: Add bark or any similar mulch around the stem and water well

Step 6: Place the plant into the centre of the hole

`` Some experts like to wet the root ball before planting, however be careful not to wash the soil from the roots `` Lift the tree by holding the root ball, but take care not to disturb the roots `` Ensure that the plant stem is vertical

`` The mulch conserves water and minimizes evaporation `` Repeat watering every second day for the first 2 weeks `` Do not “drown� the plant `` It is not recommended to fertilise trees during the first year of growth

Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN)

Actively supporting the reduction of the projected 2030 water deficit in South Africa

MISSION OF THE SWPN To close the projected 17% water gap by 2030, with the goal of improving water security in South Africa.

Introducing the SWPN The Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN) is a partnership between the private sector and Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), established in 2011 under the leadership of the former Minister of Water Affairs, Edna Molewa.

The founding private sector partners were SAB, Sasol, Eskom, Anglo American, Nestlé and South 32 (previously BHP Billiton).

Notably, South Africa’s National Water Resources Strategy (NWRS) 2012 formally identifies the SWPN as the key platform to facilitate water management partnerships between DWS, the private

sector, civil society and other key stakeholders. The SWPN was established in response to the assessment by the 2030 Water Resources Group (Charting of Water Future, 2009 ) that South Africa would have a gap between water supply and demand of 17%, by the year 2030. In other words, South Africa would face a water deficit of 2,7 billion m3 per annum.

The objective of the SWPN is therefore to support the closure of this “gap”, which is done by convening stakeholders, carrying out participatory analyses and developing, incubating and scaling out projects to improve water security.

Figure 1: Projected water supply-demand gap for South Africa by the year 2030

34

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

Projects supported by the SWPN include: • •

•

•

The development of the No Drop System to track water losses in municipal systems, The development of and a model contract for publicprivate collaboration on non-revenue water in municipalities.

These projects were identified and implemented under the leadership of the SWPN Water Efficiency and Leakage Reduction (WELR) Working Group.

Under the Effluent and Wastewater Management (EWWM) Working Group of the SWPN a collaboration was established between the public and private sector to address long-term pollution reduction and mine water management in the Upper Olifants River Catchment.

This initiative led to the spin-off from the SWPN of the establishment of a new partnership organization called the Mine Water Coordinating Body (MWCB), funded by Anglo American, Eskom, Exxaro, Glencore, Sasol and South 32.

SWPN’s Agricultural Supply Chain (ASC) Thematic Working Group has funded a participatory process to develop a Funding and Investment Plan for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure on the Vaalharts Scheme.

The ASC working group recognises both the importance of agriculture to the economy as well as the impact that water losses have on the economy; the focus of the group is to drive water use efficiency in irrigation. The ASC WG is currently chaired by Felix Reinders of the Agricultural Research Commission. The ASC Working Group identified the WAS system as a technological solution which can be implemented in the agricultural sector to assist with addressing the gap between water supply and demand in the country. The DWS also identifies the WAS System as an example of technology that can reduce water use in the National Water Resources Strategy of 2013 .

Figure 2: Irrigation Canal

Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN) Water Administration System (WAS) Agriculture is the largest water user in South Africa. Agricultural water demand, at 61% of all water use in the country, is driven by irrigation that has high water losses of about 30%.

With the increasing competition between existing user sectors, the available water cannot meet the demand under current water use practices and operating conditions in all water use sectors.

It is therefore imperative that the available water supplies are used efficiently and effectively to avoid supply shortages and intermittent water supplies.

operation procedures for a given downstream demand. Over more than 20 years that NB Systems has been implementing the WAS System, they have invested in expanding its offerings so that the system now includes water allocations, water use, water distribution and billing.

The WAS is an irrigation scheme water distribution management tool with its main purpose being to minimize water losses for irrigation schemes. The system was developed in South Africa by Nico Benade of NB Systems, initially funded by the Water Research Commission. The WAS is used for water distribution management and calculation of canal and dam

SWPN support to WAS Roll-out The SWPN, with additional funding inputs from Coca Cola, 2030WRG, Landbank and GIZ’s International Water Stewardship Programme (IWASP), partnered with NB Systems to roll out the implementation of the Water Release Module of the WAS at 21 irrigation schemes in three phases between 2016 and 2018. Two companies (WRP and Ubuntu) provided data loggers on a trial basis. In addition to the installation of the WAS system and capture of data, the project provided training to system operators on the schemes and provided a server and data processing support. The SWPN support enabled the development of further upgrades on the WAS system software.

The outcome in terms of water loss reductions resulting from the WAS roll-out to the 21 schemes is projected to be 268 million m3 per annum (at full quota). This is equivalent to 50% of the annual water consumption of Johannesburg

metropolitan and 5 times the consumption of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.

DWS has indicated in the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan (NW&SMP) that it wishes to have the WAS rolled out to all irrigation schemes. The National Treasury of South Africa used the WAS in a publication called “People’s Guide to the Budget” to illustrate the measures that the public and private sector are taking collectively to improve the countries’ economic prospects.

The SWPN-supported WAS project (Phases 1 and 2) was nominated for an NSTF-South 32 Award in the category Sustainable Water Management, Knowledge Generation and Solutions.

The NSTF-South 32 Awards are referred to as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa.

This series on the SWPN continues next edition.

Africa’s first international agricultural technology exhibition and conference Coming to SA in 2020

F

rom the 17th to the 19th of June 2020, Cape Town will play host to the first ever Agritech Africa exhibition and conference, aimed at accelerating agricultural advancements on the African continent. Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), the event is expected to draw thousands of professionals in the field of agriculture from around the world who will be exposed to the latest developments and technological innovations in agriculture that can address pressing issues such as climate change, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, job creation and food security.

