Netafim, the global pioneer of drip irrigation technology, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1965 on a kibbutz in Israel’s Negev desert, the company has introduced innovations that have transformed farming practices worldwide, including in Southern and East Africa.
Michael Esmeraldo, managing director of Netafim Southern and East Africa, traces the company’s origins to the invention of drip irrigation.
He says, “Using less water and other resources started as an optional benefit that was embraced by many leading farmers around the world. Today, using water with precision is a crucial cog in the wheel of sustainability that agricultural role-players around the world must keep turning.”
Netafim’s approach centres on ongoing innovation.
Esmeraldo says, “Innovation is part of Netafim’s DNA. It is not only about improving existing products but developing new precision irrigation solutions. Continuous innovation allows us to achieve our goal of making precision irrigation accessible to all farmers and suitable to all crops and circumstances.”
Driving global sustainable agriculture
The company attributes much of its regional progress to its network of local dealers.
Esmeraldo notes, “We are very proud of the long and loyal relationships we have with our many irrigation dealers across our region. The milestones we have achieved in partnership with our dealers illustrate the importance of strategic partnerships in sustainable success. Team Netafim in Southern and East Africa will remain involved in every drop with technical and agronomic support to ensure optimal product application across the board.”
Research and development also play a critical role in Netafim’s work locally.
Leading precision irrigation innovation
Charl van Reenen, agronomy manager, explains: “Team Netafim in Southern and East Africa is continuously investing time, money and expertise to test the boundaries of sustainability. The key purpose is to test the viability of solutions that can add value to the industry in question. This includes testing product performance in local circumstances, developing economically feasible sustainable practices, and establishing irrigation protocols suitable to our market.”
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Over the past decade, Netafim Southern and East Africa has supported four Master’s students through its continuous low-flow fertigation research project, enabled multiple academic studies by providing irrigation equipment, conducted over 30 on-farm trials, and developed numerous new irrigation protocols.
Van Reenen adds, “Our commitment to knowledge discovery is science-based, aligned with local and global standards, relevant to market needs, and developed in partnership with world-class academic institutions, industry institutions and industry bodies.”
The impact of Netafim’s work can be seen across the Southern and East African region. Key sectors benefiting from precision irrigation include sugarcane production, blueberry farming in Zimbabwe, and South African citrus export farms.
Van Reenen points to the development of Centralised Low-flow Drip Fertigation in the citrus industry as an example of collaborative progress: “The concept… was born from collaborative thinking. Today, South African citrus producers are world leaders in this regard.”
In Eswatini, the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation has relied on Netafim’s subsurface drip irrigation for nearly 30 years on more than 10 000 hectares. This long-standing partnership has resulted in increased productivity and expanded capacity for the sugarcane industry.
Drip irrigation’s role in South Africa’s wine grape production also highlights Netafim’s influence.
According to Dr Philip Myburgh, an industry expert, “When Netafim officially opened its local doors in South Africa in 1992, drip irrigation had already become an accepted practice for many producers. But the company’s unique contribution by way of agricultural and technical support played an important role in the increased adoption of drip irrigation in the industry.”
Supporting farmers with expert irrigation solutions
Francois Fourie, an irrigation designer and farmer in Limpopo, shared his experience applying drip irrigation to cash crops: “I’ve had many discussions with Netafim about drip irrigation on cash crops.
“When I got the opportunity to plant some fields myself, my thoughts around applying the benefits of drip irrigation to maize, sugar beans and similar crops took root again. I spoke to the local team at Netafim and together we decided on the suitable products and how they can be applied.”
In Zimbabwe, biofuel supplier GreenFuel uses Netafim subsurface drip irrigation on approximately 6000 hectares of sugarcane, with plans to expand. Colin Crick, GreenFuel’s agricultural general manager, said, “The GreenFuel team greatly benefits from Netafim’s professional approach to installation, problem-solving and working towards the future success of the irrigation system and entire production system.”
Willem Smit, national sales manager for Netafim South Africa, reflects on the company’s responsibility.
He says, “For every current Netafim employee, it is a massive moment of pride to celebrate this anniversary and be part of a company that takes the lead in precision irrigation, has done this for six decades, and actively works to shape the future. We know that we have the responsibility to carry this legacy forward through our everyday work.”
Looking ahead, sustainability remains a driving concern. Smit states, “Netafim’s purpose is to fight food, water and land scarcity by helping the world grow more with less.”
Esmeraldo emphasises, “Sustainable practices are no longer optional. This is driven by resource scarcity, regulatory pressures governing market access, and consumer demand. Increasingly, when consumers have the luxury of choice, they support farmers who follow sustainable practices.”
He adds, “I believe the biggest opportunities for growth do not lie in expanding access to resources, but in using existing resources more efficiently. Food security in Africa will depend on improving practices on current agricultural land, not converting more land to farmland. It’s about minimising input and maximising output.”
Marketing manager Gerdie de Lange notes the global scope: “From solving water challenges in the desert to becoming the world’s leading precision irrigation company, the Netafim brand has grown through commitment to innovation, partnership, and purpose. Today, Netafim is a catalyst for transformation in sustainable agriculture. The company is focused on growing sustainable mindsets and supporting the global transition to sustainable farming practices.”
As Netafim celebrates 60 years, its work in Southern and East Africa underscores the ongoing role of precision irrigation in tackling critical challenges of water scarcity, food security, and sustainable farming.
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