From the Editor
Editor’s message
Carol Posthumus
Education and
training
Most powerful
weapons in
saving water?
S
ABI recently recognised the
top learners from the SABI
Schools irrigation courses
held at agricultural schools
in the Western Cape last year. Our
hearty congratulations to the winners
- Matthys Mouton from Augsburg
Landbou Gimnasium, Lian van Wyk
from Boland Agricultural School
and Franco van der Mescht from
Oakdale Agricultural School. The
schools course introduces learners at
a young age to irrigation, cause for
great optimism as it sows the seeds
for the future for efficient use of water
and excellence in water conservation
in agriculture, turf and landscape.
Speaking at the Award evening, held
in Somerset West, SABI president Tony
Ewels said in his speech that he had been
honoured to work on irrigation projects in
the Transkei for former President Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela. He said that this
had been a huge privilege, and Madiba’s
strong focus on training and education
had always been a great inspiration to him
and many others. Indeed, thinking about
Madiba, one could not but reflect on the
great leader’s views on education.
Mandela had utmost respect for education,
and inspired everyone he encountered in
this regard. In this spirit, SABI is intent on
increasing knowledge about irrigation and
water conservation.
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SABI | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
Nelson Mandela said “education is the
most powerful weapon you can use to
change the world.”
SABI, clearly, is intent on using knowledge
of irrigation and water saving to change
the world to one where optimum irrigation
and water saving is natural. This culture
of efficiency in irrigation and best use of
technologies is vital to nurture in the young
generations is important in a semi-arid
such as South Africa.
We have much of great interest in this
edition. Don’t miss water meter pundit
and SABI technical executive officer Isobel
van der Stoep’s article on “A balancing
act to improve irrigation efficiency” which
contains the latest thinking and cutting
edge tools on the vast field of water
efficiency and balance. As Isobel so rightly
says: “Making better use of our available
water is now becoming imperative and
not negotiable.” Make sure you read this
article, as it con х