The event is being brought to South Africa by Kenes Exhibitions – a market leader in conferencing, exhibitions and educational platforms which has been producing exhibitions and conferences around the globe in the agricultural, water technology, biomedical, and cyberspace arenas for the past decade.

“Agriculture provides a source of livelihood for 61% of the 337 million people living in the

Southern African Development Community. It is also crucial for food security, which in turn assists in political stability and is central to the development of agro-industries,” says Dr Max Wengawenga, Assistant Chief Economic Advisor to the President of Malawi. “However, the local industry is plagued by challenges like climate change, not being able to meet the standards of international markets, changes in consumption patterns

and population growth driving increased demand for food. The way forward in overcoming these obstacles and unlocking the opportunities offered by agriculture is technology.”

“It was with this in mind that we decided to host an international agricultural technology exhibition and conference in South Africa – the country at the heart of the African renaissance,” shares Kenes Exhibitions Managing Director, Prema Zilberman.

Taking place alongside the conference will be an exhibition

comprised of an anticipated 200 exhibitors who will showcase cutting edge technologies, products, and systems in the areas of aquaculture; fertilisers and chemicals; livestock and dairy farming; irrigation and water management; plant protection; rural development; poultry; agriecology; food security and safety; marketing; exporting and more.

Exhibitors will range from startups with exciting new technologies, to existing companies with proven or breakthrough products.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

35

Climate

Seasonal Climate Watch May to September 2019

Overview The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has remained in a moderate El Niño state and indications are that it will strengthen throughout winter and spring. This however is not expected to influence South Africa in the current and upcoming seasons as ENSO has little influence over South Africa during autumn or winter (or its influence is not yet fully known).

Early

and

mid-winter

(May-June-July; June-July-August) forecasts are optimistic for abovenormal rainfall conditions over the south-western parts of the country.

These are also the only areas that typically receive significant rainfall during these seasons. An increased number of rainfall days of only 5mm and not 15mm is also expected during early-winter, suggesting that the above-normal rainfall will likely not be characterised by a high

South African Weather Service Prediction Systems Ocean-Atmosphere Global Climate Model The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is currently recognised by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the Global Producing Centre (GPC) for Long-Range Forecasts (LRF).

This is owing to its local numerical modelling efforts which involve coupling of both the atmosphere

and ocean components to form a fully-interactive coupled modelling system, named the SAWS Coupled Model (SCM), the first of its kind in both South Africa and the region. Below are the first season (May-Jun-Jul) predictions for rainfall (Figure 1) and average temperature (Figure 2).

frequency of extreme events.

It is important to note that rainfall usually decrease during winter over the country except the above-mentioned regions in the South Western Cape. Therefore, no significant rainfall is expected during the forecasted period for the central and north-eastern parts of the country. With regards to temperatures, mostly higher than normal temperatures are expected

for most parts of the country; however, during mid-winter the expectation is for lower than normal maximum temperatures for the south-western half of the country.

The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor and provide updates of any future assessments that may provide more clarity on the current expectations for the coming seasons.

Multi-Model Statistical Downscaling System Seasonal Totals and Averages In an effort to improve the predictions made by the SCM, which struggles to produce reliable rainfall and temperature forecasts at a local scale, the Multi-Model System (MMS) has been implemented to statistically downscale various global forecasts, including the SCM and the Climate Forecasting System version 2 (CFSv2) administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Below are the current three-season forecasts issued in April 2019.

Three maps are shown for each season which include the raw MMS probabilistic prediction (left), the probabilistic prediction with skill masked out (middle) and the climatological average (right) for the specific season. The user is advised to consider the skill masked map (middle) as the official SAWS forecast, however, the two additional maps may be used as tools in such a case where skill for a specific area is deemed insufficient.

June-July-August (JJA) 2019 seasonal precipitation prediction without skill taken into account (left), as well as skill masked out (middle). Also included is the climatological average for JJA (right, in mm) calculated over the period 1979-2009.

Figure 1: May-June-July global prediction for total rainfall probabilities.

It is worth mentioning that the SCM levels of skill for the Niño 3.4 region (where ENSO information is sourced) are very much comparable to other state-of-the-art coupled models which are administered by other international centres. Therefore, the following Sea-Surface Temperature (SST) forecast (Figure 3) emanates from the SST Prediction System which is purely based on the SCM.

Information supplied by

36

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

June-July-August (JJA) 2019 seasonal minimum-temperature prediction without skill taken into account (left), as well as skill masked out (middle).

Also included is the climatological average for JJA (right) calculated over the period 1979-2009.

For more information please contact: Cobus Olivier - Scientist: Prediction Research: cobus.olivier@weathersa.co.za Website: www.weathersa.co.za - Weatherlines: 012 367 6000 and USSD - *120*7297#

Climate - Agri

Rainfall Frequency Predictions This product is a result of the SAWS operational multi-model system (MMS) where the 850-hPa geopotential heights hindcast outputs are first statistically recalibrated and downscaled to observed number of rainfall days exceeding desired thresholds (derived from high resolution 0.1 X 0.1 degree (ARCv2) African Rainfall Climatology version 2 rainfall dataset) within seasons of interest over South Africa by using model output statistics (MOS). The 850-hPa geopotential heights are used here because they are found to be the best predictor of rainfall over southern Africa.

