– Sanette Carrick
It’s misty with thick fog on our way to Okkie Vermeulen and his co-partner Chris van der Post’s farm, Disselfontein, just outside Hopetown, nearby Kimberley. This team are doing groundbreaking work with their almond crop and we popped in to learn more about their work. Jaco Nolte of Agrico Kimberley is the project’s irrigation designer and Jaco joined us in our quest to learn more about Almonds in the Northern Cape.
Okkie and Chris wanted to plant a nut crop that will adapt and flourish in the specific environment with its extreme temperatures, and, at the same time, is in demand in local and international markets. After months of research and agronomic visits, soil analyses, planning and eventually designing the system, they took the chance and planted 54ha under almonds. Several trial blocks have been planted where different evaluations are carried out with, among others, tree spacing, feeding, fertilizer programs and many more.
Jaco Nolte designed a micro and drip irrigation system. The micro system has a dual purpose in the design. It is used to create in the orchard a softer, more tropical climate for the trees during pollination and then also for frost protection during the cold months in the orchard. By placing the sprayers higher than the trees, frost management and cooling are applied.
The temperatures in a 54ha orchard can fluctuate to 3°C in several places and this results in the need to protect the small fruit from frost after pollination, which means that the tree row is constantly irrigated. Thus, a thin layer of ice forms around the fruit that keeps the temperature at freezing. The ice sheet must be washed off all the time to prevent ice build-up. The cost challenge is to have a well-designed system where the entire orchard can be irrigated at the right precipitation rate, simultaneously.
Effective frost control is based on applying different principles, each of which will contribute to reducing the risk of cold damage.
These include:
Part of Jaco’s design includes an additional drip irrigation system for a later phase of the development. The drip system will be responsible for feeding and irrigation, with the microsystem used for cooling and frost control.
Chris and Okkie looked for a cultivar that will adapt well to the specific area, hence their choice to plant Nonparell. Almonds are all about colour, taste and texture. Nonparell is the sweetest almond with a pretty golden brown colour and a powdery texture. The cultivar also blooms three times per year, is self-pollinating but responds well to cross-pollinators. Along with Nonparell, a series of cross-pollinators were planted, this also reduces the risk and ensures the sustainability of the project.
Originally, the trees were planted 2m in-the-row with rows 5m apar t. High density plantings of 1x5m orchards are also evaluated.
The almond tree is pruned only after planting for ideal tree formation. The branches are very soft and flexible and as the tree grows and produces nuts, the effective penetration of sunlight is promoted. Optimal vegetative growth is stimulated. When the tree branches become too heavy due to the harvest load and begins to bend downwards, the trees are tied up for reinforcement and to ensure that the branches do not break.
Flowering and pollination times are around September, although the cultivar is self-pollinating, Chris also uses their bees to improve pollination. Harvest time usually occurs around March. A “shaking machine” is used with a net that goes around the tree’s trunk and then shakes the tree so that the nuts fall off. With the high-density orchards, a press machine can also be used that runs over the top of the trees and collects the crop. A large almond weighs around 1.2grams.
According to Chris, almonds are a commodity with a wider market than pecans. Almonds are used not only in nut form but also processed into flour, milk and beauty products. The price is also more stable, and of course, the South African market is not yet saturated, there is still great demand for the product. Of course, they also are also considering the export market, particularly seen as though California, a producer of almonds, is experiencing serious water shortages. Indeed, California produces 82% of the world’s almonds.
Chris and Okkie wanted a system which enables them to enjoy full control of their orchards. To make this possible, Phillip Kleinhans and Hein Venter of Agriplas inserted a Nutricontrol system, which it makes it possible for the farmers to control the system on their mobile phones and computers.
The Nutricontrol system controls the on-and-off switch of pumps, the flushing of 16 sand filters, volumetric fertiliser application and 17 field or hydraulic taps. Everything is controlled through Agriplas RX receivers, as well as a water meter which is essential for effective resource management. Agriplas Gulf Micro Sprinklers are used for cooling and frost control.
The idea is to add a weather station to the system later, as well as bet ter control of fertilizer programs.
For any technical enquiries, Wimpie Maree can be contacted at Agriplas (wmaree@agriplas.co.za) or Jaco Nolte at Agrico Kimberley (jaco.nolte@agrico.co.za).
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.
