Precision Farming: Changing Litchi And Avo Prodution For The Better

Demand for litchis and avocados has soared and encouraged producers to embrace precision farming methods. Stephan Schoeman, owner of Soetkalmoes Consultation in Nelspruit, an advisory service for the tree crops industry, tells Gerhard Uys how these practices are improving yield and crop quality.

- Gerhard Uys

The latest statistics from the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop) show that there are 340 avocado farmers and 100 litchi farmers in South Africa. This is according to Stephan Schoeman, owner of Soetkalmoes Consultation, an advisory service for the subtropical tree crop industry.

He adds that there are 17 500ha of avocados and 1 100ha of litchis under production. Avocados are grown mostly in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, while litchis are grown mostly in Tzaneen in Limpopo; Malelane, Komatipoort and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga; and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Schoeman, who holds an MSc in Agriculture, says the avocado industry contributed R1,8 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2016/2017, with litchi production adding R120 million more.

ORCHARD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

 “Precision farming methods are new to litchi and avocado producers, and many of the challenges that litchi and avocado growers face are the result of how we planned and planted orchards years ago,” he says.

Today, precision farming tools and techniques enable farmers to better address a range of pre- and post-planting aspects. These include soil preparation, long-term oxygen management, risk mitigation strategies, and disease prevention. The effects of the Phytophthora fungus, for example, can be mitigated if soil compaction and low oxygen levels are addressed. Research has shown that Phytophthora is a symptom of low oxygen levels in the soil, which could be the result of compaction, soil crusting, water logging, drainage problems, or poor irrigation scheduling. Such challenges, says Schoeman, must be addressed during the field preparation stage.

AVOCADO QUALITY