These forecasts can be used together with the traditional seasonal rainfall total forecasts in that it can indicate the frequency of rainfall days where seasonal rainfall forecast areas expect below- or above-normal conditions.

June-July-August 2019 rainfall-days forecast. Forecast for high and low number of rainfall days exceeding 5 and 15mm without skill taken into account (left) and with skill taken into account (middle). Also included is the climatology for rainfall days (right) exceeding 5 and 15mm calculated over the period 1983-2009.

All the forecasts are a result of an objective multi-model prediction system developed at the South African Weather Service.

This system consists of long-range forecasts produced by the following institutions: http://www.weathersa.co.za/home/seasonal (Latest predictions including maps for the whole of SADC) https://iri.columbia.edu/our-expertise/climate/forecasts/enso/current/ (ENSO predictions from various centres)

Mountains of abundance wins gold for South Africa at Chelsea

- photo credits: Sven Musica

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has won a gold medal at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show, this is the 37th time that SANBI Kirstenbosch will be bringing home gold from this highly anticipated event on the British calendar. This year’s exhibit was indeed a show-stopper, with its cutting edge design featuring a slate mountain, dotted with abstract waterfalls cascading from bright larger-than-life traditional Ndebele hats, and masses of proteas, arums, restios and fynbos arranged as they occur together on the wild slopes of some of South Africa’s mountains.

Leon Kluge, the designer behind Kirstenbosch’s 2019 exhibition titled ‘Mountains of Abundance’ – created a contemporary hand-made three metre high slate mountain, with one side depicting a silhouette of Table Mountain and the other of the Magaliesburg.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

37

Dam levels

Dam Levels The levels of selected dams in South Africa, presented as a percentage of full supply capacity, as on 20 May 2019, as well as the corresponding date in 2018. % of Full Supply Capacity

20 May

2019 2018

OLIFANTS RIVER

% of Full Supply Capacity

20 May

2019 2018

Grootdraai (M)

76.4

97.3

% of Full Supply Capacity

2019 2018

Darlington (EC)

1.4

11.2

GREAT FISH RIVER

Witbank (M)

86.6

100.5

Boskop (NW)

83.8

100.9

Middelburg (M)

90.9 100.4q

Klipdrift (NW)

#101.8

99.6

Grassridge (EC)

Bronkhorstspruit (G)

90.9

100.4

Erfenis (FS)

100.5

91.7

Kommandodrift (EC)

Rust de Winter (LP)

77.7

100.2

Kalkfontein (FS)

30.7

35.2

Loskop (M)

91.6

100.5

Rustfontein (FS)

37.8

48.7

Buffelskloof (M)

99.3

92.3

Krugersdrift (FS)

100.5

98.0

Ohrigstad (M)

21.0

34.8

Groothoek (FS)

40.6

57.6

Blyderivierspoort (M)

20 May

62.7

80.2

5.7

29.3

De Mist Kraal (EC)

99.6

88.8

Katrivier (EC)

69.9

99.9

GROOT KEI RIVER Xonxa (EC)

100.0

100.3

99.8

100.4

Sterkfontein (FS)

93.3

96.1

Lubisi (EC)

56.7

63.8

Klaserie (LP)

100.0

100.1

Saulspoort (FS)

101.0

102.5

Doornrivier (EC)

78.3

99.0

Ebenezer (LP)

67.7

90.8

55.2

57.0

Waterdown (EC)

49.3

92.9

100.3

100.2

Bloemhof (FS)

102.2

102.7

17.2

42.8

Douglas Weir (NC)

110.8

109.7

7.9

14.1

Magoebaskloof (LP) Tzaneen (LP) Middle Letaba (LP)

LIMPOPO RIVER

Vaalharts Storage Weir (NC)

OLIFANTS RIVER (WC) Clanwilliam (WC)

Hartbeespoort (NW)

98.7

98.9

Olifantsnek (NW)

21.4

45.3

Buffelspoort (NW)

91.5

Bospoort (NW)

9.4

5.0

BERG RIVER

UMGENI RIVER Midmar (KZN)

100.6

104.1.

Nagle (KZN)

82.6

82.9

Albert-Falls (KZN)

51.0

55.8

Inanda (KZN)

75.6

76.1

Hazelmere (KZN)

54.4

75.0

100.0

100.1

Voëlvlei (WC)

54.8

5.0

100.3

Wemmershoek (WC)

54.8

16.4

98.6

101.2

Berg River (WC)

42.3

47.0

Spioenkop (KZN)

Lindleyspoort (NW)

12.1

41.1

Eikenhof (WC)

68.3

37.6

Driel Barrage (KZN)

92.1

91.8

Roodeplaat (G)

99.3

100.4

Steenbras (WC)

36.5

31.9

Upper Steenbras (WC)

73.6

56.0

Woodstock (KZN)

96.2

96.4

Kosterrivier (NW)

51.5

72.5

Klipvoor (NW)

100.6

101.5

Vaalkop (NW)

44.0

Roodekopjes (NW)

THUKELA

BREEDE RIVER

MFOLOSI RIVER

Brandvlei (WC)

14.8

6.0

Goedertrouw (KZN)

49.7

44.1

33.6

Roode Elsberg (WC)

14.9

6.1

Klipfontein (KZN)

99.7

100.2

62.8

100.0

Pietersfontein (WC)

34.9

40.5

Hluhluwe (KZN)

88.3

102.3

Marico Bosveld (NW)

13.6

63.4

Theewaterskloof (WC)

35.4

11.4

Pongolapoort (KZN)

