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Netafim marks 60 years in irrigation

Netafim, a pioneer in drip irrigation, is marking its 60th anniversary since its founding in 1965 on a kibbutz in Israel's Negev desert. Over the past six decades, the company has played a significant role in shaping irrigation practices globally, including in Southern and East Africa.

Michael Esmeraldo, Managing Director of Netafim Southern and East Africa, highlights drip irrigation as a major advancement in agriculture. "Using less water and fewer resources began as a choice adopted by progressive farmers. Today, water-use efficiency is an essential part of sustainability strategies in agriculture," he notes.

Ongoing development remains a focus for the company. According to Esmeraldo, innovation includes both improving existing systems and creating new precision irrigation solutions. He adds that local progress has been supported through collaborations with regional dealers, who provide technical and agronomic support to growers.

Research and development underpin many of the company's regional initiatives. Charl van Reenen, agronomy manager, points to the importance of testing product performance, developing sustainable practices, and creating irrigation protocols tailored to different crops and climates. Over the past decade, Netafim has also contributed to academic studies and on-farm trials, including support for Master's students in agricultural sciences.

Precision irrigation has had a notable impact in various sectors. These include sugarcane and citrus production in South Africa, blueberry farming in Zimbabwe, and subsurface drip systems in Eswatini, used by the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation. In the citrus sector, Centralised Low-flow Drip Fertigation is one example of adapting irrigation technologies to local needs.

Technical support has also played a role in adapting drip irrigation to South Africa's wine grape industry and to various cash crops. In Zimbabwe, GreenFuel uses the system in its sugarcane operations and has plans for further expansion. Colin Crick of GreenFuel cited the importance of reliable irrigation systems for large-scale farming.

Reflecting on the company's position in the sector, Willem Smit, National Sales Manager, points to the ongoing need to address sustainability under conditions of increasing resource constraints and tighter regulations. Marketing Manager Gerdie de Lange adds that broader awareness of sustainable agricultural practices continues to grow.

Netafim's 60-year history illustrates the evolution of drip irrigation and its role in responding to global challenges such as water scarcity, food security, and sustainable production systems.

Source: Food For Mzansi