Guru Singh from Morning Site Farm, outside Chisamba, Zambia, started farming 15 years ago. Back then, he knew little to nothing about farming.
“It was not a family farm. Now, I am making it one. I have introduced my grandson to the business and hopefully he is going to take over from me.”
His farm of 500 hectares has 20 hectares under drip-irrigation. He also has two Agrico centre pivots, one of 25 hectares and one of 35 hectares, which he controls manually with gauges.
“Agrico came and offered me the automatic option, but I am old school,” he jokes. “All my guys are also trained manually. If something works for you, why change it?”
The main water supply for Guru’s farm comes from eight boreholes, which gives him between 12 and 15 litres per second each. Water is pumped into reservoirs from where booster pumps send it towards the irrigation outlets.
Guru usually grows wheat and soya under his centre pivots. This year, he planted maize for the first time. He also grows cash crops like cabbages, tomatoes, and green maize, which he provides to the market, every day.
When he originally started farming, Guru relied solely on rain guns. Japhet Sayifwanda, Country Sales Manager for Agrico Zambia, helped Guru to make the change to drip-irrigation.
Now, Guru is never looking back. Although Zambia is experiencing a drought, he barely notices it. All his crops are under irrigation, and none are reliant on rain. “I have not experienced the drought’s impact at all. What I am today, is because of the irrigation system.”
He plans on expanding his drip-irrigation soon.
“Rain guns were good when I started, but now that I can compare it to drip-irrigation, I do not like it anymore. So, I’m trying to phase them out and increase drip-irrigation.”
“I have been using irrigation systems for ten years. The benefits I am getting are countless. Farming became more efficient, production increased, and profit increased.
“I have learned a lot from Agrico. They are friendly people who are ready to share information with you,” he continues.
Guru is learning as he goes. That is why he needs a partner to walk with him. He has chosen Agrico, and has no regrets.
“My first contact is always Japhet. We are like partners now. We work together very well. They supply, I work. I recommend Agrico to everybody. Why? Because I am successful and I want every farmer to be successful.”
When a farmer contacts Agrico, a representative visits the farm to talk with the farmer about his exact needs. “We create a design, sit with the farmer and once he approves, we do the installation. Some farmers are just starting, they have no idea what type of irrigation to use, but we at Agrico are experts and we also train farmers how to use the systems.
“Our initiative is to meet the needs of the farmer. We like to build a long-term relationship with the farmer. He becomes our friend,” explains Japhet.
“Agrico has the best pivots available. The systems are easy to operate, any farmer can operate it. The parts are also simple and available at our many branches. There is also no other company who’s pricing can compare with ours,” says Japhet.
Should you find yourself not in Zambia, but elsewhere, do not be concerned. “We export to other African countries like Congo, Zimbabwe, and Malawi,” Japhet says.
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There are two Agrico branches in Zambia, one in Mkushi and one in Lusaka. If you are interested in Agrico irrigation, give Japhet a call at (+26)96-768-1111.
At Vrymansfontein, part of the Vondeling Group in South Africa’s Paarl district, almond farming is thriving thanks to a combination of ideal climate and efficient irrigation practices. With plans to harvest its first commercial crop in 2025, the farm uses a tailored drip irrigation system designed in partnership with Agrico to meet the specific needs of almonds.
Inwoners van Lichtenburg in Noordwes ervaar al meer as twee weke lank onderbrekings in kragtoevoer, nadat ‘n Eskom-transformator gebreek het en ‘n kabelfout by ‘n minisubstasie ontstaan het. Agrico het saam met ander tegniese spanlede van plaaslike ondernemings, hulp aangebied om die probleem op te los.
Groot Phesantekraal Boerdery, naby Durbanville, is een van Suid-Afrika se oudste plase en die eerste koringplaas. In 2024 is dit ‘n diverse familieboerdery, bestuur deur die vierde en vyfde geslag van die Brink-familie. Hul vennootskap met Agrico staan deur die jare. Beide Agrico en die boerdery is in Durbanville geleë, wat hul verbintenis aan die gemeenskap versterk.
Gerrie Scholtz met springmielies, koring en lusern in die Vrystaat. Gerrie het drie jaar gelede sy eenste masjien met Agrico Web Contol toegerus as ‘n toets. Vandag is daar nie een van sy stelsels wat nie van Web Contol gebruik maak nie.
Op Donderdag, 5 September 2024, is 140 inheemse bome geplant op die plaas De Rust in Elgin, die tuiste van Paul Cluver Wynlande. Wat begin het as ‘n kampvuur-gesprek tussen vriende, het ontaard in ‘n inisiatief wat nie net die natuur bevoordeel nie, maar ook die plaaslike leerders betrek.
Spilpunte bied ‘n uitstekende oplossing om groot areas effektief te besproei, maar verg ordentlike beplanning, installasie en onderhoud. In die verband kan die advies van ‘n gekwalifiseerde besproeiingsontwerper ‘n deurslaggewende rol speel, meen Johan Myburgh, hoof meganiese ingenieur by Agrico.