47.6

45.3

Klein Maricospoort (NW)

14.0

41.3

Kwaggaskloof (WC)

20.4

5.7

Jericho (M)

64.2

89.8

Albasini (LP)

74.2

87.2

Duiwenhoks (WC)

65.3

88.8

Westoe (M)

62.4

80.8

Vondo (LP)

99.5

100.3

Morgenstond (M)

62.4

80.8

Heyshope (M)

87.5

88.8

ORANGE RIVER Katse (L)

TSITSIKAMMA RIVER Hartebeeskuil (WC)

34.7

65.9

Egmont (FS)

103.1

100.0

Gariep (FS)

99.7

96.7

2.5

5.7

Wolwedans (WC)

69.2

85.7

Kromrivier (EC)

95.3

17.2

GAMTOOS RIVER

Vanderkloof (FS)

80.5

99.5

Kouga (EC)

45.7

9.0

Boegoeberg (NC)

101.1

110.3

Loerie (EC)

79.8

95.5

VAAL RIVER Vaal (FS)

72.2

SUNDAYS RIVER 103.0

Nqweba (Van Rynevelds Pass) (EC)

# Latest available data - * Water available to RSA from Lesotho

38

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

1.4

11.2

CROCODILE/KOMATI RIVER Nooitgedacht (M)

26.0

95.7

Driekoppies (M)

75.4

67.2

Witklip (M)

99.2

100.3

Da Gama (M)

73.7

85.5

Inyaka (M)

67.4

79.1

Kwena (M)

57.2

Source: http://www.dwaf.gov.za

73.7

Approved Designers

SABI Approved Designers Agricultural GAUTENG Booysen, Juan  061 076 8691 (Brits) Claassen, Werner *  078 800 5148 (Brits) Grobler, Gerhard 071 6411 073 (Brits) Jansen van Rensburg, Theo *  082 498 5372 (Pretoria) Mendel, Eloff  082 322 0181 (Pretoria) Van der Merwe, Richard *  082 442 3300 (Pretoria)

EASTERN CAPE Ewels, Tony  083 654 7173 (East London) Frost, Hylton  082 896 1390 (Cradock) Loubser, Herman  082 477 0099 (Graaff Reinet) Mulder, Dassie *  083 423 9343 (Cradock) van Staden, Deon  082 615 0565 (Humansdorp)

KWAZULU-NATAL Lotter, Paul  082 572 9218 (Pietermaritzburg) Nsele, Nkosinathi  076 196 5003 (Ballito) Orchard, Craig*  072 806 9771 (Pietermaritzburg Pillay, Dan  082 857 7708 (Durban) Pottow, Rob  083 458 1220 (Pietermaritzburg) Raciborski, Franek  082 553 6073 (Pietermaritzburg) Vosloo, Willie *  082 571 2452 (Empangeni) van der Merwe, Jarrod  074 799 7581 (Pietermaritzburg) Zartmann, Mark  082 806 5046 (Pietermaritzburg)

Kotzé, André *  082 377 3099 (Mokopane) Muller, Heinrich *  083 730 7174 (Tzaneen) Oberholzer, Arie *  082 388 1024 (Marble Hall) Pretorius, Gert *  079 871 8502 (Mokopane) Van den Berg, Paul *  083 234 3163 (Tzaneen) Van der Stoep, Isobel *  082 331 4987 (Mooketsi)

MPUMALANGA Paul, Lothar  082 699 9307 (Komatipoort) Mulder, Andries  079 236 0222 (Malelane) Opperman, Christiaan  082 440 5098 (Komatipoort) Slabbert, Riaan  083 631 8637 (Nelspruit) Van der Merwe, André *  082 563 4109 (Malelane) Van Rooyen, Willie  083 465 5060 (Nelspruit) Rossouw, Thys  082 415 1507 (Nelspruit) Singh, Yashiel  082 447 2639 (Malelane)

ORANGE (FREE STATE) De Wet, Sarel *  082 524 9152 (Hopetown)

WESTERN CAPE

Austen, Jerry  082 558 8300 (Kuilsrivier) Barnard, Johan  083 273 8354 (Riviersonderend) Boonzaaier, Andle *  072 198 3670 (Grabouw) Breytenbach, Theuns  083 641 1351 (Stellenbosch) Cherry, Charles  082 492 2508 (Grabouw) Cornelissen, André * LIMPOPO  082 907 3129 (Vredendal) Coetzee, Gert Grobler, Johan  082 881 2799 (Robertson)  078 232 6360 (Tzaneen) Croeser, Aubrey * Heymans, Charl  082 458 0235 (Naboomspruit)  082 456 9934 (Ceres)

Landscape De Leeuw den Bouter, Werner *  082 460 8833 (Somerset West) De Swardt, Jannes  083 227 5859 (George) Du Toit, André *  082 784 2694 (Ceres) Gerber, Ruan* 072 071 7955 (Robertson) Hugo, Alewyn  082 446 4470 (Montagu) Hugo, Roelf *  082 874 0411 (Citrusdal) Johnstone, Gordon  084 298 6193 (Cape Town) Lindeque, Alan *  082 783 4123 (Cape Town) Lourens, Tian* 072 234 4948 (Caledon) Millen, Emile  082 971 8181 (Worcester) Millen, Jacques  082 771 3696 (Worcester) Prins, Gerhard  082 802 1363 (Somerset West) Rossouw, Hilgard*  076 282 5531 (Grabouw) Van Eeden, Wilhelm *  082 468 0290 (Montagu) Van der Merwe, Jan  082 785 5535 (Cape Town) Van der Merwe, Sakkie *  083 675 8871 (Citrusdal) Van Zyl, Christo  083 444 0804 (Cape Town) Van Zyl, Danie* 076 225 5838 (Hermanus) van der Merwe, Philip  083 426 0296 (Citrusdal) Visagie, Barend  082 773 3105 (Villiersdorp) Wentzel, Wimpie *  084 513 3864 (Bonnievale) Van der Merwe, Wiehan  082 615 6812 (George) Zimu, Mkhanyiseni 082 085 9734 (Bellville) Wiers, Heimo  076 481 0171 (Citrusdal)

