Efficient irrigation in Oeste fruit growing: the Granfer case
Granfer, based in Óbidos (Portugal), brings together growers with around 700 hectares of fruit, mostly for export. Humberto Marques, managing director, talks about the relationship with Magos and a project in Salir do Porto completed in record time.
In fruit growing, efficient irrigation is essential to ensure fruit quality, stable production and responsible water use. Granfer, based in Óbidos with orchards from the north to the south of Portugal, has worked with Magos for many years. Humberto Marques, managing director, describes the relationship.
700 hectares of fruit, mostly for export
Granfer brings together a group of member companies: some grow stone fruit (plums, peaches, nectarines, flat peaches), while others focus on what is known as winter fruit, with several varieties of pears and apples. “In terms of production, the members together farm around 700 hectares of stone fruit and winter fruit,” explains Humberto Marques. “The vast majority of what we produce is for export, and in the particular case of avocados, it's practically 100% for the export market.”
A project in record time
In Salir do Porto, on a sweet potato field, Magos supplied the materials and an installer carried out the installation. “There was some concern, on Magos's side and on ours too, because it was done in record time. We needed to carry out the installation in that record time as well and, in fact, it went extremely well, because the materials were delivered in stages, but in time for the installer to complete the work,” says Humberto Marques.
The installed system
The project includes: • drip tape along the crop rows; • layflat sub-mains; • PVC main lines; • an irrigation head with automatic filtration (Azud Helix filters) and fertigation with an injector pump; • control by an Agrónic 4500 controller from Progrès.
A relationship of many years
“Our relationship with Magos goes back many years, precisely because of Magos's ability to adapt to projects of greater and lesser complexity, and because of its technical team, which responds on time and with solutions,” says Humberto Marques. “We're satisfied with Magos's positioning, its vision and its ability to solve problems after installation. To date, nothing to report.”
