South Africa is naturally a water-scarce country, the 30th driest in the world. Combined with unpredictable climate conditions, diminishing water tables, and chronic mismanagement of water systems, water availability is becoming a cause for concern across all sectors of the economy.
Few sectors, however, are impacted as severely as agriculture. Field crops, fruits and vegetables rely heavily on irrigation, and these crops combined mean that 33% of South Africa’s total farming income is directly dependent on irrigation.
The livestock sector, which accounts for 43% of gross farming income, also requires water to keep animals hydrated, grow crops for feed, and for processing.
Food and water shortages looming in Africa
A concerning study, published recently by the Center for Global Development, found that 50 million Africans are likely to be pushed into water distress by 2050.
With a higher demand for water resources than what’s available, water prices will skyrocket and water across Africa is likely to be very expensive in the future if significant steps aren’t taken to mitigate climate change and make water saving a way of life.
John Hudson, Head of Agriculture at Nedbank, says the high cost and limited availability of fresh water is driving the agriculture sector to find cost-effective ways to use water more efficiently. “Water is a limited resource and is not renewable, unlike electricity powered by solar, wind and hydro. So, we need to find ways to use less water to produce more food.”
Make every drop count with Agrico’s irrigation systems
Hudson says the evidence is overwhelming that we must do everything we can to save water while there is water to save. “Farmers need to ensure they’re getting the most out of the water they are using. A host of tech exists for this, including increasingly sophisticated irrigation systems.”
Fortunately, it is possible to increase a farm’s resilience to water scarcity. A little-known fact is that a well-designed centre-pivot irrigation system offers 80% to 95% efficiency in application, compared with around 70% for flood systems and other sprinkler irrigation methods.
This improved efficiency is what prompted Nedbank to partner with Agrico, the leading irrigation equipment manufacturer in South Africa, to offer enhanced financing options for new centre-pivot irrigation systems.
“Our partnership is making this technology more accessible for our clients, as we offer finance of up to 100% of the cost of the system at preferential interest rates over financing periods of up to 10 years,” says Hudson.
Agrico’s centre-pivot irrigation systems offer numerous benefits to ensure that every drop of this precious resource is used optimally. Nozzles uniformly distribute precise amounts of water with minimal losses due to run-off and evaporation. This prevents overwatering and ensures that the correct levels of moisture are maintained in the soil.
The system is also compatible with LEPA (low energy precise application), which places sprinklers close to the ground and reduces the spacing between them to maintain irrigation uniformity. This means the water is placed directly at the root zone, greatly reducing evaporation caused by strong winds or high temperatures.
Water management at the click of a button
The Agrico Web Control system is another game changer, offering farmers real-time monitoring and automation of their systems via an app on any smart device from anywhere in the world. Combined with GPS technology and variable speed drives (VSDs), Web Control also allows centre pivots to also excel in uneven topographies.
With this intuitive web application, you can adjust the strength of your motors and pumps to meet each pivot’s exact needs at any moment as the towers move across your fields, resulting in major water and energy savings.
- Sources: Adom, PK. 2024. ‘The Socioeconomic Impact of Climate Change in Developing Countries in the Next Decades’. Center for Global Development. Visit ly/3Za6xNQ; SABI (South African Irrigation Institute); South African Irrigation Institute. 2017. ‘Sabi Norms For The Design Of Irrigation Systems’. Visit bit.ly/4dPfwZs.
