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What projects are especially memorable? Vermaak, shares with us on some features of Inyoni Africa’ s stand-out projects:
``Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation – This farm currently extends over 13,000ha under Sub-Surface Drip for sugarcane. We were involved with the design, supply, and installation and commissioning of most of these systems. We are still actively involved with this client on maintenance and general support.
``Susili Kulpawn Irrigation System in Ghana. This system was particularly challenging. The irrigation system of 413Ha is located north of a very small town called Yagaba, which is 540km( as the crow flies) North of Accra. It is a three hour drive to the closest city of Tamale. The system is a combination of drip, overhead sprinklers, pivots and flood irrigation. Another rather unique aspect of this system is the fact that it
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was the most advanced MCC system that we ever built. Everything can be controlled from the office( even from South Africa via TeamViewer). Due to the complexity of the system, the whole MCC was built and tested in South Africa, and fitted into shipping containers. The containers were part of the design. On-site they were off loaded, the cables connected and everything worked. The shipping container was the MCC room, configured with lights, air cons, everything.
Check the project out on: https:// www. youtube. com / watch? v = pYDOKATMWJE
``TPC Sugar, Tanzania is located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, where we have done various projects; the most notable development being a 1000 ha overhead irrigation system. It includes pumps, switchgear, pipes and fittings.
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``Xinavane Sugar – Mozambique – We installed 2 500 ha in Year One of the Xinavane Expansion Program. It included the construction of two Pump Stations and a Semi-Solid-Set Irrigation System. We continued developing more areas over the next few years, totalling in excess of 5 000 ha. These developments included not only Semi-Solid-Set systems and traditional pump stations, but also some Centre Pivots and floating Barge Pump Stations.
``Ubombo Sugar – Swaziland.
Management
Inyoni Africa are agents for Valley centre pivots. The pivot is an ideal system when large areas need to be developed quickly, and also require less manpower, less supervision and are highly effective, elaborates Vermaak. Inyoni Africa have worked on major pivot projects in Swaziland, Malawi, Ghana and Mozambique.
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Africa presents interesting installations in various irrigation technologies.
Vermaak comments that an irrigation system is, however, only as good as the management thereof.“ I have seen very well designed systems operate dismally, and terrible irrigation systems run remarkably well. This applies to all technologies.”
And, Africa surprises with some of its leapfrogging and firsts in irrigation- as in other technologies.“ Who would’ ve thought that Swaziland will be the first country in the world to develop subsurface drip on sugarcane on such a large scale? I am open to correction on this, of course, but as far as my knowledge goes Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation is still the biggest sub-surface drip project in the world on sugar. After them in size is the Maple Sugar Project in Peru, whom we did some consulting work for prior to implementation.”
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