ACP SUGAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMESteering Committee April 2012

Increasing Sugarcane Yields For Smallholder Farmers Through Improvements In Irrigation Scheduling

SWAZILAND SUGAR ASSOCIATION

TECHNICAL SERVICES

P. O. Box 367, Simunye, Swaziland Tel: (268)383-8998; Fax (268)383-8731 E-mail: jabss@ssa.co.sz

BackgroundProject Goals and Objectives Project EnvironmentProgress To Date ChallengesRisks and Mitigation Measures TakenComing Year Forecast

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

BACKGROUND• Study by SSATS has shown that most smallholder farmers

do not follow any form of irrigation scheduling.• This has led to potential losses in sugarcane productivity; – Losses in irrigation water– Increase in electricity cost for pumping– Leaching of nitrogen fertilizers resulting in high fertilizer

costs– Aggravated soil losses and therefore pollution of the

environment– Increase in weeds and weed control costs– Increasing need for drainage installation

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES1. Goals

To increase smallholder growers’ understanding of irrigation scheduling

To effectively use smallholder grower extension collaborators as a major factor in helping farmers to learn irrigation scheduling

To improve smallholder grower cane yields and quality

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (cont’d)2. Objectives To provide irrigation scheduling training for selected

smallholder growers to be used as extension service collaborators

To provide selected growers with information on irrigation scheduling techniques (using Canepro, Peg Board, Irrigation Profit/Loss Records and Soil Auger systems).

To ensure growers learn about timely and proper amount of water application during irrigation

To assist selected growers in learning how to effectively use the irrigation scheduling techniques to improve the cane yield and quality

PROJECT ENVIRONMENT1. Political Climate Remains stable for the foreseeable future (project life

time)

2. Weather Conditions Remain favourable for sugarcane production and the

minimum of 400mm of rainfall between October and March was exceeded. Water storage dams remain at full capacity

3. Markets and Prices The African and European markets remained stable for

Swazi sugar and prices are looking better for 2012/13

PROJECT ENVIRONMENT (cont’d)4. Prevailing Legal and Regulatory Framework Remains conducive to increased farmer involvement in

technology use The regulatory environment for sugar trading remains

adequate

5. Low Cost Technology Availability Required Computer hard/software and irrigation

scheduling tools exist on-shelf at low cost Irrigation equipment, peg boards, rain gauges, soil

augers etc available within the country SMS system sourced from a small vendor. SSA scouting

for other vendors for alternative supply in future

PROGRESS TO DATE1. Project Information

Information collected from participating growers and captured into Canesched (computer irrigation scheduling system) include:

• Irrigation Systems; types, discharge rates, stand time and application rates.

• Field records; crop ratoons and harvest dates

2. Selection of participants A total of 63 smallholder growers were selected

throughout the industry Cooperating Extension Officers were identified

PROGRESS TO DATE (cont’d)3. Project Equipment

Rain gauges, Peg Boards, Record Keeping Material and cell phones purchased and distributed to participants

4. IT system and Software Computer hardware for office purchased Canesched program installed SMS software installed

5. Training First training conducted in November 2011 where all

participating growers attended.

CHALLENGES1. Departure of Initial Project Leader

He left at a time when the project just started

Replacement appointed and project running smoothly

2. Difficulty in getting SMS software A vendor was identified and system

synchronised with cell phone service SSA scouting for alternative vendors in

case problems emerge later on

MAJOR RISKS AND MITIGATIONRISK MITIGATIONPolitical climate Remains stable

Weather conditions Remain conducive

Market for sugar Market guaranteed

Market Prices Remain attractive

Project Equipment Availability

All equipment available and installed

Regulatory Framework Remain conducive

2012 FORECASTED SITUATION1. Send out daily irrigation messages2. Supply of daily ET values3. Conduct at least two grower training sessions

(May and September)4. Continue to send the daily ET values to growers5. Continue project monitoring (Throughout year)6. Project evaluation will start in May for the early

cuts and end in December for the late cuts 7. Compile annual report for 2012 (December)8. Conduct support farm visits

Thank You!