GAUTENG: Andrew McKenzie  082 450 4747 (Johannesburg)

Claudine Holness 082 929 6967 (Johannesburg) Peet Pienaar  082 923 7755 (Pretoria)

KWAZULU NATAL: Dan Pillay  082 857 7708 (Durban) Tertius van Staden  082 416 2878 (Gateway)

WESTERN CAPE: Grant Barrett  083 457 0154 (Cape Town) Duncan McKenzie  082 4504757 (Cape Town) Jaco Neethling  079 571 9283 (Stellenbosch) Adrian White  083 639 0107 (Durbanville)

INTERNATIONAL Hards, Adrian  +61 45 1955 021 (Australia) Vermaak, Gordon  (Australia)

* Approved irrigation system evaluators SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

39

Farming

Boere toon hul vasbeslotenheid teen skaliegas in Appélhof

In brief Farmers say no to fracking in Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein heard arguments last week by Agri SA’s provincial affiliate, Agri Eastern Cape, regarding the legality of technical

D

“In the absence of satisfactory

information about the availability and treatment of water to sustain a fracking and shale gas industry in South Africa, Agri SA cannot support government’s

apparent appetite for a full-scale gas industry in this country” says Janse Rabie, Agri SA’s head of natural resources.

ie Hoogste Hof van Appèl in Bloemfontein het verlede week argumente deur Agri SA se provinsiale affiliaal, Agri Oos-Kaap, aangehoor ten opsigte van die regsgeldigheid van tegniese regulasies ten opsigte van hidrouliese breking wat vantevore deur die Minister van Mineraal Hulpbronne gepromulgeer is.

“Sonder die nodige bevredigende inligting omtrent die beskikbaarheid en behandeling van water om ’n hidrouliese breking en skaliegas industrie in Suid-Afrika te onderhou nie, kan Agri SA nie die regering se oënskynlike aptyt vir ’n gas industrie in hierdie land ondersteun nie,” sê Janse Rabie, Agri SA beleidshoof: natuurlike hulpbronne.

Die Departement van Mineraal Hulpbronne het hom tot die

40

regulations for fracking previously promulgated by the Minister of Mineral Resources.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

Appèlhof gewend na Agri Oos-Kaap, wat saam met ’n groepering belanghebbende grondeienaars optree, in Oktober 2017 oorwinning in die Grahamstadse Hooggeregshof in Makhanda behaal het toe Regter Gerald Bloem bevind het dat slegs die Minister van Omgewingsake by magte was om sodanige regulasies uit te vaardig. Agri Oos-Kaap staan die Departement se appèl teen.

“Boere en grondeienaars in die Karoo veg al sedert Januarie 2009 teen beplande skaliegasontwikkeling in die Karoo en elders in die land. Die saak is ’n bewys van boere se vasbeslotenheid om na meer as ’n dekade steeds sterk teen hidrouliese breking te staan.

namens Agri Oos-Kaap optree.

“Ek het die grootste respek vir boere en hul verteenwoordigende liggame vir hul besluit om die landbou, werkers en voedselsekerheid te beskerm.”

“’n Mens moet stamina hê om hierdie internasionale oliemaatskappye te weerstaan,” sê die prokureur Derek Light, wie

“Agri SA sal voortgaan om hulself vir die saak van elke landbouer te beywer,” sê hulle.

Die Appèlhof het uitspraak in die saak voorbehou.

Farming

Farmers resist The background

F

armers and landowners in the Karoo have resisted the Applications of large international oil companies (Shell, Bundu and Falcon) for shale gas exploration rights utilising the contentious hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) process since January 2009 through the offices of Derek Light Attorneys of Graaff-Reinet.

Doug Stern (President of Agri Eastern Cape) and farmer Lukie Strydom were flown to the USA to gain first-hand knowledge of the impacts of fracking on agriculture, courtesy of BKB. Having tenaciously resisted and successfully warded off the first two applications of Bundu they persisted in their opposition to the third application of Bundu and subsequently, the application by Falcon and Shell which collectively extended over hundreds of thousands of square kilometres in the Southern Karoo.

Farmers were concerned about the potential negative impacts of fracking on groundwater, air quality, human and animal health which they anticipated might undermine agriculture and tourism in the area.

The persistent resistance by landowners of the process lead to the current moratorium imposed by the Minister of Mineral Resources on new applications and had the further positive effect that Government had a strategic environmental assessment performed to seek specialist input from suitably qualified specialists on all of the issues raised by landowners, which said study was peer reviewed by international experts.

As a direct consequence of the opposition by farmers and landowners to the process exploration rights have not yet been awarded to any of the three applicants.

In September 2012 Cabinet took a policy decision, having accepted the report of the Government’s Task Team, to allow exploration for shale gas, but to not allow the utilization of fracking until it could be properly regulated. The Task Team together with the relevant Ministers were tasked to formulate regulations to properly regulate the said activity.

