Introduction
A renowned agribusiness in South Africa, known for its sustainability practices and being the top avocado supplier globally, sought to enhance its field scouting capabilities. FarmERP, a digital farm management partner, stepped in to address the challenges faced in scouting operations, supporting the enterprise in managing pests and diseases affecting their produce range including mango, litchi, lime, and pecan.
Challenge
The agribusiness encountered difficulties due to a lack of expertise and technology for efficient field scouting. Geo-tagging was absent, making remote monitoring impractical. Tracking pest and disease history per plot or tree proved arduous in the expansive farmland. Locating pests, diseases, and deficiencies across large areas was a daunting task. Additionally, sharing findings with experts and receiving timely advice posed delays.
Approach
FarmERP conducted a thorough evaluation of existing processes before devising strategies to enhance scouting operations. Tailored for fruit crops susceptible to pests, weeds, and deficiencies, FarmERP's solutions focused on bolstering pest management efforts. The deployment of digital tools facilitated general, tree, and trap scouting activities, including predefined data on potential threats, Geo-tagging of assets for remote monitoring, and task assignment to supervisors.
Benefits
The implementation of FarmERP's solutions streamlined field scouting activities, enabling informed decision-making to protect crops. Features like quick data recording on pests, categorization, pest count tracking, and geo-tagging simplified operations. Accurate estimation of crop health, growth stages, and pest populations enhanced crop protection. The platform's data consolidation and analysis functions aided agronomists in making better decisions. Assigning tasks transparently, tracking weather, and facilitating expert advice enhanced efficiency and crop yields.
Conclusion
FarmERP's innovative field scouting capabilities have significantly impacted the agribusiness, leading to improved productivity, profitability, and efficiency. By leveraging digital solutions, the enterprise has overcome challenges in scouting, empowering them to tackle threats more effectively and ensure the health of their crops.