Water & Irrigation

The project is set to become an exemplary climate-smart agriculture.

As part of the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TagDev 2.0) programme that has been designed to boost high value crop yield and educate farmers on Artificial Intelligence, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has introduced an AI-powered fertigation system that digitalises irrigation and fertiliser application by leveraging real-time data

The project is set to become an exemplary climate-smart agriculture, working wonders on boosting crop production.

The installation is already operational at a greenhouse built in MUST's main campus in Thyolo, which will be supporting the growth of tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers.

“We are using AI to make farming more efficient, productive and climate-resilient while providing students and communities with practical skills that can transform agriculture,” said Jabulani Nyengere, senior lecturer in geoinformatics and postgraduate coordinator at MUST, who has been spearheading the project. He explained that the system ensures sustainability by cutting down water and nutrient waste. It works from the combined effects of AI, precision irrigation and automated fertiliser management.

The advanced technology is designed to decode crop growth data without any breaks and automatically adjusts water and nutrient levels, ensuring plants receive the right inputs while conserving resources, he said. 

The project aligns with MUST's vision on advancing research and development on innovation and technology to address food security, climate change and sustainable agricultural development. 

The smart system combines irrigation and fertiliser application, automatically adjusting in real time the crop estimates according to their growth stage. As the right quantity of nutrients are secured for the crops at the right time, less waste is generated, ensuring boosted productivity, crop quality and efficient use of resources.

In agriculture, water isn’t just life. It’s livelihood.

In the world of African agriculture, few things are as vital and as overlooked as water

Not just for drinking, but for growing, irrigating, and sustaining life from soil to supper. In Sierra Leone, where farming still feeds most households, one partnership is quietly rewriting that story, drop by drop.

Enter So Pure, a local enterprise with a bold ambition: deliver clean, affordable drinking water across the country, while laying the groundwork for better agricultural resilience. But this isn’t just about hydration this is about farming futures. And now, with the support of capital lender Zvilo, So Pure is scaling its operations in ways that directly impact the agricultural landscape.

So Pure operates a fully integrated water value chain - purifying, packaging, and distributing safe drinking water through sachets and 20-litre bottles to over 500,000 Sierra Leoneans. While that may sound like a public health story, farmers know better: water security underpins crop planning, livestock health, and rural labour productivity.

Since 2019, So Pure has also been running a waste recovery facility collecting and recycling plastic sachets and packaging. This creates a circular economy that benefits not only the environment but also supports rural livelihoods. And with Zvilo stepping in to provide working capital, So Pure can now localise its packaging production, reduce reliance on imports, and stabilise supply chains—an urgent win for agricultural communities constantly disrupted by external shocks.

Scaling up to 10–12 million litres per month isn’t just a business milestone—it’s a watershed moment for farmers who rely on predictable water access, even if indirectly. And this impact grows with So Pure’s network of over 500 vendors and agents, many of whom are located in farming communities.

The initiative also aligns with Sierra Leone’s national 10-year WASH programme, “Securing Water, Enabling Dignity, and Advancing Development,” which targets 90% coverage by 2035. Farmers are at the heart of this goal because without clean water, there is no food security.

Support from development finance institutions like British International Investment, FMO, and Proparco, along with Ecobank’s risk-sharing facility, underscores how strategic finance can nurture grassroots change. As part of BII’s CARE for Water initiative, the project also ties into broader climate adaptation goals vital for African farms facing erratic weather and drought.

As So Pure and Zvilo push the boundaries of what clean water access can mean, they’re not just serving consumers - they’re fuelling the continent’s oldest profession with its most essential resource.

Precision irrigation is fast becoming a powerful solution.

 With rising input costs, limited water availability, and increasing demands on productivity, farmers today are under more pressure than ever

Precision irrigation is fast becoming a powerful solution, enabling growers to use water and nutrients far more efficiently by delivering them directly to the plant's root zone—exactly when and where they’re needed.

According to David Nganga, Technical Advisor for Netafim Southern & East Africa in Zambia, precision irrigation is about “delivering water and nutrients directly to the plant's root zone, in the exact amount and at the right time.” This approach reduces waste and maximises plant growth and yield. Among the available methods, drip irrigation is especially efficient, significantly reducing water loss through evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation. This means more of the water actually benefits the plants, boosting productivity.

