A quick look at ‘irrigation systems’ on the Internet reveals a bewildering array of options. They include the older technologies, the latest ones, and others under development that promise to be even more advanced than their predecessors or competitors.
Chris Barnard, a farmer and part-time agronomist at irrigation technologies manufacturing company Agriplas, cautions that before an undercover cropping operation invests in a new irrigation system or upgrades its existing system, its owners should carefully consider what the business hopes to achieve.
“With the focus being on the latest technologies for cultivating undercover crops, the basic principles for ensuring the long-term sustainability of an undercover operation are often forgotten. Hands-on management should never be substituted by automated equipment.”