AgBlog

From the vibrant flower farms of Kenya to leading corporate agricultural operations in the UK and empowering the next generation of farmers, here's what happens when you never say no to opportunities.

I am a fourth-generation farmer in Adana, a city rich in agricultural heritage located in southern Turkey.  We cultivate a variety of crops, including citrus fruits and cherries, and I manage over a thousand acres of orchards and fields.

Discover how one woman transformed her childhood experiences in a remote farming community into a powerful farmers’ advocacy group for sustainable agriculture and water management in Brazil.

I had no farming background growing up. For years, my younger brother and I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, where our older brother ran a very successful business.Over the years, my older brother actively sought new business opportunities to diversify risk and drive growth. During this time, we also decided to return to our family home in a village in Shandong Province and renovate it. Then, in 2021, an opportunity arose to rent a 66 Ha agricultural plot from the village. My brother entered into an agreement with the village people, and that's how my younger brother and I became farmers.

I’m Carmel Porat, an agronomist at Netafim’s agricultural department and I’m responsible for overseeing research and development and agricultural trials both in Israel and internationally. I’m excited to share with you the incredible impact of this unique space—Netafim’s Precision Agriculture Center.

In the picturesque town of Pedregulho, nestled in the heart of São Paulo, Brazil, Willian Ferreira is writing a new chapter in the world of coffee farming. As the Manager of the Santa Maria and Jatobá Farms, part of the AGAM Group, Willian is on a mission to elevate coffee cultivation to new heights. His secret weapon? Netafim's cutting-edge GrowSphere™, the world's first operating system (OS) for precision irrigation and fertigation.  

In the face of growing water scarcity and the need for more sustainable farming practices, drip irrigation stands out as a game-changing solution for agriculture. Drip irrigation is an advanced irrigation technique  that delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone, in the right amounts, at the right time, so each plant gets exactly what it needs, when it needs it, to grow optimally. It enables farmers to produce higher yields while saving on water as well as fertilizers, energy.

Sugarcane cultivation in Northeast Brazil has long been threatened by the Giant Borer, a pest that can severely damage the crop, reducing productivity by as much as 65%. The Giant Borer drills into cane stalks, and destroying sugarcane quality. Recent years have seen a rise in infestations, especially in the northeastern states, intensifying the struggle for growers.

As the effects of climate change continue to unfold, they pose a significant threat to global agriculture. Crops we rely on every day, those that nourish us and fuel our economies, are becoming increasingly vulnerable. From coffee beans that jump-start our mornings to rice that sustains billions of people worldwide, climate change is transforming how and where these staple crops are grown. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and shifting ecosystems are forcing us to rethink traditional farming practices.

Drip irrigation, celebrated for its precision and efficiency, is a game-changer for sustainable agriculture. It conserves water, cuts down on fertilizer use, and boosts crop yields, addressing some of the most pressing agricultural challenges. Yet, despite these advantages, it’s been adopted on only 4-5% of irrigated land globally. Why hasn’t this groundbreaking technology been embraced more widely?

From fertile plains that yield grains like wheat and barley, to diverse regions that cultivate cotton, sugar beet, sunflower, and a rich variety of fruit, Turkey's landscape is as varied as the crops it produces. Yet this rich agricultural tradition faces a pressing challenge. Over the past 18 years, while the country’s population has grown by 23%, the number of farmers has declined by 21%. Of the 2.17 million farmers, only 289,000 are women and the average farmer age is 58.1 years. This decline poses a threat to continuity and innovation in farming practices, crucial for the sector’s vitality.

There is nothing small about smallholder farming, neither in its numbers nor in the opportunity it presents. The 500 million smallholders across the planet produce a third of the world’s food. However, despite their significant contributions, most of these farmers struggle with limited access to essential resources like seeds, crop protection, and fertilizers, as well as agricultural expertise.