The Task Team formulated draft Regulations which the Minister published for comment and ultimately promulgated on the 3rd of June 2015, purportedly in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.

Application in Grahamstown Acting upon the advice of their legal representatives, individual landowners and district farmers unions brought an application to the High Court in Grahamstown on the 20th of November 2015 requesting the High Court to review the Minister’s decision to promulgate the Technical Regulations to regulate fracking on the following grounds: 1. That the Minister was not empowered to make the Regulations and acted ultra vires his powers in terms of the MPRDA, the power to make the Regulations being reserved to the Minister of Environmental Affairs in terms of the “One Environmental System” (the Minister’s power to regulate environmental aspects of mining were removed

by amendments to the applicable legislation in 2008 and 2013).

2. That the Minister had failed to consult on the issues relating to banned substances utilising hydraulic fracturing with a consequence that the procedure was unfair and therefore open to be set aside on constitutional grounds.

The Minister of Mineral Resources opposed the landowners’ applications and Judge Bloem ruled in favour of the landowners in a judgment handed down on the 17th of October 2017. The Regulations were set aside, and the Minister was directed to pay the costs of the application.

In the interim the action group, TKAG supported by AfriForum brought a similar application in the North Gauteng High Court. This application was dismissed with costs.

The Minister of Mineral Resources appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal (having been granted leave to appeal by Bloem J) against the judgment obtained by the farmers and agricultural unions.

TKAG and AfriForum appealed against the judgment of the High Court and the two appeals were consolidated and heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday the 16th of May 2019.

The Court has reserved Judgment having heard argument from Adv Andrew Breitenbach S.C. (assisted by Adv Mias Schreuder) on behalf of landowners and the legal representatives of the Ministers of Mineral Resources and Environmental Affairs and ultimately also, the legal representatives of TKAG and AfriForum.

The arguments advanced by Counsel for landowners, Adv Breitenbach S.C, on the issues of legality and the fact that the Minister acted ultra vires his powers were compelling and well received.

Opposing hydraulic fracturing The parties were also requested to deliver argument to the Court as to whether or not the making of Regulations by the Minister constituted administrative action amenable to review under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, or whether it was amendable to review under the common law/ constitutional grounds. It is hoped that this issue will be resolved by the judgment to be handed down by the Supreme Court of Appeal in due course.

Whilst the legal representatives for landowners were confident of a positive outcome, they cautioned that it was premature to anticipate the outcome and that the Court’s role in this process should be respected until judgment is delivered in due course.

Derek Light emphasized the fact that landowners had been tenacious in their resolve to oppose hydraulic fracturing for more than a decade. They had been supported in their efforts by Agri Eastern Cape and Agri SA and this unified approach has made it possible to be effective in their opposition to these harmful exploration and production activities.

“One must have stamina to resist these large, wealthy international oil companies and I have the greatest respect for farmers and their representative bodies for their resolve to protect agriculture, those employed therein and food security”, Light said.

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

41

Events

The future of food, at Africa’s Big 7

A

frica’s food industry is set to be disrupted by the 4th Industrial Revolution, forcing more agile approaches and more innovation to futureproof businesses, say experts set to speak at a key upcoming food and beverage event in Johannesburg.

Speakers at the two-day FOODNEXT.AFRICA conference, to be staged alongside the Africa’s Big 7 food and beverage trade show, will unpack the future of food innovation, disruptive distribution, scaling up start-ups, food safety and food waste, and the surging demand for alternative proteins at the forum – just one of the many highlights at Africa’s Big 7.

With over 250 exhibitors from 45 countries, Africa’s Big 7 is the only food and beverage trade show in Africa to bring together hundreds of global suppliers with motivated buyers from every segment of the buying community. This exciting b2b food event connects the start-ups, food innovators, foodtech businesses, investors and

partners who are redefining the food industry from farm-to-fork,” says Lynn Chamier, event director: Food, Hospitality and Trade Portfolio at dmg event.

Co-located with the SAITEX trade fair and conference and The Hotel Show hospitality trade show and Hospitality Leadership Forum,

Africa’s Big 7 food and beverage trade show and its two-day FOODNEXT.AFRICA conference will all be staged under the banner ‘Africa Trade Week’, a new integrated international trade event designed to establish South Africa as the gateway to the continent while delivering the latest cutting edge innovations, new ideas and products, trends, insight and future thinking.

About Africa Trade Week Africa Trade Week is the key new platform for continental trade across the retail, hospitality, food and beverage and wholesale sectors. Hosted by dmg events, Africa Trade Week 2019 will incorporate three leading exhibitions - The Hotel Show Africa,

Africa’s Big 7 and SAITEX, as well as their associated conferences and workshops, to create the new home of trade highlighting panAfrican business opportunities, products, services, equipment, supplies, innovations, technology and solutions.

Africa Trade Week will be held from 23rd - 25th June 2019, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

SABI is a media partner of Africa’s Big 7 and Africa Trade week.

SOUTH AFRICAN IRRIGATION INSTITUTE SUID AFRIKAANSE BESPROEIINGSINSTITUUT

World Food Prize Announces Opening of Registration for 2019 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium

F

rom the stage of the Dialogue for Asian Civilizations in Beijing, Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, announced the opening of registration for the 2019 Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium Pax Agricultura: Peace Through Agriculture.

“From the U.S.-Soviet nuclear confrontation during the Cold War, to eradicating the genocidal Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, to ending strife and terror in Africa, agriculture and rural development have played a critical role in promoting peace and preventing

42

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

conflict,” said Quinn. “It is, therefore, most appropriate that on May 16, United Nations International Day of Living in Peace Together, we opened the registration for our 2019 Borlaug Dialogue.”

