ProAgri Zambia 01

October 2015Nr 01

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ProAgriProAgritechnology for the farmer Z a m b i a

Farm smartly in

Zambia

Choose theright tractor

Irrigation:Make the

smart choice

What do you do for your soil?

Cobus de Kock +260961 362 007 [email protected] Nico de Kock +260966 362 000 [email protected]

CLAAS AXION 920 and VÄDERSTAD RAPID 600C in action on Mr Jesper Lublinkhof’s farm, Mubuyu Estates in Mazabuka

ProAgri Zambia 01 October 2015 1

2 Agri All Africa will unite the continent behind agriculture 5 Why Zambia?9 Choose the right tractor14 John Deere empowers small contractors to excel19 LEMKEN cultivates and plants like a dream21 Vitamech’s proactive MacDon hugs the hills23 What do you do for your soil?29 Irrigation systems: Make the right choice33 Afriq Water has an irrigation solution for you35 Choose your own rainfall with Ocmis37 Agriplas: The new solution for effective irrigation

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ProAgri Zambia

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. No material, text or photo graphs may be reproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or of the editor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their respective owners. ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

EditorAnnemarie Bremner > +27 [email protected]

General Manager ZambiaQuintus Grobler > +26 (0)[email protected]

ReporterDu Preez de Villiers > +27 [email protected]

MarketingStefan van Wyk > +27 [email protected]

Adele van Tonder > +27 [email protected]

Xander Pieterse > +27 [email protected]

Remi Friebus > +27 [email protected]

DesignEsta van Niekerk

EnquiriesEngela Botha > +27 [email protected]

AccountsRonel Keet > +27 861-777-225 [email protected]

DistributionDu Preez de Villiers > +27 [email protected]

Business managerGeorge Grobler

It takes a special kind of person to

farm successfully in Africa. It is not just about surviving and managing the lack of infrastructure or reaching markets or the trouble you have acquiring supplies and equipment. It is about another style of living, a culture with a rhythm of its own. In this first ProAgri Zambia issue we visit three commer-cial farming enterprises to find out what it is

that keeps them in Zambia. To many it may seem unattainable, even unthinkable, to talk about farm-ing on 2 000 hectares under irrigation, but we hope that these success stories inspire others. Everything starts with a dream, then you need the best infor-mation you can get and then, like my dad used to say, it is a matter of elbow grease! With ProAgri Zambia we hope to help with the information you need on farming technology. As Mr Greyford Monde recently said: “Because I eat it I grow it – should not be the position going forward. It should be – I grow it to make money.” We want every farmer to make money, not just food! Our philosophy is that useful information should be freely available, and that is why ProAgri is distributed without a cover charge. We aim to be a direct link of communication between suppliers and farmers and we are very grateful to all the suppliers and agricultural companies who were willing to get involved in this new venture, not only through advertising, but also to help us with distribution through their outlets. We cannot do this without them. On page 7 you will find a list of the companies helping us to get ProAgri to you. If you are reading this, then it worked! Any suggestions for expansion or improvement of our distribution network, as well as content, are welcome.

Farm smartly!

Annemarie Bremner > [email protected]

Office no. 3Fens Investment Building

Lusaka Show Grounds+26 (0)96-216-9801www.proagri.co.za

ProAgriProAgritechnology for the farmer Z a m b i a

Farm smartly!

Cover photo credit: www.one.org

2 9 14 19

21 23 29 37

On page 9 we present an article on how to choose the right tractor, but we also understand that often it is about using what you have! This is the Bremner way (Colin and Annemarie) of clearing farmland.

It is time for Africa to tell a good story and it became quite appa-

rent during the recent Agri All Africa launch symposium at the Jacaranda Agricultural show in Pretoria, South-Africa. This new organisation created a super platform and has a representa-tive footprint in 80% of the 54 African countries with only one focus: To make Africa the agricultural hot-spot of the world. They invited a few African role-players to tell a story of agricultural hope and progress on the African continent.

Salum Shante is Managing Director of Katani Limited, a sisal growing and processing company in Tanzania, and he is very serious about commer-cial farming: “You can have every-thing, the best seed, the best soil, the best fertilizer, the best irrigation, but you cannot remove poverty out of one and a half acres of corn, so please stop romanticising about a smallholder, like some people romanticise poverty. It seems like some people do it for various ulterior motives, as if they want to keep you there to be poor. Let us work with scale, by upscaling our agriculture, commercialising it and modernising it.”

Agri All Africa will unite the continent behind agriculture

“Because I eat it I grow it - should not be the position going forward. It should be - I grow it to make money" – Greyford Monde, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Zambia.

Salum Shante

2 October 2015 ProAgri Zambia 01

Cecilia Khupe is an agricultural economist from Botswana and AFAP’s (African Fertilizer Agribusiness Partner-ship) Director of Programmes, Africa. “After the African head of states came together in 2014 to reflect on the 2003 declaration in Maputo on what to achieve by then, they realised that very little has moved, except in Tan-zania, Ethiopia and Zambia where the leadership has bought into agricul-ture.”

Theo de Jager is Vice-President of the Pan African Farmers Forum Organization (PAFO). He says: “I don’t believe there is anyone who can speak on behalf of the farmers in Africa. There are too many of us and we are too diverse and too widely spread over the continent. In the 49 countries where we convened, farmers are united on the stance that we are finished with being hungry and poor and disadvantaged and low technology and working with hand hoes and oxen. We are finished with limited markets and being delivered to poor policies. We are finished with having limited choices. More than half of the population of this continent are farmers by default and not farmers by choice. This needs to change in our lifetime. “What we have in Africa is 46% of the world’s underutilised arable land and more than 80% of the world’s untapped ground water sources. We have the best average climate of any continent on the globe with more heat and light units than everyone else. We have more than half our population making a living out of agriculture - all the stuff that money cannot buy. What we lack is tech-nology, infrastructure, experience, expertise and links to markets, access to financing and investments and value chain assets - all those things money can buy and it is going to happen, with or without us.”

Greyford Monde is Deputy Minis-ter of Agriculture and Livestock in Zambia and he was part of the discus-sion panel on the key issues of the symposium. “Speaking for my govern-ment, we are now making it a priority in Zambia to woo as many farmers as possible to come to Zambia to look at the opportunities we offer in order for us to grow ourselves. To do that we are putting up measures to ensure that it is not just talk shows and that it will translate into real time actions.” On the stance of government’s relation with the private sector, Monde put it plainly: “Once government sees that the agricultural sector, like any other private sector, wants to be a partner rather than opposition, government starts to wake up on how the private sector is going to dictate. If you have a responsible private sector, you will never see any government wanting to destroy its people.” He concluded with a very remark-able inspiring message about attitude: “Previously we thought we had a seri-ous disadvantage because our country is landlocked, but now we realise we are actually land linked. Our farmers have markets all around us.”

Charl Senekal is one of the mega-commercial farmers of South Africa and recently reached the news when the Zambian government offered him land just after the South-African government announced a land claim on the piece of his land on which he intended to build a power station in the midst of a serious power crisis in South Africa. “We are currently busy with a project in Ethiopia and we are considering to make a seri-ous investment in Zambia. I really think the climate in both countries is very pleasant and they opened the doors to us South-Africans. Pres-ently, there are no safer countries for my operations than Ethiopia and Zambia.”

