Produce profit on your pastures with Reinke Irrigation

by Jaco Cilliers Reinke was by far the better choice and

Irrigation is the gateway to unlock- says Rennie. He uses the ReinCloud™ ing Africa’s agricultural potential. Management system and his pivots are The Food and Agriculture Organisation powered by 45 kW motors equipped (FAO) published an article many years with variable speed drives. ago (1997) that estimated Africa to Rennie believes that four compohave the ability to increase agricultural nents on his pivots should be checked production by 50% simply by investing regularly: “If your tires are in good in irrigation systems. condition, the electrical components Reinke has answered Africa’s need are sealed watertight, the gearfor irrigation by investing in the con- boxes are oiled, and the bearings tinent. The Reinke Depot situated in are greased, there is no reason why the South African port city of Durban something should break on the pivot. keeps enough stock to supply the con- Your investment will last for decades to tinent with superb come, and pay itself centre pivot irriga- many times over.” tion systems. Their expert staff members travel wherever they are needed, and even during the COVID-19 travel restrictions, “ The technology that Reinke uses, from their structural materials and design to the electronic management systems, is simply in a class of its own. „ Rennie uses water from the Limpopo river to irrigate his crops. “Because the river water contains high quantities of debris, we filter it were able to assist before it is pumped technicians in various African countries through the pivot. I clean filters and remotely. check for blockages on the sprinklers Rennie de Wet owns the farm Kwala- on a regular basis,” Rennie explains. ta in the Tuli Block of Botswana where Lawrence van der Westhuizen is the he produces lucerne pastures for the irrigation expert at Pula Dynamic, the game on his farm. Rennie installed the Reinke agent for Botswana. Lawrence first Reinke pivots in Botswana on his says that Reinke South Africa provides farm in 2017. He erected three 30-hec- excellent support to their agents in tare pivots. other countries. “Our technician went “We decided to buy Reinke pivots to the Reinke depot in Durban for trainafter comparing price, quality, parts ing on how to properly erect a Reinke availability, and agents in our area. pivot. Apart from this we have an ex-

One of the three 30-hectare pivots that make a vast difference on Rennie de Wet’s farm, Kwalata, in the Tuli Block of Botswana.

I liked the sturdy structural design,”

Rennie de Wet uses his Reinke 5-tower pivots to irrigate pastures on his game farm.

cellent relationship with Patrick, Jaco, and Paul, and they are always available to help us if we have a problem or a question,” says Lawrence. Pula Dynamic started their relationship with Reinke in 2017. Lawrence explains why they wanted to be an agent solely for Reinke: “The technology that Reinke uses, from their structural materials and design to the electronic management systems, is simply in a class of its own,” says Lawrence. Lawrence and Rennie are both very satisfied with the after sales service that the team from Reinke in South Africa provides. “I can contact them directly, and Jaco Scheepers, the Reinke engineer in Durban, is always available to talk me through any process over the phone,” says Rennie. Centre pivots are a relatively new sight in Botswana. Rennie and Lawrence are doing their part to introduce irrigation systems to the farmers of Botswana. “Many people visited the farm to look at the pivots and to find out how they work,” says Rennie. “People are often sceptical due to the initial capital investment, but once they see the difference that a Reinke pivot makes to a farm’s production, they are convinced,” Lawrence added.

Reinke Irrigation provides a unique solution to suit the needs of every farmer. They can provide any size pivot from a single tower, engine-driven mini pivot ideal for remote locations with unreliable electricity supply, to multi towered models for vast fields. Contact Patrick Ellis, Director of Reinke South Africa, on +27(0)31-350-4525 for any further enquiries, or send an e-mail to patrickellis@reinke.com.