In the challenging world of agriculture, farmers constantly seek methods to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and ensure sustainable farming practices. Drip irrigation offers numerous advantages over traditional methods of watering crops and can help any farmer achieve these goals
As Martin Bahnemann, Netafim South Africa’s business developer for small-scale farming, explains, drip irrigation is not just a irrigation method, but a revolutionary approach that can significantly improve the viability of small-scale farming, particularly in the production of seasonal vegetables.
For farmers engaged in seasonal vegetable production, ensuring the efficient use of water is crucial. Drip irrigation is widely recognised as the most viable irrigation method for such crops.
According to Bahnemann, “Drip irrigation makes a huge difference. It decreases labour, allowing you to irrigate one to three hectares with the turn of a single tap.
“With this technology, one person can single-handedly apply water and fertiliser , a stark contrast to the old-fashioned methods like overhead sprinklers, which require constant movement and can damage crops significantly.”
Other irrigation systems, such as impact sprinklers, require continual manual intervention, including moving the sprinklers and dragging hoses, which can be both labour-intensive and harmful to crops.
In contrast, drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plant roots, ensuring that each drop is used effectively. “For every litre of water put down by impact sprinklers, you are often only applying half that amount to the crops,” Bahnemann highlights.
This inefficiency is avoided with drip irrigation, making it the ideal choice for vegetable growers on any scale who need to maximise the return on every litre of water used.
Addressing misconceptions
Despite its many benefits, some farmers remain hesitant to adopt drip irrigation, perceiving it as complex and difficult to manage. Bahnemann addresses this misconception directly, noting that the root of any problems usually lies in water filtration.
“The issue often goes back to the filtration of the water. If farmers don’t filter the water properly, the system will indeed give them problems. But with the right filtration, a drip irrigation system can run optimally for decades.”
The key to maintaining an efficient drip irrigation system is proper water filtration and system maintenance. Bahnemann suggests using high-quality filters.
“If you’ve got the right filter, your drip irrigation system will work,” he assures. Keeping the water clean is essential, and with proper maintenance, farmers can enjoy the long-term benefits of drip irrigation without the complications some fear.
Management and maintenance
For farmers to fully realise the benefits of drip irrigation, proper management and maintenance are essential. Bahnemann explains that the effectiveness of drip irrigation is often hidden beneath the surface.
“It typically leaves a wet spot on the surface, but the secret is underground and what happens there. Water doesn’t just move up and down; it moves sideways as well, depending on the soil type.”
In clay soils, water tends to move horizontally, while in sandy soils, it moves more vertically. To ensure that water is reaching the plant roots effectively, Bahnemann advises farmers to inspect their fields regularly to understand how water moves in their soil.
“Get out into your field with a spade, and dig a small hole where the roots are. If you see that water is not reaching down to about 30 centimetres, you need to increase the duration of watering. Conversely, if water is seeping beyond 40 centimetres, you may be overwatering.”
This hands-on approach allows farmers to fine-tune their irrigation practices, ensuring that crops receive the optimal amount of water.
Importance of precision in resource use
Precision in water and resource use is critical for modern farming, and drip irrigation offers unparalleled accuracy in this regard.
“The precision comes down to good drip irrigation,” says Bahnemann. “You put every drop of water right at the root of the plant, creating an environment that benefits the crops and disadvantages pests that can eat into profits.”
Drip irrigation is scalable and systems can be designed with small pumps and low pressure requirements depending on the circumstances, making them not only efficient but also an option for farming on any scale. Bahnemann shares a compelling case study to illustrate its value.
On communal farms in the SADC region, one farmer who switched from impact sprinklers to drip irrigation saw his productivity nearly double compared to that of his neighbours.
By investing in a small automatic filter alongside his system, the farmer not only increased crop yields but also significantly reduced input costs. “You can’t create a more winning scenario than that,” Bahnemann remarks.
A climate-smart and profitable choice
In an era where climate change poses significant risks to agriculture, drip irrigation truly stands out as a climate-smart solution.
Bahnemann points out that during a catastrophic flood in the region, the only farmers who did not lose their crops were those using drip irrigation as their crop was more resilient.
This resilience, combined with the system’s ability to maximise water use and reduce input costs, makes it an indispensable tool for farmers aiming to run a profitable and sustainable vegetable farm on any scale.
By adopting drip irrigation, farmers can significantly improve their crop yields, reduce labour and resource costs, and ensure their farms are more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
As Bahnemann puts it, “In terms of climate-smart and profitable farming, you cannot get better than drip irrigation.”
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