SAB and the University of the Free State develop ground-breaking irrigation method

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The Precision Irrigation programme, run as a pilot in the Northern Cape barley irrigation area of Douglas, has yielded a 48% or 19.2-million hectolitre water saving in its first year of operation on the pilot farmers' winter crop, covering 1,491 hectares of land. The programme has since been expanded over 12,822 hectares of land in the province.

Around 100 small-scale and 180 commercial barley farmers in the Northern Cape region are now benefiting from Precision Irrigation and have reported positive financial returns as a result of more efficient water use during the growing season. Farmers have lower production costs and need less electricity to sustain the irrigation process.

Water-scheduling computer programme

Precision Irrigation is a water-scheduling computer programme based on scientific and biological principles and calculates the exact amount of water needed to produce high-quality, optimum crop yields in different soil types. Extensive in-field and glasshouse research was conducted by Frikkie Lubbe, SAB Agriculturist, over a period of three years at part of his PHD with UFS, in order to come to the precise water quantity required for optimal irrigation of barley.

"The programme effectively eliminates any excess water use during irrigation, thus reducing risk to the producer and ensuring optimum yield and quality of barley. This opens the opportunity to utilise savings to expand production and increase sustainability," said Frikkie Lubbe, who works closely with farmers to manage their water use through Precision Irrigation.

Reducing the amount of water used in the supply chain is intrinsic to SAB's strategic sustainable development focus and several innovative interventions have been implemented to achieve optimal results in this area for the benefit of the organisation and communities in which it operates. Precision Irrigation is one of these interventions.

Saving electricity

"Not only does the water saving demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, but it also has a major effect on saving electricity, reducing the carbon footprint for barley production, reducing input cost to grow barley and improve the profitability of barley production for the producer," said Gawie Kotze, SAB Agricultural Services Manager Irrigation.

A study done in collaboration with SAB, WWF and GIZ, found that more than 80% of water required in the beer-making process is used in the production of raw materials, namely barley, hops and maize. Barley, which is malted, constitutes 70% of all raw materials used in the making of beer.

Plans to expand Precision Irrigation in South Africa are in process and the number of farmers and land reached will increase this year.

The innovation has already received recognition from independent irrigation scheduling companies and cooperatives that have adopted it in their operations. And outside of South Africa's borders, interest in Precision Irrigation has been expressed by Zambian barley growers. As a result, SAB plans to expand the programme nationally and globally. "The beauty of the programme is that it can be adapted to most irrigation areas making it possible to take the water saving tool into Africa and the world," said Lubbe.