PHOTO: AGRODAN
PHOTO: AGRODAN PHOTO: USINA CORURIPE
WATER MANAGEMENT ▶▶▶
Drip irrigation definitely viable when used on large farms
BY DANIEL AZEVEDO E
verybody already knows that sustaina- bility is -- or will soon be -- a deal breaker in selling agricultural produce. However, in order to achieve that goal
some technologies are economically viable and others are not. Drip irrigation efficiency, for example, is well known for its use on small fields where it requires an investment in infra- structure, but is it also profitable for large are- as? Brazil is a good place to check this out. There are many large farms located in dry re- gions. Some Brazilian producers have already adopted drip irrigation systems which could be examined to prove their feasibility. A good example is fruits, in the driest region of Brazil to be precise: Sertão. AgroDan, which is the largest Brazilian producer of ‘premium’ mangoes, is located in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco. Currently, they have 1,300 ha of Kent, Keitt, Tommy and Palmer varieties, all treated with drip irrigation. And the results are outstanding. While the Brazilian average pro- ductivity is 22 tonnes per ha, they achieve close to 45 tonnes. “Mangoes are not produced with sprinkler or pivot systems. But drip tech- niques generally save 25 to 50% of water com- pared to other irrigation systems, and they
Drip irrigation is efficient but more expensive than pivots or sprinklers, and therefore mostly used on smaller plots with high yielding crops. Brasilian companies now report economically viable use of drip systems on large plots.
increase productivity by 100% compared to rainfed plantations.” says Maryana Damasceno. According to her, growing in a sustainable way, respecting the environment, is a core value at AgroDan. And drip irrigation has been a global trend which makes it possible to produce more with less resources such as water and fertil- isers. “We always aim to work with the latest technologies and techniques to produce the best mangoes. For this reason, we are used to wait until the third harvest, 6 to 7 years later, for a return on our investment,” she tells us.
Gains and reinvigoration Usina Coruripe is a traditional sugar cane and biofuel producer in Alagoas state. They farm 31,000 ha and use several irrigation systems over 84% of this area; over 8% (around 2,600 ha) receives drip irrigation. According to Sandra Silva, irrigation coordinator of Usina Coruripe, smart use of water results in better soil preparation, cultivation, longevity of the
cane field and productivity. The average of the last four harvests shows 33% more tonnes per hectare in the irrigated areas compared to rain- fed areas. Last season, this figure rose to 54%. Compared to other irrigation, the largest gain was achieved by drip irrigation, varying between 25% and 47% in drier years. “Furthermore, water savings from using drip irrigation compared to pivot and conventional sprinkling due to increased efficiency are: 95%, 85% and 75%, respectively,” Silva ex- plains. She argues that the need for irrigation is undeniable, especially in the dry seasons of Brazilian Northeast. There’s no way a farmer can survive such climatic adversity without adding water. “There are further advantages, too. It is possible to advance approximately 1,000 hectares in the dry season, reinvigorat- ing the cane field, which directly influences productivity,” Silva says. Sustainability is a motivating policy for Usina Coruripe, which employs 9,800 workers and
Paulo Dantas’ firm AgroDan is the biggest mango producer in Brazil.
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Dantas doubled productivity using drip irrigation at AgroDan farms ocated in Pernambuco and Bahia states.
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 22 May 2020
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