The conference, which will take place on October 16-18 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, will convene an extraordinary array of international leaders, policy makers, agribusiness executives, nongovernmental organization leaders and scientific, academic and development experts to address the most critical issues facing global food security.

The theme will address the increasingly intersectional issues of food security, conflict and development,

with topics ranging from religion, diplomacy, agriculture, climate, scientific innovation and corporate leadership. This year’s Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium will be held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Des Moines.

“Confronting hunger and promoting food security can bring people together across even the broadest ethnic, religious, political or cultural divides,” said Quinn.

Register at www.worldfoodprize.org/register

Conservation

The fight against rhino poaching continues

S

ince 2010, there have been a total of 7 720 rhinos poached in South Africa. Last year alone, an average of 2 rhinos were poached every day in South Africa and it is in light of these harrowing statistics that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has renewed its sponsorship and support of the Wilderness Foundation Africa’s fight against rhino poaching.

‘‘The rhino plays a key role in the ecosystem and is also pivotal for our country’s eco-tourism.

South Africa has the biggest concentration of rhino in the world, which we want to protect and preserve for generations to come and it is this reason that Volkswagen Commercial made a decision back in 2011 to support Wilderness Foundation Africa’s anti-poaching activities, “said Andile Dlamini, Head of Volkswagen Group South Africa Communications.

The Forever Wild Rhino Initiative provides logistical and operational support for conservation and law enforcement agencies responsible for rhino management and security. It is also involved in raising public awareness of the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa, managing a rhino antipoaching tip off hotline as well as managing and implementing a rhino horn demand reduction campaign in Vietnam.

Additional key activities of the Forever Wild Rhino Initiative include vehicle support, rhino rescue support, dog support, air support, intelligence gathering and specialist support, rhino syndicate investigations and Eastern Cape Rhino DNA collection.

Amaroks In the last eight years, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has supported the initiative through the sponsorship of Amarok pick-ups. The Amaroks have operated in South Africa’s rhino population hot spots in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

The R2 million annual sponsorship sees six Amaroks being used for on-the-ground protection of rhino populations, rhino and wildlife crime syndicate investigation support, rhino DNA collection, air support for rhino security and rhino monitoring, supporting of K9 units, treating rhino that have survived poaching incidents, education and awareness of the rhino poaching crisis and education of the youth from communities surrounding game reserves.

This year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will also be supporting Wilderness Foundation Africa’s Rhino Horn Demand Reduction Campaign. This campaign aims to reduce the demand for rhino horn in Vietnam, which is one of the largest end-markets of illegal rhino horn. Wilderness Foundation Africa has been working with the youth in Vietnam

Amarok in action

since 2014 and this year 14 Vietnamese youth will be travelling to South Africa to take part in wilderness trails and workshops in Mfolozi Game Reserve.

‘‘We are proud that for the past eight years, the Amaroks have driven more than one million kilometres protecting South Africa’s rhino population and are proud to continue supporting the important cause, “concluded Dlamini.

K9’s in the Kruger Park

S

ABI member Thys Rossouw of B&H Irrigation in Nelspruit who is a volunteer Ranger in the Kruger says they had a fantastic K9 day in White River recently, which served to educate the public and especially the children about the work of K9 in the Kruger Park.

Thys kindly shared some photographs of the awesome dogs of the Kruger, who did demonstrations looking for rhino horn, ivory

and ammunition. More power to the rangers and these incredible animals in their work against poaching of our African wildlife!

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

43

Motoring

Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa Sets the benchmark for agricultural solutions at NAMPO Vans South Africa Sets the benchmark Mercedes-Benz for agricultural solutions At NAMPO Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa will be showcasing a range of vehicles that are perfectly suited for a number of agricultural applications, as well as its associated uses. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Vito, V-Class, and X-Class are all poised to ensure the division has one of the most robust offerings at the show.

“In the face of constantly growing agricultural needs, Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa continues to offer economical and versatile vehicle solutions.

The demand for industrious agricultural transport solutions are provided for by the Sprinter, Vito and X-Class. For more luxurious and leisurely applications, the V-Class is the perfect reward for those who toil on farms and other agricultural spaces. In short, Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa has the ultimate working and leisure line-up for the farm or the town,” said Nadia Trimmel, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa.

Additionally, what will prove to

be one of the most exciting debuts at NAMPO will be the X-Class V6, with a powerful six-cylinder engine, 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive. All of its 190 kW and a peak torque of 550 Nm will be dominating the 4x4 track at the show, reigning supreme as the most powerful double cab in South Africa.

X-Class The X-Class - the first double cab from a premium manufacturer - convincingly combines the versatility of a double-cab with the luxury of a passenger car.

The X-Class is robust with exceptional load capacity and off-road capability, yet it is also aesthetically pleasing, dynamic to drive, comfortable and safe. These traits make it the discerning farmer’s vehicle of choice, both on and off the beaten track.

Launched in March 2019, the new Sprinter will be displayed in freight carrier and camper van guise at NAMPO. Attendees will witness how it continues where its predecessor left off by embodying attributes that have made it so successful: flexibility, robustness and being economical, traits that are particularly top of mind for the agricultural sector.

Sprinter The Sprinter offers a number of applications for countless industries, including the agricultural sector. It is available in a number of variants – depending on body length, payload, cargo space, roof heights and equipment options. The variety of seating configurations offered also makes it easily the most versatile large van in the country, ready to service the farming community. Maximum cargo volume is up to 15.5 m3, with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of up to 5.5 tonnes.

