The South African berry industry exports berries to the value of around R3 billion annually and further supports the economy by means of the labour required for its harvesting process, which provides jobs for about 30 000 people.

Blueberries specifically, are one of the berries in high demand. Every year blueberry farmers record higher levels of production, but every year the supply still seems to come up short.  At the same time the price of blueberries is decreasing after hitting a peak a few years ago. Farmers now need to optimise every input and hectare to ensure sustainability.

This is no easy task considering the blueberry plant’s well-known inefficiency to absorb calcium and nitrogen. In addition, any variation of moisture and key nutrients will affect the quality and size of the fruit. Growers therefor, need to carefully consider their rates and methods of application. Especially growers who supply the export market.

One such grower is Anlo Farming & Investment, based in Mokopane in the Limpopo province. The farm supplies blueberries to the export market. Not only is a certain quality expected of export fruit, but it is also expected to reach the market at a precise time, in order to get to the end user in optimal condition. If not, the business faces claims on expired fruit which comes with negative financial and reputational repercussions.

Moving from farming table grapes, to farming blueberries, Theo Lombard, manager of the farm, knew irrigation had to be their first consideration. “With the amount of attention that the blueberries required, we needed a custom designed, automated irrigation solution,” says Lombard.

The Anlo team consulted with TTI, experts in irrigation technology, who came up with exactly that: an automated system of pipes and valves that open and close at the push of a button. Ensuring consistency in the quality of the fruit, up to seven water pulses could then be applied to each plant daily. The TTI system opens and closes the correct valves at a set time. No water gets wasted and the end product is of better, and more consistent, quality.

Applying Bermad Valves from Macsteel Fluid Control, TTI was able to set up a system which applies a precise dose of water and nutrients to 50 hectares of blueberry plants. This all happens up to seven times a day. At precise set intervals.

Francois Fourie, founder of TTI, says that with the job for Anlo Investments, TTI had their work cut out for them: “The design of the entire system, given that this project is situated against a mountain, was quite a challenge. A lot of technical matters came into play. We found that the block layout and the distance of these blocks from the pump station (as the project expanded) played a significant role,” says Fourie.

Bermad Valves are specialised for use in water flow management and a trusted brand in irrigation from 15 – 1200mm size, dependent on the series.

Bermad’s Irrigation Control Valves are automatic and operate according to pressure. The hydraulic valves can be plumbed and set to fulfill the required function. Be it sustaining, flow limiting or controlling pressure and surge. It continuously balances and controls system hydraulic conditions protecting the design requirements and system components.

The team initially only planned a 12-hectare installation, but soon realised that the farm was going to expand, and the layouts of this pump house were extended to accommodate the necessary expansions.

“We didn't anticipate that this specific farm would end up being 72 hectares in size. There are now three phases installed - and these three phases currently cover just over 50 hectares,” says Fourie. “However, the pump house is already prepared to accommodate the next 17 to 18 hectares as well.”

With the system in place, what mattered to TTI was the after-sales service from Macsteel Fluid Control. “We truly can’t complain about Macsteel’s after-sales service. Any problem that we may have, we refer to their technical experts, like André Volschenk, who are out in the field with us in no time to sort out any possible issues.”

This partnership with Macsteel, together with Fourie’s exceptional work ethic, has earned him only admiration from the Anlo Group.

“I can only sing Francois’ praises,” says Lombard explaining that he has been working with the TTI team for a few years now. He describes their work as professional, with accurate designs brought to life with top quality material. 

“Without the TTI system of automated Bermad valves, this operation would have been impossible. We would have faced massive losses due to bad quality and money spent on fertiliser that continuously leeches due to too much water, adding nothing to plant quality,” he says.  Instead, the precision farming system enables the team to farm optimally, saving cost while still seeing a better yield.