The Bekker Group, based in Marble Hall, Limpopo, comprises Wording Boerdery and Toitskraal Sitrus. The farming operation covers approximately 450ha, focusing on citrus and wheat, with canola recently added to the rotation. Citrus production includes lemons, soft citrus, navels, and Valencias, with the main harvest running from April to September.
The group also follows a cover crop rotation system, planting maize and soya beans in summer and wheat and canola in Winter.
The current owner, Francois Bekker, took over the family farm in 2008 and has since overseen significant expansion. Under his management, the business has prioritised crop selection, soil sustainability, digitisation, and automation to ensure both profitability and long-term sustainability for the farm.
A skilled management team oversees operations, with each farm manager specialising in a specific crop.
Farm manager Janus, who joined the group in 2021, introduced Farmable, a digital tool aimed at improving efficiency. He sees the adoption of technology as part of the farm’s ongoing drive for operational improvement.
Farmable spoke to Janus to find out more how the app has made farming easier.
What got you started in farming?
Farming is what I love. It’s not just a job to me; it’s my passion. There’s nothing else that excites me quite like the day-to-day work on the farm. I can’t see myself doing anything else.
What keeps you farming?
Farming is what he loves and is passionate about, there’s not something else that would excite him more as ‘day to day’. It is not just a ‘job’ for him.
Where did you first hear about Farmable?
I first came across Farmable through a Google search for farm management tools, mainly for spray record monitoring. I had tried a few other systems, but what stood out about Farmable was its overall usability. I had thought about developing my own program, but after trying Farmable, I realised it met all my needs and was incredibly user-friendly. Every update they’ve rolled out has been impressive.
How have you integrated Farmable into your farming operations?
I initially used Farmable on the table grape farms, and it’s since expanded into the broader Bekker Group’s operations. I started with tracking spray jobs, and now we manage almost all farming operations through Farmable. Farmable is now used for all crops, and we’ve subscribed to Farmable Pro and Product Inventory Management. This lets us manage tasks, export reports for Global GAP audits, and keep track of product inventory levels. We also provide feedback regularly, which is crucial for improving the platform.
How have you adapted Farmable to enhance security?
We have mapped out zones for our security team to focus on during each shift and marked out key areas for them to monitor. The app tracks their routes with GPS, and they can log any issues in real-time. It was a bit of a learning curve for the security staff, as many hadn’t used a system like this before, but within three days, they were using it seamlessly. We were initially concerned about data usage, but it’s been minimal, and the only real issue we’ve had is device battery life, which is just a matter of getting into the habit of charging the devices.
What is the best feature about Farmable?
The best feature of Farmable for me is its ability to plan and delegate jobs efficiently. It lets me organise tasks in advance, and capturing spray records is simple. The reports generated are straightforward, which the team really values. Even for workers with limited tech experience, adopting Farmable has been easy. What I appreciate most is how much time and effort Farmable saves me. It has made communication and information-sharing with my team so much easier.
In conclusion, data is important for any business. It does not matter how you capture it, as long as you capture it. However, analysing and measuring this data is where its true value lies, although this process can be time-consuming.
Farmable has streamlined this process with easy data capture directly in the field.
To learn more about Farmable or to download the app, visit https://farmable.tech/.
