Automation and advanced irrigation technology are revolutionising farming, making it more efficient and cost-effective. In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, Niki Theron, product manager for Netafim South Africa, discusses how automation and digital farming are transforming every aspect of farming, from the pump house to the greenhouse and beyond.
Theron explains that digital farming in the irrigation sector focuses on integrating controllers, fertigation systems, and monitoring devices to ensure precise water and nutrient management.
“Digital farming automation is the heart of any irrigation system, which needs to perform 24/7. Sometimes it can also be only monitoring devices, informing the farmer what is happening in the field.
“All in all, it’s a product that operates on a digital level, providing information to the user and, in most cases, executing tasks that enable the user to manage large and complex systems with minimal resources,” he says.
Theron says the future of irrigation technology promises even more precision and integration, offering farmers improved control over their farms and more time to focus on other aspects of their business.
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He also touches on how Netafim’s GrowSphere OS and advanced fertigation systems are transforming the irrigation landscape. Theron adds that it is helping South African farmers remain competitive globally despite challenges like power shortages and climate conditions.
In this episode, Theron also explains fertigation, describing it as the application of fertiliser through the irrigation system. To ensure accurate fertilisation, a dosing unit injects fertiliser into the mainline, maintaining the correct ratio based on the water volume being used.
“The EC and the pH of the water can also be monitored, and alterations can be done automatically by the controller to keep a constant water quality going to the field. In greenhouses or hydroponics, water EC and pH are critical. Quick actions are a must, and the NATOJets are designed to handle these tasks,” he says.
In this episode, Theron also discusses:
- Irrigation controllers and their function;
- GrowSphere MAX and its benefits.
Dive deeper into the episode and gain insights from the award-winning Farmer’s Inside Track, officially recognised as Africa and the world’s best podcast at the 2024 Digital Media Awards presented by WAN-IFRA, the global press organisation.
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