Theo de Jager Cecilia Khupe Greyford Monde

Charl Senekal


Mick SelbyEternal optimistMick Selby is also an ex-Zimbabwean who started out in Zambia in 2003, building up an extensive farming enterprise before being approached by a private equity fund looking for a farming base in Africa. Cena Farms was established, being an acronym for Central African Farm-ing. Today Mick is managing 1 380 hectares of irrigated land and about 900 hectares of dry land. He is also concerned about the changing weather patterns, especially over the last three years, and its influ-ence on the availability of water. “But as a farmer you have to be the eternal optimist and make a plan,” he says, talking about their plans to build a huge dam for which they have specifically acquired a piece of land. 45% of Sub Saharan Africa’s water runs from Zambia, so the country has huge water resources available to be developed. Traditionally there has been no need for extensive water storage, but the drought as well as the mas-sive development in agriculture have placed new demands on water supply. On Cena Farms conservation farm-ing is practised as far as possible by re-incorporating stover in the soil to maintain moisture, but due to fusa-

Agriculture in Zambia is booming and although small scale farmers still form the backbone of food supply in the country, there are a growing number of huge successful farming enterprises taking root in the country. ProAgri wanted to know why these people chose Zambia and how they do it. With the help of JP Smit of AFGRI in Mkushi we visited three of these farms.

Why Zambia?

Stewart and Ashley Parkes: “We are not going anywhere, this is our home.”

Stewart and Ashley Parkes lost their farm in Zimbabwe and had to start

all over again in Zambia in 2003. They started off doing contracting work for new farmers settling in the Mkushi area with a loan obtained from AFGRI to get the machines to do clearing and tilling. “We had no collateral to buy land, but we would lease pieces of land from other farmers and develop it, and it worked well for all of us,” says Stewart. “We worked our butts off night and day building up farms, but eventually we had to slow down and we are sett-ling down now, here at Cropit.” Stewart is concerned about the future saying that there were massive influxes of investment in 2012 to 2013, but that things have slowed down. The slowing down also coincided with a drought, severely affecting the water supply for irrigation farming in the area. He is also concerned about the maize price and that the government can disturb the balance in the market. He believes that soy beans, which can be exported, may be the answer, but “in a dry year there are no soy beans, only sorry beans”. Despite his concerns, the Parkes are in Zambia to stay: “As long as we are not chased out and left alone, we shall be here. We have invested here, we’ve set up a home. This is our home.”

Commitment to the future of farming in Zambia: Agri Options Limited recently opened these silo's and mill. (Photo: Peter Michael)

rium problems after the maize harvest, they still burn residue after every second year. Cena is being run in a corporate manner, but it stays a farm and Mick is positive about the future of farming in Zambia and policies on issues such as land security. He has no plan to leave any time soon: “This is what we know; we know how to farm.”Peter Michael24 years and growing Peter Michael was one of the first South African farmers to move to Zambia 24 years ago. He has wit-nessed the agricultural development in the country. “For the first five years we literally farmed in the bush, living in a caravan. Everything we needed we had drive up from South Africa with a tractor and wagon.” Today he has a well developed precision farming enterprise with 2 000 hectares under irrigation, plant-ing maize, soy, wheat and tobacco. He also has cattle and a game farm with a breeding programme for West Zambian sable; although he says game farming in Zambia is still in its infancy compared to South Africa. Peter is also involved in a co-ope-rative venture with a number of other farmers, called Agri Options Limited, buying in and processing grain in a huge plant – a massive investment in the future.


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A tractor is the power source for various tasks on the farm, there-

fore it will play a decisive role in the success of your farming operation. Moreover, you will have to live for ten, twenty or even thirty years with the tractor you choose, which is longer than the duration of many marriages. The first consideration when a farmer contemplates the acquisition of a tractor, is to decide precisely what he wants to do with the tractor now and in the future. Ask yourself questions such as:

How many kilowatts am I going to need?The types of work for which you are going to use the tractor will determine how much power you are going to need. Make sure that the PTO kilo-watts will also suit your needs – the PTO kilowatts of certain tractors are considerably lower than the engine kilowatts. Don’t buy a tractor with insufficient power for the job it is intended to do, but also don’t buy one with much more power than is needed. Kilowatts cost money, but an oversized tractor is also less agile and manoeuvrable, need more working space and renders more damage to the soil surface.

Does the tractor offer everything that I need?Ask yourself the following ques-tions:• What kind of implements are you going to use and what type of

mounting points, PTO specifications and hydraulic couplers are you going to need for those implements?

• On what kind of surface are you go-

ing to use the tractor? Sand, mud, gravel, pastures?

• Are there any restrictions on the size or weight of the tractor you need, such as narrow gateways, jobs inside sheds, tunnels or nurseries, narrow roads, rickety or narrow bridges?

• What tractor specifications are go-ing to be important for your type of farming?

Four wheel drive, two wheel drive or tracks?Four wheel drive tractors are consider-ably more expensive, but four wheel drive is essential if you want to mount a loader to the front of your tractor. The power transfer to the ground is far superior and its resale value is higher. But when you intend to use the tractor for long distance hauling at high speeds, two wheel drive will be a better option. Tracked tractors are fast gaining ground for the cultivation of large fields. The large footprint reduces soil compaction and excessive wheel slip which causes unnecessary wastage of diesel.

Cabin or not?Cabin tractors are becoming more and more popular. A cabin ensures comfort for the operator, enabling him to work longer, more productive hours in all weather conditions. As far as occupa-tional health is concerned, a cabin is essential when substances which can be harmful to humans are sprayed onto crops.

High specifications or workhorse?

Many wise farmers use high specifica-tion tractors with satellite position-ing for drawing the first furrows and demarcating the field, and for specia-lized tasks, but they also keep less expensive low specification tractors for the donkey work on the farm. Think carefully what you really need before making your decision.

Transmission system?Tractors with clutchless gear chang-ing are fast becoming more and more popular. In these tractors, hydrostatic drive makes it unnecessary for the operator to continuously use the clutch pedal. Hydrostatic transmission is more expensive and demands a bit of engine power, but the fact that it continuously delivers precisely the right amount of power for the task, reduces operator fatigue and puts an end to the farmer’s constant struggle with worn out clutch plates, justifies the cost.

What about safety?On the farm, safety is very impor-tant. Open tractors should preferably be equipped with sturdy roll bars. A further important safety feature is a switch that cuts out the tractor’s engine whenever there is nobody on the driver’s seat. If you plan to use the tractor on public roads, it must be equipped with proper lights and direc-tion indicators.

Choose your dealer with utmost careToday, many farmers state that they regard service as much more impor-tant than the make of tractor they buy. The best, most wonderful tractor with

Choose the right tractor

To a farmer, choosing the right tractor is just as important as choosing the right wife. In this article ProAgri’s specialist journalist, Buks Barnard, discusses the factors you have to keep in mind for choosing a tractor.


most impressive name means nothing to the farmer when it is standing idly due to a lack of service or spare parts.

