Too wet or too dry

Too wet or too dr y

South Africa currently finds itself in the midst of an above-average summer-rainfall season. This is a welcome turn of events, especially for parts of the Eastern Cape that had been ravaged by drought for years.

While good rains are usually good news for grain producers, the reality of “too much of a good thing” rears its ugly head when crops end up waterlogged in the fields.

Syngenta, a crop-protection specialist, developed AgriClime several years ago to provide producers with a buffer against the impact of droughts on yield. During the 2020 season, however, abundant rains caused severe and wide-spread damage to dry-bean yields and, in some instances, maize. This prompted Syngenta to also help protect producers against too much rainfall.

Against this background, Syngenta recently adjusted its AgriClime financial solution, offering producers’ much-needed relief so that they are equally supported in seasons that are either dry or marked by heavy rainfall.

It is possible for producers to recover a portion of their Syngenta purchases in cash at the end of a season that had either too much or too little rainfall. AgriClime is not crop insurance, but rather a financial solution that uses a weather derivative which allows Syngenta to support the producer against risk of yield losses caused by either drought or waterlogged conditions.

AgriClime is based on specific coordinates in a producer’s field that the system translates into a 5 km x 5 km quadrant. The average rainfall in that quadrant over the past 20 years is then determined for a specific period within a season (the risk period). The producer selects the risk period upfront, for example, from 1 February to 15 March – these are more aligned to the dates available to be signed up now.

The producer also chooses to be hedged against either too much or too little rainfall, or both, and the system then calcu-

plaaslike omstandighede ontwikkel is. Dit is ‘n alternatief vir oplossings wat internasionaal beskikbaar is, maar moeilik kan wees om aan te pas. Die alles-in-een, geïntegreerde platform laat ‘n boer toe om ‘n oog op plaasstatus te hou en kragtige rapporteringsfunksies te gebruik om data te ontleed terwyl dit vasgevang word. “Afgesien van die vele uitdagings wat boere daagliks in die gesig staar, moet hulle meer produseer met minder terwyl hulle hoë kwaliteitstandaarde handhaaf en koste beperk,” sê Niel Kruger, bemarkingsdirekteur by InteliGro. “Tegnologie in landbou is deurslaggewend om hulpbronne optimaal te gebruik en opbrengs te verhoog. “Ons vennootskap met CropWatch stel boere in staat om verskeie aspekte van hul plaas op een platform te integreer om ‘n meer holistiese siening van hul besigheid te kry. Die ryk data waartoe hulle toegang het, vereenvoudig die monitering en bestuur van gewasse oor groot gebiede. Wanneer insigte wat optrede moontlik maak só geredelik beskikbaar is, kan boere regoor hul plase produktiwiteit verhoog en koste optimaliseer.” Monitering is volgens hom reeds ‘n gevestigde praktyk in verskeie gewassegmente en dit is besig om veld te wen as die grondslag vir geïntegreerde gewasbestuur.

“Ons platform stel boere in staat om ‘n verskeidenheid inligting, soos satellietbeelde, weerdata en toedieningsinligting, te gebruik om besluitneming en rekordhouding te verbeter.”

Syngenta recently adjusted its AgriClime financial solution, offering producers much-needed relief.

lates each producer’s unique pay-out criteria, e.g. R1 400 for every 1 mm above the rainfall pay-out trigger.

The average rainfall is compared to satellite data of the actual rainfall in the quadrant during the risk period. In cases where the actual rainfall was significantly more or less than the producer’s pay-out trigger, a percentage-based pay-out comes into play. Depending on the circumstances, producers can recover up to 27% of their Syngenta crop protection spend, should drought or waterlogged conditions, or both, impact yields negatively.

Producers who are interested in participating in AgriClime can contact their nearest Syngenta agent for all the details. Terms and conditions apply.

Gebruikersvriendelike tegnologie op die plaas

VAN BLADSY 6