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Congress
2009 kicks off
Adapt now
Could
this be the century of agriculture – and, indeed, irrigation?
The Gauteng-Central branch,
albeit basking in a Blue Bulls victory, launched SABI Congress - Back
to Basics: Efficient Irrigation Design for a Changing Environment - on
3 June 2009 by placing the spotlight firmly on the myriad of
substantial challenges of our decade – economic conditions, the energy
crisis, ecosystem degradation and climate change – that the irrigation
professional here and abroad grapples with on a daily basis, and indeed
looks to play a positive role within. With increasing demand for
food, population growth and urbanisation, demands for an expanded world
food supply and a real need for the world to focus on reducing one of
mankind’s great tragedies of the 21st century – malnutrition
– the requisite for efficient irrigation design and deep knowledge is
compelling, was a clear message from SABI President Isobel
van der Stoep in her opening address. With current world conditions
unfolding, she said, came the implications: increased demand for water
(it is estimated that 47% of the world’s population will live under
water stress by 2030); increased demand for agricultural production;
large and small sectors need to be included in the solutions.
“Agricultural water needs more than ever to be secured and protected.
The agricultural sector needs to be nurtured,” stated Isobel. To meet
the rising demands of the planet, it is estimated that agricultural
land will need to increase to 1,7 bn ha in 2050 (from 1.39 bn ha in
2007), with the greatest potential being in Sub-Saharan Africa and
Latin America..... more...
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Water, food, energy supply –
the big issue
s
Grow more with less: Netafim,
Congress 2009 main sponsor
The
main sponsor of Congress 2009 Netafim South Africa’s MD Etienne
Erasmus’s address resonated very much with the audience, wherein he
also placed a focus on the bigger issues of the day facing irrigation:
the nexus of water, food and energy supply issues.
Etienne earlier introduced his
address with recognition of the challenging economic climate and
expressed gratitude for business and opportunity the irrigation and
agriculture has in tough times. “We are very happy to sponsor the SABI
2009 Congress and pleased that we can,” said Etienne in welcoming the
attendees of the event. more...
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Magic,
music, thoughts and accolades
Social and serious engineering and irrigation at Congress
SABI
Congress 2009 was a cornucopia of vital influences. The opening day
featured a motivating address by Howard Burke – positive thoughts make
positive things and much more. The audience, engineers and technical in
their influences, private sector design and product gurus, government
fundis, academics and irrigation board/water user association
luminaries – seemed to like the fact that Howard is also a Lego
distributor. (Lego the making of many good engineers!). An atmospheric
braai on the banks of the Vaal River was held on Day One, with a raging
fire and KZN SABI members recognisable by their beanies. Reflections of
the Polar Bear Club at Tiffendell were, indeed, heard. Western Cape
members clutched a warming glass of good red, fruits of their
viticulture, closely than ever before. Gauteng-Central members gloating
again about the Blue Bulls, along with everyone else too.
The fellowship was warming even with the cool Vaal waters – we had
heard of the issues the Vaal faces and what is being done just that day
in a good technical address by DWAF’s (or DWE) Seef Rademeyer, which
was followed by a climate change address, described as one of the “best
people had ever heard on the topic” by Professor Roland Schulze.
The
gala dinner featured magician Russell Fox – from bending spoons,
disappearing under jocks, which hunk-do-you-choose Janine and Desire,
Desire, Desire. This was the cherry on the cake after an intense and
interesting day of talks, ranging from the issues of technical and
economic planning of systems to small business management and
marketing. Now you know how Starbucks does it too! And – remember Be
Seen.
At the gala dinner, MC and
Council member Felix Reinders, in fine Congress tradition, treated us
to one of his magical opening sequences on screen. Tongue-in-cheek,
visual (a slide presented of fish swimming in formation) and just
brilliant – classic Felix! more...
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In this issue...
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- Congress 2009 kicks off
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- Water, food, energy supply –
the big issues
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- Magic, music, thoughts and
accolades
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Duisend maal dankie!
Namens die SABI Raad en Sentraaltak wil ek graag almal wat
gehelp het om die 2009 SABI Kongres ‘n sukses te maak, hartlik bedank vir
hul onderskeie bydraes.
Alhoewel die program
saamgestel is met die besproeiingsontwerper se behoeftes in gedagte, is
die Kongres ook bygewoon deur ‘n verskeidenheid van ander rolspelers uit
die besproeiingsbedryf – produsente, vervaardigers, verskaffers,
staatsamptenare, verteenwoordigers van watergebruikersverenigings en
finansiële instansies, studente. Die verrigtinge is ook gemoniteer
deur die media met onder andere Landbouweekblad en Farmers’ Weekly se
joernaliste teenwoordig.
Die omvattende
tegniese program is verder afgewissel met sosiale hoogtepunte soos die
braai op die walle van die Vaalrivier, en die gala dinee waar toekennings
gemaak is aan SABI se toppresteerders en kulkunstenaar Russell Fox ons
vermaak het met sy streke.
‘n Spesiale woord
van dank aan ons sprekers, sessievoorsitters, borge, uitstallers en almal
betrokke by die reël van die Kongres, sonder wie dit nie kon plaasgevind
het nie – kwaliteit-inligting is bekendgemaak, voorgehou en uitgeruil, en
ons sien uit daarna om mekaar weer te ontmoet by die volgende Kongres in
2011, in Mpumalanga.
Isobel van der Stoep
SABI President
Photos
of the Congress
(Click on thumbnail to view bigger image)
 
 
 
 
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