Talk to the dealer. Determine whether he simply wants to sell you a tractor or whether he really shows understanding for your needs and activities. After all, you will have to walk a long way with the dealer and his staff after buying a tractor from them. A dealer who first enquires about your farming operation and who tries to determine your needs before beginning to elaborate on his product ranges, will always be a more sensible choice.

A mere warranty certificate means nothing if the dealer does not possess the means and manpower to promptly deliver on his promises. Therefore, make sure of the following: That the dealer will always have a sufficient stock of key spare parts so that you will never experience down-time while waiting for components.That he has sufficiently qualified and experienced technical staff in his employ to solve any possible problems quickly and efficiently. That he is able to repair or service your tractor on the farm whenever the need may arise. That he guarantees reaction times. It serves no purpose if he repairs

Local availability is a very important factor, because it usually means better service, such as at this branch of Saro Agro in Lusaka.

Big is not always the best. It all depends on your needs, and the size of your farm and budget.

the tractor intended for spray-ing after the stalk-borers have devoured your maize crop. That he will supply a tractor on loan in crisis situations, and that he will fetch your tractor on the farm and transport it to his workshop whenever major repairs are needed. That the make of tractor is in the country to stay, and that the manufacturer will give the dealer all the support needed to provide satisfactory service to the farmer. Pay a visit to the dealer. Ascertain for yourself whether he has sufficient stocks of spare parts and whether his work-shop is adequately staffed and properly managed. Make sure that you will be able to get along with the dealership’s people, as you will have a lot of contact with them in future.



Chat to them and decide for yourself whether their understanding of the farmer and the farming industry is sufficient to realise that nothing on a farm should ever wait idly for lack of service.

Don’t try to be funnyIf the majority of farmers in your area use a certain type of tractor, it must be due to a reason, and more likely than not that reason will be satisfac-tory service rendered by the dealer. Therefore, it should be a safe choice to acquire the same kind of tractor. Do not try to impress your neigh-bours by buying the most peculiar tractor you can find. You will probably find it difficult to obtain spare parts and service, and then it will not be funny anymore.

PriceRemember that a tractor is a long term investment. Do not try to save a few rands on the price only to burden yourself for twenty or thirty years with a tractor that does not really satisfy your needs. Also consider the resale value of the kind of tractor you acquire. Shop

JP Smit from AFGRI Zambia is very proud of their state of the art workshop near Mhushi, because they can really keep the tractors rolling.

around for the financing at the most favourable cost. Perhaps the dealer can organise financing, or you may obtain less expensive financing else-where.

Listen to other farmersThe farmer always knows best. Listen to the experience of other farmers with tractors and dealers. Their information is valuable.

New transmission technology and better engine performance means more power and less diesel consumption which can make the money-making difference on the farm.


Subsistence farming in Sub-Sahara Africa is a reality with the majority

of people trying to eke out an exis-tence on small pieces of land. Although this type of farming will probably not lead to individual riches or huge com-mercial farming enterprises, it remains an important factor in food security and in preventing or at least slowing down the process of urbanisation. John Deere realised that keeping subsistence farmers on their land and helping them to farm as effectively as possible through better farming prac-tices and mechanisation, could lead to food security, sustainability and job creation in rural areas. In the same breath John Deere can expand and ensure its footprint in Africa by promoting agriculture. Therefore it was decided to develop a

system suited for Africa’s subsistence farmers and contractors. In 2011 John Deere launched a small pilot project in conjunction with Afgri Zambia. With the help of the Zambia Conservation Farmers Union, eighteen farmers were identified to take part in an empowerment pro-ject. The farmers each had to contri-bute some money initially in order to receive a complete farming package, including tractors and implements, which they then had to pay off in monthly instalments over a period of three years. They also had to un-dergo a training programme for small farmers and contractors presented by Batho Pele, a training organisation commissioned by John Deere. All 18 of them then started delivering contrac-tor services to their communities.

After the training, they improved their returns on their own farms by 91%. Only two of the farmers experi-enced some problems initially, but for the rest all the equipment was paid off within 36 months. Those two now are also contractors and farm commer-cially. They invested in larger implements and some decided to farm full-time, while others continue with contract work in their communities. “One very important observation we made, was that they were not looking for hand-outs. They asked us to help them so that they could help them-selves,” says Carel Theron, Marketing Manager of John Deere SA. A true farmer can prove himself, and John Deere learnt enough from this project to apply this principle in South Africa. “It is difficult and risky to empower new farmers, but I have learned to discern between a real farmer and a chancer within two minutes,” says Modupi Mokoena, John Deere Regional Manager for Emerging Farmers. Zandasile Dandala and Unathi Mgugudo are two tillage and planting contractors from Mount Ayliff, 40 km from Kokstad in the Eastern Cape re-

John Deere has developed a system of supporting small scale farmers and contractors in Sub Sahara Africa through its training partner, Batho Pele. Du Preez de Villiers from ProAgri describes how it works using a case study of two contrators in South Africa, but it all started in Zambia.

John Deere empowers small contractors to excel


gion of South Africa, whose parents and predecessors have built up quite a strong agricultural contracting business in the area. When Modupi from John Deere approached them, he was surprised to see that they were already using John Deere’s. There are a num-ber of competitors in the area, but these two are re-garded as the largest, with their John Deere equipment no doubt playing a role in their success. “My grandfather was a teacher who began contract work in the community in 1982, later transferring the business to my father,” says Unathi. Zandasile’s mother was a teacher who wanted to start her own business, and she approached Unathi’s dad for advice. She then decided to also start buying tractors and equipment to become a contractor. She also in-vested in the value chain by buying a mill to grind the community’s maize. “In the beginning, when I was small, my mother was driving the tractor herself to put bread on the table. Later on I started doing the work. We slowly learned how to do the planning of a field and how to prepare the soil. “It was a valuable art we learned from our parents,

but it was very traditional and we had to attend many courses presented by Grain SA and the agricultural colleges. Mentor farmers in the Eastern Cape also taught us how to manage modern practices,” says Zandasile. Each of the two contractors had tilled around 500 hectares of land, including patches from one tot 50 hec-tares.

Many challengesZandasile and Unathi are contracted by the Department of Agriculture, For-estry and Fisheries to help subsistence farmers and emerging farmers to pre-pare their little pieces of land. Every year the Department issues contracts depending on the abilities of the con-tractor, and they supply the fertilizer and seed. The contractors then have to prepare the soil, plant and spray. They are responsible for their own diesel and moving of equipment from farm to farm. “It is a huge challenge, because moving the equipment is expensive and difficult,” says Unathi. “The farms are generally far apart and small – it happens very seldom that we can work many hectares as a unit. “The rural communities are also suspicious of contractors earning money and becoming affluent,” says Zandasile. “The tribal chiefs are very traditional and sceptical about highly productive agricultural practices in their areas. There are also prede-termined channels, procedures and protocols for negotiating with the hierarchy in the rural communities and we have to be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot.” The government would tell us to

go and work in a certain chief’s area without first clearing it out with the chief. Then we have to hold meetings with the people to convince them, for instance, that their cattle should not be allowed in tilled land. They send us to work in the poorest of communities where families own an average of only one hectare each. It would help a lot if families in those areas would form co-operations to work together as a unit so that we could work a larger area when we are there.” The concept of crop rotation also does not exist in the communal areas. The community must be trained to swop maize with soya that grows well in the Eastern Cape. It would have great potential for agricultural contrac-tors if the farmers would accept the idea. There are some chiefs who under-stand how important food security and job creation are, and they have started to support the contractors by convinc-ing the community to support mecha-nisation. “We have to work as accurately and effectively as possible to establish good relations and goodwill with every farmer. We are glad when farmers ask us to return the next season so that they can use our services again,” says Unathi. Another challenge facing contrac-tors is to train people and keep them in service for the next season, because competitors lure them away. Zandasile says: “Fortunately, in our region people strive towards employ-ment with us as contractor. The rates paid by the Department force the people to work very carefully with their money, but they never look back.”

