Page 27 - AWA Vol.42-No.6 issue

IRRIGATION

What Growers Are Telling the Global Irrigation Industry

A new Komet Irrigation survey of of Komet's Application Engineering
growers, OEMs and irrigation pro- & Digital Systems division and the
fessionals conducted during Ag- opening of the Komet Experience
ritechnica suggests irrigation de- Hub in Brazil, creating new capabil-
cision-makers are fundamentally ity to better understand irrigation
rethinking what they expect from performance under real-world oper-
irrigation. ating conditions.
As Smart Irrigation Month draws "We've always believed that great
to a close, new insights gathered by engineering starts by understand-
Komet Irrigation during Agritech- ing the challenges farmers face in
nica, Europe's leading agricultural the field," says Groos. "Our respon-
machinery exhibition, through its sibility today goes beyond develop-
Experience Hub competition involv- ing outstanding products. It's about
ing growers, OEMs and irrigation helping customers make smarter de-
professionals, reveal a significant cisions, use water more effectively
shift in how farmers are thinking and unlock greater value from every
about irrigation investment. irrigation system."
When asked about the biggest pres- As food production systems face
sures facing their businesses, 33% of mounting pressure while relying on
respondents identified increasing fewer natural resources, precision
regulation as their primary concern, irrigation is becoming central to im-
followed by 29% citing price volatil- proving productivity while protect-
ity, 23% highlighting rising energy, ing water, energy and operational
fertilizer and water costs, and 15% efficiency. Technology, engineering
pointing to labor shortages. More ply as equipment, growers increas- and practical field knowledge are
than half of respondents also ranked ingly see it as a strategic investment becoming inseparable, with data
water efficiency, energy savings, that influences profitability, resource and performance intelligence play-
droplet uniformity and adaptability efficiency and long-term resilience. ing a growing role in helping farm-
as equally important considerations This shift is also reshaping the irri- ers navigate uncertainty.
when evaluating pivot irrigation gation industry itself.
technologies. For Komet, the survey findings offer
Across the global irrigation sector,
For Komet Irrigation, the findings companies continue investing de- more than a snapshot of current mar-
reflect a broader transformation tak- spite softer conditions in several key ket sentiment - they reinforce where
ing place across agriculture. markets - reinforcing confidence that the industry is heading.
today's slowdown is cyclical rather "Precision irrigation is transition-
"The conversation has changed,"
says Andree Groos, CEO of Komet than structural. Increasingly, indus- ing from a hardware-driven industry
Irrigation. "For decades, irrigation try leaders are positioning around to one increasingly defined by wa-
was about moving water. Today, it's water stewardship, resilience and ter stewardship, resilience and in-
about helping farmers make better productivity rather than irrigation formed decision-making," concludes
decisions about water." hardware alone. Groos. "That's an exciting opportu-
Komet has been preparing for this nity for our industry. The companies
The findings reflect broader shifts that will create the greatest value in
taking place across global agricul- transition for several years. the future won't simply move water
ture. Water security has become a Founded in Austria more than sev- more efficiently - they'll help farmers
strategic priority. Climate variabil- enty years ago, Komet has continu- use it more intelligently."
ity is increasing pressure on every ally evolved alongside agriculture -
growing season. Input costs remain from pioneering precision sprinkler As Smart Irrigation Month con-
volatile while environmental regu- technologies to today's investment cludes, one message is becoming
lation continues to evolve. Togeth- in application engineering, digital increasingly clear: the next era of ir-
er, these forces are changing what capability and irrigation perfor- rigation will be defined not only by
growers expect from irrigation - and mance intelligence. engineering excellence, but by the
what the industry must deliver. confidence it gives farmers to make
That evolution became tangible better decisions every day.
Rather than viewing irrigation sim- earlier this year through the launch Circle 28 on enquiry card

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