The Congress, whose platinum sponsor was Agriplas with John Deere Water bucked trends, being fully booked a month before the event. International delegates from Africa, the United States of America,
Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Sudan and Lebanon also were present at the Congress. Local delegates came from all provinces in South Africa. The theme of working to ensure sustainability struck a strong chord with all present.

From the first session with laughter coach Shareen Richter, the tone was set for a hugely successful
Congress, which then got onto tackling issues of sustainability from a variety of angles, with top quality speakers delivering fascinating addresses. Top flight food and social occasions – culminating in the SABI Award dinner and banquet – were enjoyed by all through the event.

SABI President Jaco Burger said the great success of Congress – the quality of presentations, the debate and networking that were features of SABI Congress – emphasised once again the important role irrigation plays not only on-farm but in society in general.   Notably, South African irrigation’s expertise is highly rated, and increasingly South African irrigation professionals are playing a role on the continent of Africa too, where the tandem urgent needs are for agricultural productivity and sustainable practises.

“Our aim for the Congress was to provide information that aims to ensure sustainable irrigation now and in the future, for the benefit of the planet and al its people,” said Burger. “We are delighted to have held this Congress so close to the Kruger Park, as being close to nature serves to remind us all that in aiming for
sustainable irrigation we cannot ignore the environment in which we operate.”

SABI also at this Congress celebrated its 35th Year of existence. One of the founding members, Jerry
Rossiter, who now resides in California, had high words of praise for South Africa’s focus on water
conservation and SABI’s role in this over the years. He said that at a recent Irrigation Association symposium he had attended in Utah, one of the speakers, who had surveyed water conservation in different countries, placed South Africa in the Top 10 for water conservation and efficient delivery and applications across the board.  Rossiter made a strong call for water efficiency and conservation non-profit organisations – such as SABI – universally to step up their missions to conserve water and encourage optimum irrigation efficiency wherever possible.

During the course of three days compelling presentations from a variety of experts in irrigation, a great
number of themes were covered, which all looked to address sustainability in irrigation – these included
presentations on:

· Water Resources Now and in the Future (these included a detailed look at the efforts of the Inkomati
Catchment Management Strategy); 

· The Planning of Sustainable Solutions (for instance, a look at revitalisation of irrigation schemes);
Designing for Prosperity (a look at energy efficiency and new solutions such as hydro power inventions and SABI’s involvement in a new electricity-saving drive on-farm)

· Irrigation Scheduling Research and Practice (ranging from remote monitoring tools via satellite to other
high-tech tools and instruments);

•          Management tools for Irrigation (including SAPWAT3 test user results and SusFarMS examining
           sustainable sugarcane farming).

SABI Awards and Medals 2011 | SABI Toekennings en Medaljes 2011

Beste uitstalling:  Macsteel Fluid Control

Charles Cherry (Voorsitter Wes-Kaap tak) ontvang namens Jaco Nel die SNE Trofee

André Roux ontvang die Goue Medalje 

Odette van der Merwe ontvang die Brons Medalje 

Pieter van Heerden ontvang die Silwer Medalje 

IN THIS ISSUE

   SABI Training Courses reminder

   SABI AWARDS AND MEDALS 2011

   Thank you to our Congress sponsors

   HUGELY SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS

   SABI Golf Days

Irrigating for sustainability and prosperity

SABI Congress 2011. Hugely successful Congress

“Being close to nature serves to remind us all that in
aiming for sustainable irrigation we cannot ignore the
environment in which we operate,”

Jaco Burger –
SABI President, Kruger Park Congress 2011

Reflecting strong interest in the theme of the 2011 Congress “Sustainable Irrigation 2011 – for People, the Planet and
Prosperity”, a record figure of 180 people – from the irrigation, agricultural, farming, private enterprise and governmental
sectors – attended the event at the Kruger Gate Protea Hotel in Mpumalanga.

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Thank you to our Congress 2011 sponsors:

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Sabi  training course reminder

System Evaluation Course

21-22 September, Malelane
4-5 October, Pietermaritzburg

Skills the learner can look forward to acquiring during the System Evaluation Course include: the evaluation of the
performance of the different components of different types of irrigation systems; interpretation of system evaluation
results and the identification of resultant maintenance requirements.

 

Course in computer-aided irrigation design with Model Maker

18-20 October, Stellenbosch

This course is aimed at people who already understand the principles of irrigation design and would like to use the
Irrimaker software for irrigation design. Skills to be acquired include creating a contour map from survey data (digital
terrain modelling); drawing and positioning irrigation blocks and infrastructure on the map (CAD functions), designing
in-field irrigation systems (drip/micro, sprinkler, pivots), designing the mainline for the irrigation systems, determining the pump’s design duty point, creating the bill of quantities, final lay-out and detail drawings.

Please call or mail Amanda at the SABI office for further information on any of the courses or to confirm your bookings: 021 850 8220, amanda@sabi.co.za

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Don’t forget the fun in the sun SABI Golf Days

Ensure you and your team are booked for the annual fun SABI Golf Days: KwaZulu-Natal, Simbithi Country Club Pietermaritzburg: 27th of October 2011

Western Cape branch Golf Day at Kuilsrivier Golf Club: 24th of November 2011

To play and/or sponsor prizes for the golf days, please be in touch with amanda@sabi.co.za, 021 850 8220

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www.sabi.co.za

Tom Cowan van Macsteel Fluid Control ontvang die André Brink trofee vir die beste uitstalling tydens die Kongres

TOEKENNINGS / MEDALJES WAT TOEGEKEN WORD TYDENS KONGRES

Goue Medalje – André Roux
Word toegeken aan ‘n SABI-lid wat op uitsonderlike wyse vir SABI tot diens was.

Silwer Medalje – Pieter van Heerden
Word toegeken aan ‘n person wat vir die besproeiingsbedryf tot diens was.

Brons Medalje
Die beste student wat die Besproeiingsontwerpkursus suksesvol afgelê het.

2009 – Jaco Nel
2010 – Odette van der Merwe

SNE Trofee
Aan ‘n SABI-lid wat die hoogste punte behaal het met die skryf van die SNE gedurende die jaar wat die kongres voorafgaan – Jaco Nel

André Brink Trofee
Word aan die SABI-maatskappy-lid gegee wie se uitstalling tydens die Kongres volgens beoordeling die beste is - Macsteel Fluid Control.

Do you want to write the SNE?

If you would like to write the SNE examination, please contact Riana Lombard on riana@sabi.co.za or
021 850 8220 to arrange.

Gauteng members can contact Riana if they are interested in writing the SNE at the end of September/beginning of
October at the ARC in Silverton, Pretoria.

Successfully passing the SNE means you will attain SABI Approved Designer status.

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   Do you want to write the sne?