A common myth is that drip systems are too complex or only suited for high-value crops. In reality, many farmers who’ve switched to drip find it quite straightforward. The key lies in proper setup and regular maintenance, such as cleaning filters and checking driplines for blockages. When maintained well, these systems run reliably and consistently.

One major benefit of drip irrigation is energy efficiency. Less water is needed, and it can be delivered at lower pressure, cutting down on electricity usage. As Henco Grobler of Senekal Boerdery in South Africa puts it, “Drip irrigation enables economically viable large-scale sugarcane production because of the energy savings involved.” These cost savings are often enough to make large-scale operations profitable where traditional irrigation would be too expensive.

Scalability is another strong advantage of precision irrigation. Whether you're managing a home garden or a large commercial farm, the technology can be adapted to your needs. Marco Appel, Agricultural Economist for Netafim Southern & East Africa, stresses the importance of weighing the full picture: “Farmers and project designers must evaluate factors like installation costs, ongoing maintenance, water and electricity expenses, and labour to determine if precision irrigation is a wise investment.”

Understanding your soil plays a vital role in getting the most from precision systems. Different soil types hold water differently, and even basic hands-on checks—like feeling moisture near the root zone—can help optimise watering schedules.

Choosing the right equipment is essential. Factors such as the type of crop, soil condition, field layout, water source, and even how long the system needs to last should influence your decisions. Options like pressure-compensated drippers or anti-root intrusion features can enhance performance and longevity.

The results are hard to ignore: up to 50% water savings, 30% less fertiliser used, and yield increases of between 30–50%. With better crop uniformity, lower labour demands, and reduced power costs, precision irrigation is paving the way for smarter, more sustainable agriculture.

Over time, it fosters a more observant and efficient farming culture—where growers are more aware of their soil, use inputs more wisely, and reduce waste across the board.

Precision irrigation contribute to sustainability.

Netafim Southern & East Africa is celebrating 60 years of shaping the future of agriculture through precision irrigation

Since launching its groundbreaking drip irrigation technology in 1965, the company has become a key player in helping farmers across Southern and East Africa increase productivity while conserving water and other vital resources.

Michael Esmeraldo, Managing Director of Netafim Southern & East Africa, reflected on how the company’s early efforts to encourage efficient water use have now become essential for sustainability in agriculture. “Using less water and other resources started as an optional benefit that was embraced by many leading farmers around the world. Today, using water with precision is a crucial cog in the wheel of sustainability that agricultural role players around the world must keep turning,” he said.

According to Esmeraldo, innovation remains central to the company’s approach. “Innovation is part of Netafim’s DNA,” he explained. “It is not only about improving existing products but developing new precision irrigation solutions.”

A strong network of dealers across the region helps deliver these advanced technologies directly to the field. “We innovate. Our dealers implement. Together, we help farmers grow more with less,” Esmeraldo added.

The company also invests in regional research and development, partnering with academic institutions, funding Master’s students, and running field trials. “Our research is science-based, field-proven, and tailored to African conditions,” said Agronomy Manager Charl van Reenen.

In practice, Netafim’s impact is clear. In Eswatini, 10,000 hectares of sugarcane are now irrigated using subsurface drip systems. In Zimbabwe, blueberry producers benefit from efficient water management, and in South Africa, the citrus sector thrives on low-flow fertigation techniques.

Farmers like Francois Fourie praise Netafim for reigniting the application of drip systems in crops such as maize and sugar beans, while Zimbabwe’s GreenFuel applauds the company’s “professional approach to installation, problem-solving and working towards the future success of the irrigation system.”

National Sales Manager Willem Smit expressed pride in the company's achievements, noting: “We know that we have the responsibility to carry this legacy forward through our everyday work.”

As Netafim looks ahead, the mission is clear. “To fight food, water and land scarcity by helping the world grow more with less,” Smit said. Marketing Manager Gerdie de Lange described Netafim as “a catalyst for transformation in sustainable agriculture.”