Carel Theron, Marketing Manager of John Deere, Zandasile Dandala and Unathi Mgugudo, two tillage and planting contractors from the Eastern Cape, and Modupi Mokoena, Regional Manager, Emerging Farmer Development.

John Deere empowers small contractors to excel


Other problems the contractors have to face are agricultural consul-tants who are not properly trained for the practices in the specific region, slow payments from the government and the political mentality of the peo-ple in power. Another problem is that every farm-er must first pay his 25% of the tillage and planting costs every season before the government contributes its 75%. That means that Zandasile and Unathi have to submit a tender every season for every little piece of land they want to work. It is not possible to obtain a contract for more than one season, and this drags out the complex system of administration. It also means that contracts cannot be presented to financial institutions as collateral to obtain loans for capital expansion.

The John Deere wayThis is where John Deere saw the opportunity. “I find it amazing that these farm-ers can survive and make a success at the current financing rates, and there is little opportunity for them to expand to get bigger contracts,” says Modupi. “John Deere Financial has formed several alliances with banks across Africa. In Zambia, John Deere Finan-cial’s alliance with Zanaco Bank has allowed the creation of a development programme with the bank to provide contractors with an attractive credit facility with which they can pay off their equipment. They can then decide what they can afford, and borrow the necessary money. "As a company, our purpose is first to teach small scale farmers to opti-

mize their farming production by using mechanisation practices and secondly to help with financing solutions to decrease the risk," says Carel. A long term targetKevin Lesser, Tactical Marketing Manager SSA, says:”Our aim is not merely selling equipment, but rather a complete solution to enable farmers of all sizes an opportunity to produce sustainable crops over a long-term period. "We want to help these farmers and contractors to take the first step into

mechanisation and optimisation and to stand by them through the process. Our dealers are a vital link to support them; as the dealers are our hands and feet and are directly involved in the program to support the farmers and the equipment.” One of the women attending the course rightly noted: “What we like is that John Deere did not simply supply products, but through John Deere’s training, we acquired skills. Now I understand what I am doing. When I start looking for a tractor and imple-ments, I will know what to invest in.”We believe these actions will not only create goodwill, but empower a new segment of farmers with improved farming performances that will lead to long term and sustainable farming practices.

Part of the course revolves around tractor maintenance and optimisation.

Innocent Sillingi ( John Deere SME Lead) explaining the contents of the training to farmers in Kitale, Kenya.

Contact: Kevin Lesser, Tactical Marketing Manager, Sub Sahara Africa at +254 (0)708-310-169 (Kenya) or +27 (0)82-807-2603 (RSA)[email protected]


18 ProAgri 01 – August 2015 wwww.proagri.co.za

In their search for robust and versatile equipment, farmers, and particularly

South African farmers who settled in Zambia, discovered LEMKEN, and now this superb German technology is fast gaining ground in Zambia. Pieter Janse van Rensburg is a South African who has been farming in Mpongwe, about 120 km from Ndola in the Copper Belt, for more than twenty years. He grows maize, seed maize, soy beans and wheat, and keeps sheep and cattle. He plants 550 ha of sum-mer crops and 230 ha of wheat under irrigation in winter. Pieter decided at the annual NAMPO-show in South Africa to buy a LEMKEN disc harrow and planter. It was the versatility of the LEMKEN equipment that first attracted his atten-tion. He bought a Rubin 9/600 KUA disc harrow in combination with a Solitair 9/600 KA-DS planter. This means that he can now prepare his soil and plant his crops in one single pass. The Rubin can also be used sep-arately from the planter for disc cultiva-tion, and the planter can serve Pieter throughout the year due to its ability to plant anything from fine seeds to soy beans. Pieter has had two seasons of plant-ing wheat and soy beans with the Solitair, and he is still very happy. He says he was looking for a planter that could achieve the most accurate seed

distribution per square metre as well as a uniform planting depth, and he is very satisfied with the performance of the Solitaire, especially in combination with the Rubin. He says: “The Rubin creates an unbelievably smooth seedbed, and the seed distribution and the seed depth are excellent and exactly as I want it to be. The even emergence and distri-bution of the seeds per square metre are obvious.” The close spacing of the wheat en-sures that the soil is quickly covered, thus helping to maintain moisture. Going in for its third season, Pieter can vouch for the dependability and durability of the equipment. He also says that, with the local support from AFGRI, the distributors of LEMKEN equipment in Zambia, as well as the technical assistance from the LEMKENteam in South Africa, he is assured of all the support he may ever need. His next LEMKEN-machine will be a Karat, which is also a combination cul-

JP Smit, representative of AFGRI in Zambia, and Pieter Janse van Rensburg are equally proud of the work performed by Pieter’s LEMKEN equipment the last two seasons.

Pieter Janse van Rensburg and his wife, Elsie, from Mpongwe, Zambia, in the wheat produced after the soil was cultivated with the LEMKEN. The soil was prepared and planted with a Rubin 9 disc harrow of 6 metres wide, in combination with a Solitaire 9 planter. The planter plants 48 rows with a row spacing of 125 mm.

LEMKEN cultivates and plants like a dream

The Solitaire 9 planter can be used either on its own or in combination with other cultivation equipment such as the Rubin 9 disc harrow or as in this photo with the Kristall 9 as recently demonstrated at a farmer’s day. (Photo: Claudia Hanekom: EverClear Photography)

tivator for loosening the soil with tines before levelling it and rolling a fine but firm seedbed.

How does it work?The Rubin disc harrow is designed to work plant residues into the top layer of the soil to a depth of 12 cm. This cultivation promotes weed control, aerates the soil, and the roller creates a smooth, consistent seedbed condu-cive to uniform seed placement and germination. The harrow has two rows of discs working at opposite angles and mounted on an open frame so that the soil and plant material can be mixed thoroughly without any blockages. The discs are large (620 mm) to increase the contact area, and 6 mm thick for solidity. Each disc has its own pressure spring enabling it to jump over obstructions such as stones with-out changing direction and immedi-ately resuming its position afterwards. The Rubin’s combination axle makes it easy to hitch the Solitaire planter behind it. The planter operates with positive air pressure and can plant literally any seeds in a conventional or no-till system perfectly with a simple adjustment. Pieter recommends LEMKEN’s equipment with confidence: “It is all about the quality of the machines, they are user-friendly, easy to cali-brate, and the German craftsmanship is brilliant.”

