CULTIVATION AND TECHNOLOGY W ith the sale of a total of sixty pivot irrigation systems from T-L-irrigation (USA) in 2014, the total number of irrigation installations from APH Group customers in operation in Russia is at least 350. Growers in Russia are finding out that irrigation increases their yields and the quality of the harvested produce. ‘What we see is that, instead of 10 to 25 tons of yield, growers now harvest up to 50 tons of produce. As a result of the import ban on consumption potatoes from the EU by the Russian government, the prices of the local products are rising. Brushed potatoes packaged in 25 kg net bags currently bring in 30 euro cents per kilogram. The consumers are happy to pay this price, because they are proud that they can beat this boycott together’, says Terpstra who lives in Moscow himself. Technology is important ‘The pivot irrigation systems of T-L-irrigation are hydraulically-driven machines. This is very effective because the gear wheel transmission on the wheels is very direct. Also, there are no practical problems such as copper wire theft, which happens a lot with electrically-powered machines. Because of its direct power, this machine moves across the field at a constant, desired speed instead of with stop-starts as with electricallydriven machines. This gives a much more regular water distribution. As a result, the cost of ownership is much lower than with electrically-powered machines’, Terpstra has calculated. Better quality ‘Irrigation minimises second growth, which improves the quality of the harvested product a lot. A big buyer such as Frito Lay doesn’t really want potatoes from growers who don’t irrigate anymore. This is no hollow statement, as is shown by the fact that the big buyers also help professional growers with their investments’, says the APH man. To work this market, transfer of knowledge is absolutely essential. For this purpose, the APH Group employs twelve men who go round in their service buses to help growers personally with starting up the installation and provide them with the proper know-how. ‘Because many farmers are chiefly investors, it’s important to explain to those responsible exactly when to start with the irrigation. If they start too early, and the root system isn’t fully and deeply developed, the plant may not be able to reach the fertilisers properly. If they start too late, and the weather is hot, the roots in the black Russian soil may get burnt. Because the yield often doubles after irrigation, we already get requests during the growing season to set up bigger storehouses so that the extra yield can be marketed throughout the year’, says Terpstra with a smile. ● Jaap Delleman Potato World 2015 • number 2 51 Pagina 50
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