Agricultural Engineering Services

GIBB's Agricultural Engineering Services team is equipped to provide expert consultation and assistance in all aspects of agriculture.

These services include the following:

• Agro-Industry 
  

  Intensive farming techniques and a widespread knowledge of economics have led the agricultural engineer into industrial planning.  The agricultural engineer will frequently be involved from initial planning stages through to marketing the end product, including aspects such as transportation and product processing, storage and distribution.

• Crop Selection 
  

  The correct selection of crops requires an in-depth evaluation of climate, soils, agronomy, marketing and economics.  It is the task of the agronomist to select the appropriate rotations and crop husbandry.

• Irrigation Feasibility Studies and Design 
  

  The identification of irrigation projects is based on soil and land suitability, water availability, crop rotation and economics.  Appropriate irrigation systems are designed after taking account of these parameters.

• Land Use Planning
  

  Land use capability studies, aided by soil surveys, establish the different categories of land use.  These categories range from intensive cultivation to forestry reserves, depending on suitability.

• Livestock 
  

  Livestock and veld pasture specialists assess the environment, the type of livestock best suited to the area and the management techniques required.

• Soil Conservation 
  

  Soil erosion is caused by incorrect land use.  It is the task of the agricultural engineer to identify problems and ensure that remedial action is taken, i.e. re-education programmes, correct ploughing, planting and fertilising methods and damming of small riverways and assistance in bringing production back to appropriate levels.