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In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Michael Esmeraldo, Managing Director of Netafim Southern & East Africa, for a fascinating deep dive into the past, present, and future of irrigation across Africa.

Michael shares his journey from agronomist to MD, explains Netafim’s global footprint and South African manufacturing capabilities, and unpacks the dramatic shifts happening in irrigation technology — from subsurface drip to cloud-based control systems, automation, and the growing role of AI.

The conversation also dives into water scarcity, crop innovation, blueberry and citrus expansions, irrigation challenges in maize and sugarcane, as well as Africa’s development opportunities in countries like Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and beyond.

Michael also speaks passionately about South Africa’s resilience, the mindset shift after the Day Zero drought, and why he believes now is the most optimistic he’s felt about the country in a decade.

Key Takeaways

•South Africa is far ahead of the global average in drip irrigation adoption, but major opportunities still exist.

•Subsurface irrigation is revolutionising crops like sugarcane and may expand to more crops over time.

•New cultivars in blueberries and other fruit crops are reshaping global demand.

•Cloud-based irrigation control is now a reality for farmers, enabling automation, better reporting and fewer errors.

•AI-driven recommendations for irrigation and fertigation are close to becoming mainstream.

•Recycling of irrigation plastics is a major future shift — and a business opportunity.•Africa holds enormous agricultural potential, but development and education must accelerate.

•South African farmers remain among the most resilient and innovative in the world.

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