ABOUT US
Experience can’t be bought!
Every farmer in South Africa knows that their biggest challenge is acquiring sufficient water supply for their crops. With more than 50 years of water management and best farming practices under the belt JTM will help you get the most out of that scarce resource.
About the company
With over 50 years’ experience in the field, the consultants at JTM are more than qualified to guide you in farming practices and water management. With access to resources at industry leading institutions and having served at government level, (and still serving on advisory platforms) the people at JTM have the skills and knowledge to ensure that you produce quality crops year on year. It is all in the Van der Merwe name, with an agriculture legacy that stretches back generations.
Any International farmer that has visited or knows South Africa, will advocate that any famer able to produce quality produce in the harsh South African climate and soil, is worthy to give an opinion.
These opinions are based on knowledge sharing and years of experience through trial and error. With scarce resources like water and poor-quality soils the achievements in South Africa come from effectively managing these factors, therefore:
An Apple farmer or a Wine Farmer, in the first instance, are Irrigation famers, because without water they will have no farm. The main priority at JTM is to ensure the effective utilization of the available water resources that ensures, amongst others optimal quality, minimal electricity usage and long-term sustainability.
Our clients
The majority of cliental who utilize the services of JTM are mainly deciduous farmers, citrus farmers and wine farmers who see to their own packaging and marketing. We do advise however also to a number of annual produce growers such as onion and potato farmers.
Consistent quality and production is of utmost importance for these producers as they need to ensure their client base will always preference their product offering. After all, the connoisseurs Chenin Blanc, or preference, needs to maintain the same grade and quality each consecutive year or else they would lose interest and brand loyalty. No two fields on the farm are identical in terms of soil, gradients, row direction or microclimates.
Each field thus requires its own unique irrigation strategy to ensure optimal and sustainable production. Part of JTM’s mission is to keep every farmer on his farm despite any adversities.
OUR PROCESS
At JTM we are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to effectively manage water allocation and improve crop yields. The compilation of research data, measurements of rainfall, management of effective root depth, water usage and water balance, come together to focus on the monitoring, analysis, and management of the water usage on a farm. This results in the lowest water usage and highest crop yield possible, thus avoiding waste.
All the data that is accumulated is processed through a software analytics program, which calculates and presents an irrigation schedule (recommendation), a water balance graph (resulting from the effective root zone) and a depth graph indicating the ground water status down to a depth of up to 2m. This data and analysis of the results allows JTM to effectively advise and guide the farmer as to the exact water requirement for his crops, to ensure maximum quality and yield. By using a combination of weather, rainfall, dam level and ground water monitoring, JTM creates an effective water management program on a bespoke basis, to suit the requirements and needs of any farming operation.
Best practice is to limit and manage growth right throughout the growing season by means of effective irrigation (rather dryer than wetter), summer pruning, and well-planned fertilization practices – not all in one go. It is a fact that “enriched” irrigation results in significantly more new root growth. Sunlight management within the trees are also imperative. With so many factors to consider, are you making not only the right, but the most efficient and effective decisions? Knowledge is power. Speak to an expert today, we are always happy to help.
MEET the team behind jtm
Jan Jan Jan die soul van die span, Director and founder of JTM Water. Jan brings years of experience to the table as an agricultural expert and, having started in electrical engineering, Jan is the leader moving JTM Water forward in growth and innovation.
mission & vison
Mission Statement
Our mission at JTM is service through knowledgeable actions and decisiveness. We aim to keep every farmer on his farm despite any adversities, by effectively managing the ground water, that they may yield quality produce consistently, year on year. Making every year a good year.
Vision
To be the most trusted partner for agricultural development through knowledgeable service and helping create sustainable practices.