Precision irrigation in the Alentejo: the Origem Verde case

Origem Verde grows melon, cantaloupe, watermelon and peppers near Beja, in the Alentejo. It farms around 50 hectares of white and green melons, cantaloupes and watermelons. André Ramalho, who runs the company, shows how irrigation is now based on data rather than guesswork, from planting to harvest.

Automated irrigation and fertigation

“We work here with irrigation and fertigation systems that are already automated,” explains André Ramalho. “We have the help and partnership of Magos, which has been supporting us for several years. That lets us produce better quality, manage resources better and, of course, optimize and save money every day, to get the lowest possible production cost.”

Drip tape and plastic film at planting

When planting melons, Origem Verde uses drip tape and plastic film supplied by Magos. “I use the drip tape and the plastic we lay down when planting the melons, to keep weeds out and to irrigate,” says André Ramalho. The plastic holds back weeds, and the tape delivers water and fertilizer right next to each plant.

Spherag: the field on your phone

Irrigation and fertigation are managed with the Spherag platform, one of the newest solutions Magos has been rolling out. Solar-powered, Spherag lets growers monitor and control the irrigation system in real time, through the app on a phone, tablet or computer.

“It gives us an app on the phone or on the computer at home, at any time, to change and adjust the irrigation, the irrigation and fertilizer times. It makes things so much easier,” says André Ramalho. “We can be growers from a distance, manage the field remotely, and that leaves us more time for the commercial side, for example, and for keeping an eye on the crop to spot any pest or disease that might be coming up. That way the field is always in better condition.”

Spherag benefits: • remote control and monitoring of the irrigation system; • more uniform crop development; • lower production, energy and water costs; • more efficient use of working time; • better crop profitability and productivity.

Same-day technical support

“When it comes to technical support, Magos has adapted a lot to our situation. Whenever needed, on the same day or the next, they manage to give us an answer,” says André Ramalho. “These are very demanding crops, and the temperatures we have here in the Alentejo don't allow us to go long without irrigating or without feeding the plants properly. It has been a good partnership in that respect.”