Call Karel Munnik at +27-82-412-2577, Blackie Swart at +27-82-404-9651 or send an e-mail to [email protected] for more information. See the complete range of equipment at www.lemken.com.


Call Jurie Swart at +27-83-375-8840, +27-21-907-8000 or [email protected]

http://www.macdon.com/products/fd75-flexdraper-headers-for-combine

MacDon FD75 FlexDraper:The ultimate in draper performance• Recover your whole yield with ground-following, close-cutting, smooth-feeding, durable, dependable farmer-friendly header technology• True ground following with three-section flexible header and split reel• Conforms to the ground with minimal ground pressure• Locks easily and quickly into rigid conformation• Handles wet material and pods on the point of shattering • 4 reel cam positions to match all harvest conditions• Hydraulic, on-the-go reel fore-aft and header tilt adjustment• C-shaped cutter bar for smoother crop flow and a short transition to draper• Proven durability of the MacDon Wobble Box hydraulic knife drive with adjustable speed to match crop conditions• Reel mounted on cutter bar ensures a fixed small gap between reel fingers and cutter bar• Smooth, consistent heads-first feeding of crops Available in 9,1m; 10,6m; 12,2m; and 13,7m

But a new crop means new challeng-es, new information, new training

and… a new combine header. Soy can catch a farmer off-guard: while the plant still looks green, stone dry seeds may already start bursting from the pods and end up in the dirt, as recently almost happened in Stan-derton. Vitamech searched all over to find the soy header most suitable for use in Africa. As a result, they are now importing the MacDon FlexDraper, the Rolls Royce of combine headers, to help serious farmers experience the sheer pleasure of harvesting excel-lence. Ritchie Farm Equipment in Stander-ton is one of the Vitamech agents who display only durable equipment on their floors. The business was estab-lished in 1947 by Grandpa Winston Ritchie, and two years ago Winston Junior supplied the first articulating MacDon FlexDraper in the area. “We have clients who can harvest a hundred hectares of high-yielding soy beans per day with a class 9 com-bine equipped with a 40 foot MacDon FlexDraper,” claims Francois Mellett, Manager of Ritchie Farm Equipment.But to cut a crop evenly close to the ground with a 40 foot combine header is no mean feat, especially where contours in the field complicate the combine’s route. Therefore, the MacDon’s FlexDraper consists of two floating wings articu-lating in the centre and without any sensors on the tips. As soon as one of the wing tips touches the ground ever so slightly, it is raised just sufficiently to follow the contour. This speeds up the reaction time as there is no time lapse to wait for returning signals from sensors. The main factor distinguishing the MacDon FlexDraper from ordinary headers, is that drapers instead of augurs are used to gently and carefully

convey the material to the combine’s feeder house before disturbing it in any way. The drapers also ensure a consistent smooth flow of material to the combine’s thrasher, thus expedi-ting volume determination. Recently, the stems of a Standerton farmer’s soy beans were still verdant, but the pods were on the point of bursting open. Sappy plants or not, he was obliged to deploy his combine in the field. The MacDon’s drapers were more than capable of handling the wet material, and the farmer could harvest his crop safely, quickly and easily. “When you consider volume handling, speed and the elimination of wastage, the MacDon is without a doubt fifty percent more efficient than any other combine header,” says Winston Junior. “I have seen how com-bines equipped with MacDon headers outrun other combines by a third of the speed.”

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The front reel (tolhark) is a further MacDon wonder to appreciate. Each one of the six rows of tines revolves on its own axle while raking up the material, but as soon as it reaches the position directly above the drapers, the specific row of tines rolls back so that no material is overthrown to be picked up a second time. The rakes can be adjusted to four different posi-tions for various pick-up demands, and each articulating wing has its own rake mounted to the wing and not to the frame. This ensures that the rake still performs as desired on slopes. The header has its own hydraulic system and pump, and only needs power from the tractor’s PTO. Vitamech’s MacDon FlexDraper is perfectly capable for harvesting soy beans, sorghum, wheat and any grass seeds, even where the yield is so poor and light that it cannot be picked up by conventional headers.

For more information, call Jurie Swart at +27-83-375-8840, +27-21-907-8000 or e-mail jurie@vitamech. You may also call Louis van der Merwe at +27-72-626-8409.

Gently coaxed on by the rake, the cut sorghum falls lightly onto the MacDon combine header’s draper to be transported to the combine’s thrasher.

As soon as the MacDon combine header’s rake has lifted the material above the drapers, the particular row of tines rolls back so that material does not cling to it to be thrown over the draper.

Vitamech’s proactive MacDon hugs the hills

Soy beans are fast gaining popula-rity as more and more farmers use this crop in rotation with maize to combat the exhausting influence of maize, to combat maize diseases, and to replenish the soil with essential nitrogen.

by Du Preez de Villiers


2015 has been declared International Year of Soils by the United Na-

tions. The purpose of the declaration has been stated as: “To raise aware-ness about the importance of sustain-able soil management as a source of healthier food systems, better ecosystem services and improved adapta-tion to climate change.” The image of Africa often presented to the world as an unspoilt paradise of arable land ready to provide crops with all the nutrients needed for growth and production, is, unfortunately, not true.

Our crying soilA recent assessment by the United Na-tions Food and Agricultural Organisa-tion’s (FAO) Global Land Degradation Assessment (GLADA) using remote sensing, found that Africa south of the equator is particularly affected by land degradation. According to the Montpellier Panel Report (2014) an estimated 180 million people are affected in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), while the eco-nomic loss due to land degradation is estimated at $68 billion per year.

“Most critically, land degradation reduces soil fertility leading to lower yields, and increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Africa, the impacts are substantial: 65% of arable land, 30% of grazing land and 20% of forests are already damaged.” (Mont-pellier Panel Report, 2014) The International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development estimates that Africa loses 8 million metric tons of soil nutrients per year, and over 95 million hectares of land have been degraded to the point of greatly reduced productivity (Henao and Baanante, 2006).

Why is it happening?The Montpellier Panel Report identifies the main drivers of land degradation as: - Poor land management - Population pressure - Insecure land tenure - Poor access to markets and services - Climate changeFarmers are not exactly in a position to do anything about the last four fac-tors and can surely not be blamed for any of those, but land management begins on every farm, no matter how big or small. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) explains the cause of Africa’s soil health crisis: “Many of Africa’s soils are derived from ancient granite rocks, created

What do you do for your soil?

“Soils are the essence of life, sustaining humans, plants and animals for present and future generations. As the source of the food we eat, and home and habitat for much of the planet’s flora and fauna, soil is a precious resource” - Montpellier Panel Report, December 2014.