The versatile Vito is also on display at NAMPO, offering farmers tangible external strengths, maximum benefits and low cost of ownership, a topic that is always a significant factor in the competitive agricultural sector.

For hardworking farmers and their families, the V-Class combines room for up to eight people and exemplary functionality with high-class appeal, comfort, efficient driving pleasure and safety that distinguish automobiles bearing the three-pointed star. This makes the Mercedes, among MPVs, the perfect vehicle for those in the agricultural sector who appreciate boundless space but do not want to sacrifice style and comfort.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

44

SABI JUNE/JULY 2019

Do something positive for water

Boosting irrigation knowledge and water conservation through training

 Train for a career in the irrigation industry IrrigationWise Academy

 Expand your existing knowledge with extensive training courses

L E A R N TO G R O W

+27 21 850 8220 – info@sabi.co.za – www.sabi.co.za

SOUTH AFRICAN IRRIGATION INSTITUTE SUID AFRIKAANSE BESPROEIINGSINSTITUUT

SANCID

South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage



Training updates | Subscriptions

TRAINING Update IrrigationWise Academy L E A R N TO G R O W

Course for the agricultural irrigaiton industry and designers D1 - Introduction to Irrigation Equipment & Installation Nelspruit — 11-13 June Upington — 16-18 July

Subscribe now!

D3 Introductory Irrigation Design Course Stellenbosch 8-12 July, 5-8 August Pretoria 24-28 June, 22-26 July, 19-22 August

Courses for the landscape irrigation industry L1 - Landscape irrigation installation course Stellenbosch — 25-28 June Pretoria — 18-21 June For further information, please call 021 850 8220 or email admin@sabi.co.za or info@sabi.co.za

Make sure you receive every edition of SABI Magazine, subscribe now.

Complete the form and fax with proof of payment to 021 850 8220.

Title:

Initials:

Surname:

Organisation:

VAT Number:

Postal address / Pos adres: ______________________

Tel:

Fax:

Email: Annual subscription (6 issues): R300 for digital and R300 for print (Excluding VATl)

Complete the form and send to – info@sabi.co.za SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

47

Contacts | Diary

SABI Council 2018-2019 PRESIDENT – Willie Vosloo E-mail: aquadrip@iafrica.com Cell: 082 571 2452

Dagboek | Diary SABI National Congress 2019 12-15 August 2019 Tsogo Sun Elangeni & Maharani - Durban, KwaZulu-Natal “Climate of Change & Opportunity”

PAST PRESIDENT – Tony Ewels E-mail: tony@amairri.co.za Cell: 083 654 7173

VICE-PRESIDENT – Ian de Jager E-mail: ian@ifengineering.co.za Cell: 082 577 0677 SECRETARY/TREASURER – Felix Reinders E-mail: reindersf@arc.agric.za Cell: 082 495 0332 |

GAUTENG BRANCH –Albertus Burger E-mail: aburger@grundfos.com Cell: 076 991 6842

EASTERN CAPE BRANCH – Graham Delmar E-mail: grahamd@humkoop.co.za Cell: 082 560 2163

S A W Africa

KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH – Darran Boote

knowledge product success

E-mail: dboote@illovo.co.za Cell: 083 853 3165

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

LIMPOPO BRANCH – Francois Fourie E-mail: coisfourie@tt-i.co.za Cell: 083 626 6573

MPUMALANGA BRANCH – Michael Esmeraldo E-mail: Michael.esmeraldo@netafim.com Cell: 082 855 1987

Start preparing to attend, present and exhibit at irrigation’s biggest event.

Email riana@sabi.co.za or info@sabi.co.za to find out more.

ORANGE BRANCH – André Coetzee E-mail: andre@turf-ag.co.za Cell: 082 330 3456

WESTERN CAPE BRANCH – Willem Smit E-mail: willem.smit@netafim.com Cell: 082 377 0004

SABI OFFICE GENERAL MANAGER – Riana Lombard E-mail: riana@sabi.co.za Cell: 083 303 3596

Training Officer – Annemarie van der Westhuizen E-mail: annemarie@sabi.co.za Cell: 082 774 4163

MEDIA MANAGER – Carol Posthumus E-mail: carol@sabi.co.za Cell: 083 298 7623

ADMINISTRATION OFFICER – René van der Merwe E-mail: admin@sabi.co.za Tel: 021 850 8220

Advertisers Agrinet IBC OKE 33 Agriplas

14 Netafim OBC Calafrica 44 SAW Africa 13 Franklin Electric 8 Sizabantu Piping Systems IFC Hose Manufacturers 17 TORO AG 20 Irrigation Unlimited 3 Knittex 19 WPS 26 Lindsay Africa

11 ZEST WEG

28

Microjet 45 Zoeller 29

48

SABI | JUNE/JULY 2019

TďšşTAPE

Drip Tape for Fruit & Vegetables

OUTSTANDING AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE A unique feature of T-Tape is the high number of inlet filters each emitter contains.

Inlet filters

Every T-Tape emitter contains 13 to 211 inlet filters (depending on configuration).

T-Tape requires just 5 inlet filters open to function correctly. Not only does this provide outstanding protection in every emitter, it also helps T-Tape perform in conditions where other drip lines may fail.

www.rivulis.com Available from participating agricultural retailers and irrigation suppliers nationwide.

Distributed by

* at 70 cm above ground level