Greenhouses and undercover farming
Citrus growing takes off undercover in Stellenbosch
by Carol Posthumus- Photos by Liam Hamer-Nel / alliancephoto. com
According to the BFAP’ s( Bureau for the Food and Agricultural Policy) Outlook 2015-2024 research, exports of citrus from South Africa have grown strongly in recent years to Africa, the European Union( EU) and
Asia. To Asia, South African citrus exports grew impressively by 45 % in 2014.
|
And reflecting the growing trends in citrus, farmers are certainly growing more citrus. In the Western Cape, the Carinus family farm Fransmankraal in the beautiful Devon Valley started growing citrus – soft peelers and seedless varieties – undercover in net house structures in 2014. Citrus undercover is not a crop readily associated with the Western Cape, but times and trends are rapidly evolving. |
Modern expansion |
water is typically required when growing under cover. |
Traditionally the Carinus family is a wine grape producer. Indeed, the family have been farming in Stellenbosch since 1850, Piet Carinus says they are the sixth generation of the family to farm in the Devon Valley.
At present the family are busy expanding and diversifying into new crops. Recent expansions in plums( 20ha) citrus( 30ha) and blueberries( 10ha) are being developed undercover, with the construction of new pumphouses.
Loxton Irrigation is the farm’ s irrigation design consultant and supplier, and Loxton Irrigation’ s André Lombard says the project for the Carinus farm is a particularly enjoyable and innovative project for the firm to be so closely involved in. Lombard has worked on the planning and designs of the new project from greenfields stage. For several years, Loxtons Irrigation have been proud to be the irrigation practitioners’ for the friendly and personable Piet Carinus.
On a SABI visit to the farm, Carinus says that the benefits of undercover farming are significant. The plastic structures allow the citrus trees to be protected from factors such as wind and hail. In Stellenbosch, wind is a particular concern for farmers. In constant wind, the citrus trees would struggle to grow, when protected against wind, growth of the crop is highly optimised.
The shade cloth also protects the crop against sunburn and other external factors. Carinus says there is a fascinating science to the colours of shade cloth used for different crops. Citrus flourishes in the white shade cloth utilised here. While apples and pears, for instance, would require different colours of shade cloth. Development of the new undercover fields comes at a cost of R200 000 / ha. The benefits experienced from undercover farming for Carinus are great – a protected crop with higher yields( 50-60 ton / ha) and with yields also being more predictable when grown under cover.
Saving water & sustainability
A significant benefit of growing under cover, say Carinus and Lombard, are that the crops utilise less water. Around 20 % less
Lombard says that right now the drip irrigation installed for the young citrus trees is suited for the young plants, and is designed in such a way that the gaps between the trees are blocked. This plug is removed in year 3 and 4. This method makes the design superefficient and water conservation friendly. The citrus trees are well mulched, and grow in the soil. A second dripper line is to be installed probably in year 4 or 5.
An interesting aspect of the new development is that the energy utilised for irrigation and pumps is all sourced from solar technology. Carinus says:“ We are intent on ensuring sustainability in this new development, therefore we utilise technologies such as solar, scheduling and drip irrigation.”
www. loxtons. co. za
Piet Carinus in the citrus orchard.
18
SABI | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016