Cost-effective farming practices and optimal efficiency are both crucial to the survival of South Africa’s sugar cane industry. Faced with dwindling sugar prices and high input costs, RCL Foods is trialling variable rate irrigation on one of their farms, with excellent results. Lindi Botha reports.
Avariable rate irrigation (VRI) system implemented on a centre pivot at one of RCL Foods’ sugar cane farms in Malelane, Mpumalanga, has resulted in greater efficiency and considerable savings. While still in its trial phase, the project is showing promising results, with a 30% reduction in input costs.
Although an established technology in agriculture that delivers proven benefits, VRI is not widely used in South Africa.
Hennie Greyling, cane operations manager at RCL Foods’ sugar and milling division in Malelane, explains that with an increasing focus on saving water and improving the profitability of sugar production, the company decided to explore VRI, as Canadian farmers had had much success with it.
“The technology has never been widely implemented in South Africa because water availability had never really been a problem [for sugar cane growers] until the drought hit us three years ago. We’re now conducting a trial to see how the technology fares under our conditions. So far, we’ve been happy with the results, but we need at least five years of data to make a call. After that, we could end up converting all our pivots to VRI.”
RCL Foods launched the trial last year on an 80ha land fitted with a centre pivot irrigation system.
Since implementation, the company has saved 33% in pumping and fertiliser costs and a further 30% on water usage. Greyling notes that if they continue on this path, the R1 million invested in the technology will pay for itself in three years.
SOIL MAPPING
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Denne historien er fra June 21, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