Slash and burn techniques are still widely used in Africa; depleting our soils.

by Annemarie Bremner


during millennia of weathering. They are inherently low in plant nutrients (Bationo et al 2006). Compounding this natural deficit, nutrients leach and are taken away from the soil and fields with every pass of the hoe and plough, with wind and water erosion, and with every harvest. “Traditionally, African farmers have used fallows to maintain soil fertility by allowing fields to go back to bush for a number of years between culti-vation cycles. The bush was cut and burnt, leaving ashes for nutrients, few weed seeds, and a friable soil that is good for two or three years of cultiva-tion. As Africa’s population increased over the 20th century, the cycles got progressively shorter and soils became increasingly degraded. Fallow-ing is predicted to disappear entirely from 20 African countries in the next

several years and is practised on less than 25 percent of land in another 29 countries (Angé, 1993). Traditional practices have not been replaced by new methods of soil management and cropping systems due to lack of essen-tial inputs, knowledge and incentives. “Farmers’ removal of the major plant nutrients and essential micronu-trients for plant growth has not been offset by additions of nutrients; hence Africa’s small-scale farmers are liter-ally “mining” the soil.” (AGRA, Africa’s Soil Health Crisis) In 2012 Fredrick Kunda from the Department of Land Reclamation in Zambia, presented a paper at the Global Soil Partnership Workshop also pointing out harmful practices such as slash and burn agriculture (Chitemene system) which is not properly managed.

One of the solutions small scale farmers can use to protect the soil and improve their yield is to make use of zaï holes or planting pits concentra-ting organic material and/or fertilizers around the plants

He says: “The current status of the soils in Zambia shows a need for soil fertility improvement. Soil moisture stress in the soils and drought are also causing low crop yields. “In addition, poor agricultural prac-tices also influence the productivity and quality of the soils. These include mono cropping systems, of maize in particular, continuous use of inorganic fertilizers without liming, and burning of crop residues. During land prepara-tion, current ploughing practices lead to capping/hardpan formations with the initial rains. This causes runoff and interferes with emergence of the crops. The practice of soil ridging, if not well managed along the contour, can contribute to rill and gully ero-sion.” The use of mineral fertilizers in Zambia has increased rapidly, partly due to the Farmer Input Support Pro-gramme through which about 20% of smallholder farmers can access fertiliz-ers. The use of ammonium nitrate is now causing an increase in soil acidity.

What can we do?Numerous projects are being carried out, but the lack of integrated informa-tion and the fact that soil rejuvenation is not prioritised as an area for invest-ment seem to be stumbling blocks. One of the ongoing success-ful projects is the AGRA Soil Health Programme which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Since 2009 AGRA has trained almost two million farmers in 13 countries in Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and has reached out to another 3,5 mil-lion farmers through radio and other communication channels to promote ISFM practices, such as fertiliser micro dosing. In the end, getting back to basics is what is being called for. In his presentation, Mr Kunda summa-rised the four key elements to apply in practising conservation agriculture in Zambia:1. Cereal - legume rotations: the

legumes (soybeans, groundnuts and common beans) improve N-input through nitrogen fixation and nu-trient recycling:

2. Targeted application of farm inputs placed closer to the crop, in

restricted fixed locations, for exam-ple planting pits;

3. Leaving crop residues on fields after harvest (not burning them), hence improving water infiltration and pre-venting soil erosion;

4. Use of minimum tillage systems during the dry season enabling

earlier planting for farmers.These elements and other basic prin-ciples regarding soil preservation will be discussed in a series of articles in ProAgri Zambia.

The lack of access to markets is one of the problems holding small scale farmers back.


Know your soilThere are three main agro-ecological zones in Zambia.• In Region I, Luangwa and Zambezi Rift

Valley areas (14% of the land area), temperatures are high and rainfall is unpredictable <800 mm, droughts and floods are common and there are highly erodible soils (Haplic Luvisols and Haplic Solonetz);

• Region II, includes a) the Central and Eastern plateaus of Zambia (28% of the land area), rainfall is moderate 800 –

1 000 mm, the climate more temperate and soils more productive (Haplic Lixisols) and b) the semi-arid plains of Western Province (12% of the land area) are characterised by infertile coarse sands and alluvial soils (Ferralic Arenosols).

• Region III, North (46% of the land area) is prone to intense tropi-cal rains (>1 200 mm/year) and high temperatures and soils are leached, acidic and with low fertility (mostly Haplic Acrisols).

Agro-ecosystem zones of Zambia. Sources: Geography of Zambia and CFA, Zambia Branch

I

II

III

III

• High density citrus trees• Macadamia nut trees• Sprays trees up to 25 m high• Tank capacities: 2 000, 3 000 and 4 000 ℓ

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Irrigation is practiced on more than 300 million hectares in the world and

it produces more than 40% of the food and fibre. On the African continent the area covered under irrigation is 13 million ha, which is 6% of the total cultivated area of the continent. Of this, almost 50% is concentrated in Northern Africa and about 75% are in five countries viz, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan. With an irrigation system it is also important that it must be used pro-perly and that sound irrigation prac-tices must be exercised to optimise yields. Irrigation implies that water is applied artificially to supply in the crop’s needs and the utilisation and management of the water must there-fore be optimised from the dam wall releases, through the river or canal conveyance, on-farm storage and dis-tribution and in-field application up to root zone storage.

Classification of irrigation systemsVarious irrigation systems are available on the market today. They vary in terms of individual components and cost, and generally they can be classified into three groups.

The groups are:- Flood irrigation systems by which

water that flows under gravitation is applied to the farm lands. This includes basin, border, furrow and short furrow.

- Mobile irrigation systems which move over the farm land under its own power while it irrigates. This

include centre pivot, linear and travelling gun.- Static systems include all systems

that remain stationary while water is applied. We distinguish between two types:

- Sprinkler by which water is supplied above ground by means of sprinklers or sprayers. This includes permanent or portable systems such as quick-coupling, drag-line, hop-along, big gun, side-roll and boom irrigation systems.

- Micro irrigation which includes micro-sprayers, mini-sprinklers and drip irrigation systems.

Selecting an irrigation systemSelecting an irrigation system for a site is not always straightforward, but

Irrigated agriculture plays a mayor role in the livelihoods of nations all over the world and although irrigation is one of the oldest known agricultural techniques, improvements are still being made in irrigation practices and methods. In this article Felix Reinders of the Agricultural Research Council: Institute for Agricultural Engineering in South Africa discusses different irrigation systems and the principles involved in choosing the correct system.

Irrigation Systems:

make the right choiceA pivot may seem like the ultimate solution, but it may be costly.

Irrigation group Irrigation System

Flood Border Basin Furrow Short furrowMobile Centre pivot Linear Travelling gunStatic Sprinkler: Permanent Portable: Quick-coupling Dragline Hop-along Boom Side-roll Big gun Micro: Micro sprayers Mini sprinklers Drip


depends upon many factors. Often sites are suited to several methods of irrigation and the final selection is based on factors such as water supply, soil, topography, climate, crop, labour availability, energy, initial costs, operating costs, adaptability to farm-ing operations, adaptability for other uses, personal preference, and reli-ability of the supplier and after-sales service.

The following factors must be considered:- Water: The amount of water avail-

able, the quality of the water and its cost may influence the choice of an irrigation system. If the amount of available water is a limiting factor on the area to be irrigated, it might be more profitable to select a micro ir-rigation system, with high water use efficiency. Where irrigation contains harmful chemical substances that could burn the leaves of the plants or influence the quality of the prod-uct, overhead irrigation systems that wet the foliage should be avoided.

- Soil: For soils with a very high sand fraction, micro sprayers would be preferable to drippers. However, if the soil has a very high clay fraction and a low infiltration rate, a dragline system might be more suitable than a large centre pivot.

