A website and visualised data make up the Virtual Irrigation Academy, which teaches farmers to develop effective irrigation infrastructure through soil monitoring. Siyanda Sishuba reports.
The Virtual Irrigation Academy (VIA) is a website where farmers can learn how to improve crop yields through better management of irrigation water, soil nutrients and salinity levels.
The system introduces simple tools for managing irrigation more effectively through monitoring, observation, and experimentation.
The project is headed by Dr Richard Stirzaker of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Partner country project leaders include Dr Brian Isabirye of the Association for Strengthening Agriculture in Eastern and Central Africa; Dr Isaac Fandika, Malawi Department of Agricultural Research Services; Dr Eliakim Matekere of Tanzania’s National Irrigation Commission; and Dr Joe Stevens of the University of Pretoria.
The project has brought together the University of South Australia, the South African Water Research Commission, and the International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid Tropics (ICRISAT).
The long-term aims of the project are to increase productivity and profitability through better management of water and nutrients on smallholder irrigation farms; sustainable water and salinity management; and improved return on investment from irrigation infrastructure.
THE IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION
Adam McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to South Africa, says that wider irrigation implementation could contribute significantly to food security in sub-Saharan African countries. However, major difficulties have been experienced in earning an adequate return on investment from irrigation in Africa. Water governance institutions are weak, and irrigated land is often significantly degraded or abandoned.
Denne historien er fra 19 May 2017-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.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra 19 May 2017-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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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.
