New Pivot boosts agrisciences training
Research and student training in the Faculty of AgriSicences received a major boost with the donation of a Lindsay Zimmatic 9500P centre pivot irrigation system on Mariendahl experimental farm.
This is the first centre pivot irrigator at any of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) agricultural research and teaching sites, and Prof Pieter Swanepoel, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Agronomy, said it would create new opportunities to explore and apply cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
The Zimmatic 9500P is one of Lindsay’s top-of-the-range models and integrates with its FieldNET farm management system, widely used by Zimmatic customers as well as other manufacturers’ pivots and other irrigation equipment.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on 16 October, Prof Swanepoel said the donation and installation of the system, with a coverage of 13ha, “will play a vital role in building capacity and advancing research on technologies that support sustainable agricultural practices”.
Prof Swanepoel was particularly excited about the potential for interdisciplinary research brought about by the installation, which could connect expertise across pasture agronomy, animal science, soil and water science, plant pathology, and other disciplines. Access to the latest technologies is an important skill for graduates from Stellenbosch University and donations and collaborations with industry partners such
as Lindsay makes this possible.
Prof Sibusiso Moyo, SU’s deputy vice-chancellor for research, innovation, and postgraduate studies, said industry collaboration was crucial within the context of the underfunded higher education sector in South Africa.
Given the overdependence on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, she said the question was how a university remained at the cutting edge of innovation. “In the end, we have to do it ourselves,” she added.
There was a strong focus on collaboration between industry and academia at the handover, with Prof Danie Brink, Dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences, pointing out assistance received from the pig and poultry industries to upgrade training facilities.