- Topography: Topography plays an important role where systems such as mobile and flood irrigation sys-tems are concerned and may dictate the choice of a system.

- Climate: In very hot climatic condi-tions, water applied by sprinkler irrigation that wets the leaves of plants may burn the leaves. Under such conditions it would be better to use a static micro system or a flood irrigation system.

- Energy costs: Energy requirements and therefore operating costs of some systems such as the big gun, travelling gun and the high-pressure travelling boom are consider-ably higher than for low-pressure systems such as, for example, drip irrigation, and should therefore be taken into consideration with the selection of a system.

Furrow irrigation is a famil-iar practice in Africa being less costly but taking more time and labour.

- Crop: The crop to be irrigated will be one of the most important influ-ences on the choice of an irrigation system. It would be ineffective to irrigate wheat with a drip system which is only suitable for row crops. It would also be difficult to move portable pipes of a quick-coupling system in an orchid.

- Labour: A shortage of labour may force the farmer to use mobile or

A sprinkler system is more adapt-able to fit the size of the farming enterprise.

Drip irrigation may be costly to set up, but there is more control over water usage.

static permanent systems rather than static portable systems.

- Capital cost: Micro irrigation sys-tems are generally more expensive than for instance portable systems. The farmer may, for economic reasons, rather select the cheaper static portable system, even though it might not be the ideal system for the application.

- Personal considerations: Although each system has its own field of

application, the final choice rests with the user of the system, the farmer. Every farmer has his own personal preferences that are influenced by various factors, for in-stance whether the system is adapt-able to his current farming practice, the level of training of his labourers, whether or not the system can be adapted for other uses, and the

reliability of the supplier.Finally, the success or failure of an irrigation system depends to a large extent on careful selection, thorough planning, accurate design and effective management. Irrigation is expensive and specialised and it will always pay to consult proper experts before mak-ing the final decision. In future articles we shall discuss the suitability of the different systems for different crops and farming methods in more detail.


Backsaver Combi Planter

Backsaver planter with new improved seed coulters.

Handplanter

Handplanter for optimum depth

and spacing. Can be used in no-till conservation

farming methods.

Deep placement fertiliser applicator

Ideal to apply basal fertiliser deep where it is supposed to be. Can do topdressing as well.

Wheeled fertiliser applicator

For the precise and even application of fertiliser.

Backsaver EquipmentLeading manufacturer of equipment for

the small scale farmer in Africa

Contact Michris Janse van Rensburg at [email protected] or +27-73-454-4111 or visit www.backsaver.co.za. We are also on


Are you also challenged by the is-sue of a fertile piece of land with

a shape that just does not allow for a pivot or a conventional irrigation system? Or is it sloped to the ex-tent that a goat would have difficulty manoeuvring around there? Or do you have a pivot with fall-out areas that is a total waste although you have water to spare and a pump available from the pivot to supply water to that area? For troublesome areas or just for getting a clever, cost-effective solu-tion to everyday irrigation needs, the AFRIQ WATER QUICK-COUPLING SYSTEM is just what you were looking for. This system can be designed and configured as easily as a child would with building blocks. Used in various configurations with laterals of various lengths or directions; as a main line to transport water from source to application; or as a main line for a dragline system, it has the potential to solve many problems. If you have some old existing steel gal-vanised or aluminium quick-coupling pipes left after theft and damage, you can easily expand that with this sys-tem by using an adaptor. The fittings are manufactured from bright orange polypropylene, which in-creases the UV resistance. The colour

also makes it a lot easier to identify in a field of fodder to prevent accidental damage by tractors etc. Available in a range from 50 to 160 mm HDPE pipe, the clever quick-coupling system allows the pipes to be connected or taken apart with ease by a single person. Gone are the days of numerous people needed to move an irrigation line of 50 meters or more.

Standard lengths are 5 and 6 meters, allowing one person to dismantle, move and reassemble a complete system alone. Various lengths are available on request. Sizes 50, 63 and 75 mm are as a standard PN5, the 90, 110, 125, 140 and 160 mm pipes has a PN6 rating. The fittings are capable of withstan-ding 10 bar and have been UV treated to withstand even the harshest sun exposure. And if, in some unfortunate instance, an implement cuts or dam-ages the pipe, repairing it is as easy as cutting out the damaged piece and fixing it with a compression fitting. There are no holes, sockets or saddles attached to the pipe that might weaken the system. All pipes are completely sealed units and all fittings are clipped onto the pipes, with the ability to rotate on the pipe as needed in areas with steep inclines. The pipes are extremely light and easy to handle. The sprinklers are all “plastic”, al-lowing fertilizer and pesticides to be administered to your crop using your current water supply system by means of a venturi or a separate tank. The standard radius of a sprinkler is either 12 or 15 m and it is easily shut off with a ball valve on the PVC riser. The diameter of the riser is 25 mm. This ensures a free flow of water without friction loss right at the end of the application.

An irrigation system that can be tailored to your needs can provide the solution to many challenges. Wynand Ueckermann explains how the quick-coupling system from Afriq Water can help you.

Contact Wynand Ueckermann at +27-82-454-7880 or [email protected] for more information or visit www.afriqwater.co.za.

You can build or expand the system to any shape to suit your irrigation needs.

Wynand Ueckermann from Afriq Water shows how easily the pipes and fittings clip together.

Afriq Water has an irrigation solution for you


Agriserve Zambia offers the following services:• Design of a tailor made herd health program – Free of charge to the farmer. • Veterinary services such as:- Farm consultations - Administering vaccinations - Dip management - Pasture development

Agriserve Zambia offers the following products:• Medicinal: Veterinary drugs and vaccines • Instruments: Veterinary instruments • Animal handling equipment: Spray race and neck clamps • Pasture seeds: Seed for developing pastures for dairy and beef animals

Contact us for details of your closest Agriserve agent:Renier van Vuuren: +26 096 849 3432

Bantik Endoject + FlukeSupaspray

Emulsifiable concentrate. Controls ticks, has a detaching effect. Kills lice. Controls nuisance-, biting- and face flies. Protects against screw-worm infestation in cattle. Oxpecker compatible. No milk witdrawal.

Anti-parasitic spray and wound remedy. Anti-bacterial.Forms protective layer over wounds.

Liver fluke and roundworm remedy for cattle with residual action against re-infestation of wireworm, hookworm and nodular worm.

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Endoject + Fluke

Perfect irrigation for his maize pro-duction was what Chris Robbertse

from Rustenburg was looking for, and the answer was the willing Ocmis hose reel irrigator from Irrigation Unlimited. “The first quality that impressed me was the fact that it takes only thirty minutes to move, set up and uncoil the irrigator to irrigate a strip of 60 m to 90 m wide by 300 m long for the R2/2 and 50 m to 70 m wide by 220 m long for the R1/1. When moving quick-coupling pipes, it may well take up to two and a half hours before the first droplets can be applied. “With my water pressure of 7,8 bars, I can also determine exactly how much water I want to place on my field,” says Chris. Minimum pressure required is 5 bars.

“Presently, the Ocmis sprayer cart covers 20 metres per hour to apply 40 mm of water. In total, I provide 56 760 litres an hour with a nozzle of 26 mm. The sprayer reaches 51 metres.”

