Since 1896, Agrico has grown to become the largest supplier of irrigation equipment in Southern Africa. When Walter Andrag, managing director of Agrico, is asked about the company, excitement lights up his eyes.
“We have a rich history of more than 100 years in the industry, so farmers place their trust in the Agrico brand. Loyalty is earned if you provide a good service over a long period of time,” says Walter.
Together with Walter at the helm of affairs is his cousin, Roland Andrag, the technical director of Agrico. Roland says it is Agrico’s goal to offer an optimal irrigation solution to farmers. “You have to put yourself in the farmer’s shoes and act as if it is your money and your farm,” says Roland.
Walter adds: “Farming means something different to every farmer. It is our job to help farmers use water, energy and capital optimally to farm profitably. Everything we do at Agrico is about the customer and ways to improve his/her life and business and put their interests first.”
Young and old: the passionate team behind Agrico’s success
Running a successful irrigation business requires constant innovation. This is only possible with a team of enthusiastic experts. With three factories and 40 branches across Southern Africa, the Agrico team consists of hundreds of members with lots of passion.
A large team of experts are involved in each project: irrigation designers visit farms and are in direct contact with customers; mechanical, electronic and operational engineers handle the research and design of products; a manufacturing team leads production; and internal system managers look after the process flows and integration, thus keeping the train on track.
“Our team has grown quite a bit over the past year. We have a vibrant young team of technical people who bring new thinking and a certain drive to the company, paired with people with decades of experience in all the various aspects of irrigation,” says Roland.
Local manufacturing brings you even closer to the farmer
Agrico’s products are manufactured in South Africa and distributed to branches across the region. Local manufacturing enables the company to connect directly with farmers and to rapidly deliver customised products and solutions that are focused on the South African and African market.
“Agrico is in a privileged position where we have the scale to have a large part of the value chain in our hands. This means that there is a very close link between the market and our product. We are in a better position to respond quickly to feedback, solve problems, and adjust our presentation and products accordingly,” Walter explains.
A season full of highlights and milestones
With a focus on continuous expansion and innovation, both Andrags believe there is great momentum within the business right now.
“What gives me the most pleasure is to see how the team develops and grows,” says Roland. “There is so much happening in the organisation. If I must highlight something, it is our PVC manufacturing. We have invested a lot of capital and thereby improved our quality, which is currently bringing in good sales – we cannot keep up!”
Walter shares a few highlights that have stood out for him over the past two years in Agrico: “Expansion is one of our themes and it means several things. We are continuously expanding the branch network; we are privileged to have been able to open branches in Komatipoort and Empangeni, giving us good exposure to the sugar industry.”
What will change and what will stand firm in the next century
When Walter is asked where he sees Agrico in the next 100 years, he replies: “Things change so quickly, but we will continue to focus on what will remain the same. Customers will always want good service, customers will always want competitive prices and a steadfast service provider, and for the rest … time will tell!”
He adds that Agrico intends to further expand its branch network to gain greater retail representation, as well as to continuously invest in the company’s manufacturing capacity.
“Agriculture is a long-term business. It is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to do the right thing every day and have a long-term focus, and I think that is what Agrico does well. We are excited and passionate about playing our small part in helping to feed the nation,” says Walter.
Contact Agrico at +27 21 950 4111, send an email to [email protected] or visit their website www.agrico.co.za