A square spray pattern“I could have erected a pivot, but as my existing fields are square shaped, the Ocmis was a better choice because I can thoroughly irrigate and utilise every corner of each field. Presently, I irrigate 30 hectares of maize, but the Ocmis can easily irrigate 40 hectares. I am definitely going to buy an ad-ditional irrigator to also earn money from the fields planned for the future,” says Chris. “Tobie from Irrigation Unlimited is a

man who knows how to keep a farmer satisfied. He listens to my ideas and remarks, and he acted very profes-sionally when he delivered and set up the irrigator.” According to Chris, the Ocmis needs the bare minimum of mainte-nance, but, as with any other farming equipment, it will serve you better if you look after it properly. “If you only service and lubricate your irrigator punctually, if you see to it that the ir-rigator stands in a level position while working, and if you always roll out the hose perpendicularly to the reel, the Ocmis will provide you with perpetual pleasure,” Chris says.

Chris demonstrates how he can choose various settings to apply precisely the desired amount of water for his crops.

Contact Tobie van den Heever at +27-12-736-2121 or +27-82-658-6054 or [email protected] or visit www.iunlimited.co.za for more information on their exten-sive range of irrigation equipment.

Choose your own rainfall

with Ocmis

Chris Robbertse is very pleased with his Ocmis. It suits his circum-

stances like a glove. Here he is seen with his maize which is ready

for making silage.


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Breeding Impuls Zambia specialises in reproductive services and products for dairy and beef cattle. We specialise in AI, synchronization, pregnancy diagnosis by sonograph, semen and AI equipment sales.

Based on our international experiences we created a “breeding manual” to help farmers to choose the right breed to achieve their goals. Semen is imported from different countries over the world, to provide the best genetics for a reasonable price.

Our Services:• Artificial Insemination • Pregnancy diagnosis (palpitation, sonograph)• Synchronization

Our contact details:[email protected]: +26 096 849 3432

Agriplas is a South African based company producing cylindrical and

flat dripper pipe and is now offering the latest in dripper pipe technology known as Metzerplas dripper pipe. Changing rain patterns, limited resources and water legislation put pressure on the agricultural sector to use water effectively. Its new dripper pipe demonstrates that Agriplas under-stands effective irrigation. Profitable production demands ef-fective irrigation systems. Every drop of water must work for the farmer, and water wastage must be minimised. Drip irrigation meets these demands, because it is one of the most effective irrigation methods. In drip irrigation, water is dispensed through the soil surface into the root zone at a slow rate. Agriplas aims for continuous deve-lopment and improvement of its pro-ducts. It now has the best technology and pipe manufacturing equipment to ensure service excellence. Dripper pipe can now be manufac-tured at a rapid rate without compro-mising the quality for which Agriplas has become known. This is due to the switch to Metzerplas dripper pipe.

Agriplas is the only company to pro-duce cylindrical and flat dripper pipe locally.

The following dripper pipe types are now available:VERED – Flat integral pressure-compensating dripper with a 0,6 mm and 0,9 mm wall thickness.LIN – Flat integral non-pressure-compensating dripper with a 0,6 mm and 0,9 mm wall thickness.ADI – Cylindrical integral pressure-compensating dripper with a 0,7 mm and 1,0 mm wall thickness.IDIT – Cylindrical integral non-pres-sure-compensating dripper with a 0,7 mm and 1,0 mm wall thickness.

The following are also available:MINILIN – Miniature flat integral non-compensating dripper with a thin wall.VARDIT – Miniature flat integral pressure-compensating dripper with a 0,6 mm and 0,9 mm wall thickness.

The new solution for effective irrigation

Agriplas

For more information, contact your nearest irrigation dealer; or visit our website at www.agriplas.co.za.

Effective drip irrigation is the key to saving water while producing top yields.

Extensive tests are performed at Agriplas to ensure quality.

The new solution to drip irrigation, LIN dripper pipe.



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Perennial (8 – 10 years)Clump (Stoloniferous)60 - 80 daysStart grazing at 35cm, rotate at 20cm14 ton/ha/year10 – 13%GoodGood

MediumLowMedium

5 kg bags5 - 7 kg/hectare

MediumLate spring to high summerAccording to soil analysisMaximum 2cm150mm – 250mmFine seed planter or sow with fertilizer sower

Perennial (8 – 10 years)Clump (Stoloniferous)60 – 80 daysStart grazing at 35cm rotate at 20cm15 ton/ha/year9,50%GoodGood

MediumMediumMedium


MediumLate spring to high summerAccording to soil analysisMaximum 2cm150mm – 250mmFine seed planter or sow with fertilizer sower

Brachiaria Marandu Panicum Mombaca Brachiaria PiataFor Dry land For Irrigation For Dry land USESGrazing Grazing GrazingHay Hay HayBaling Baling BalingSilage Silage Silage

Perennial (8 – 10 years)Upright Clump60 - 80 daysStart grazing at 90cm rotate at 20cm28 – 40 ton+/ha/year12 – 18%ExcellentGood

MediumLowMedium


HighLate spring to high summerAccording to soil analysisMaximum 0,5cm150mm – 250mmFine seed planter or sow with fertilizer sower

Varieties

CHARACTERISTICSVegetative Cycle:Growth inhabit:Training time:Cutting height (grazing):

Dry matter (DM):Crude protein DM:Acceptability:Digestibility: *DM return at seeding rate of 5kg/ha TOLERANCEDrought:Ponding:Cold: PLANTINGSoil fertility requirement:Season:Fertilization:Dept:Row widthPlanting method:

* Latest recommended plant time is no later than three months before first frost/winter cold MINIMUM QUANTITIES

Unit:5-7 kg/hectare , 7-10kg/hectare 5-7 kg/hectare

PASTURE IS PROFIT!

BRAZseed is currently ahead in the development of Brazilian

pastures in Africa. More than 50 000 hectares.

Do not miss this opportunity. Become part of the winning recipe that turned Brazil Agriculture into

an international success

THE LEADERS IN CULTIVATED PASTURES

Agriserve Zambia: Renier +260 96 849 3456

Stephen Wells: +260 96 560 0652Mike & Johan +260 96 377 0285

Willem +260 96 562 0775Tim Smith: +260 96 301 2250

Tiger Animal Feeds not only produces a varietyof specialised diets and custom feed mixes forall species but also supplies a full range of technicalservices to its customers, including advice on nutrition, feeding programs, animal husbandry and production techniques. Tiger’s historical and continued success is driven by ensuring nutritional supremacy and consistency in supplying quality animal feeds.

TigerChicks has not only introduced a new broiler breed, the Indian River, into

Zambia but also into Africa. This is the first slow feathering broiler bird to be bred in Africa. If it’s hardy, fast growing, chicks you need,

TigerChicks is your answer.

PLOT 8537 MWEMBESHI RD,LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA, LUSAKA, ZAMBIATEL: +260 966 763 650EMAIL: [email protected]

PLOT 738/394 MUMBWA RD,LUSAKA WEST, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

TEL: +260 967 855 495EMAIL: [email protected] Wells: +260 96 560 0652

Mike & Johan +260 96 377 0285

Documents

ProAgri Zambia 01