Growing economic pressures, a decrease in the availability of arable land, adverse climatic conditions and volatile commodity markets compel today's farmer to minimise risk, optimise inputs and cut production costs.

This is the view of Pieter Schoeman, Account Manager: Agricultural and Environmental GIS at Open Spatial Solutions. He adds that traditional farming methods do not provide adequate solutions nowadays to achieve financial success or sustainability in the agricultural arena.

As part of the M Squared Investments group, Open Spatial partners with its clients in an in-depth business analysis to help the organisation to solve specific business problems with a customised spatial solution based on a Geographic Information System (GIS).

Schoeman says Open Spatial used GIS technology to develop MyPlaas.co.za - a web-based farming solution that enables the farmer to manage his farming activities more effectively with the resources at his disposal. "The solution encompasses the major expenses the farmer must manage per land area or 'management zone' in order to facilitate lower input costs and higher yield - and therefore profits - by applying accurate farm management techniques."

Informed decisions

Schoeman says in the farming arena, what does not get measured does not get managed. "It is no wonder then, that less than 10% of South African farmers know the exact land area of their tillable fields, whilst only a small number are, for example, able to calculate accurately their fuel consumption per cultivated section."

"Also, for most farmers using traditional methods it is almost impossible to work out the difference in income per hectare for different land areas, let alone interpret such variations."

Schoeman says that MyPlaas.co.za is a tool that enables the farmer to make informed decisions on a daily basis about input and production costs, as well as what crops must be planted and when, based on comprehensive and accurate information.

Three building blocks contain the information in MyPlaas.co.za - a spatial layer, an alphanumeric layer and a layer consisting of satellite-based agricultural data.

On the spatial level, all elements in the geographical layer such as roads, irrigation lines, land types and soil types are described via accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) surveying.

Schoeman says it is of the utmost importance that these land areas are precisely measured, since the farmer has to calculate his input costs accordingly. "From this and additional collated geographic information, Open Spatial Solutions builds colour-coded maps with realtime capabilities."

On the alphanumerical level, Open Spatial works with an agricultural economist, using scenario analyses to determine costs for all farming activities, Schoeman explains. "The system utilises crop information such as the planting date and crop type, cultivation information such as implements used, as well as general buying information like fuel, fertiliser and seed purchase to determine cost per hectare."

Schoeman says Open Spatial integrates the financial and agricultural information into a database from which the farmer can analyse and interpret all production activities.

In cooperation with AgriMage in the CSIR group, MyPlaas.co.za will also provide a third layer, satellite-based product specifically developed to supply affordable and user-friendly agricultural spatial information to the individual farmer at regular intervals.

Schoeman says the major difference between MyPlaas.co.za and similar farm management systems is the fact that the farmer receives, and is able to interpret, powerful information on a daily basis without having to navigate a complicated process of questions and answers.

"MyPlaas.co.za also enables the farmer to make comparisons from year to year and between cultivated areas as soon as a historical database of information has been established, facilitating better planning for the future."

In addition, MyPlaas.co.za provides accurate farm maps and management information required by cooperatives, banks and insurance companies, when the farmer applies for financial support.

Schoeman says the farmer does not have to buy any software since Open Spatial hosts MyPlaas.co.za on a central server and the farmer accesses his individual information via the Internet with a secure username and password.

"Additionally, MyPlaas.co.za only requires Internet Explorer and the farmer then pays a set fee per year according to the farming area that he wishes to manage." Schoeman says the price is largely dependent on the size of the farm with a minimum cost of R2000 per year.

The solution is user-friendly, Schoeman says, adding that Open Spatial's support desk provides an after-hours service to solve post-implementation problems and answer possible queries.

Moreover, back-ups of each subscriber's data are also stored on Open Spatial's central server, providing the farmer with peace of mind that his farm management information is secure.

"MyPlaas.co.za has been developed in South Africa for the individual needs of the South African farmer and will eventually be available in Afrikaans, English and Zulu," Schoeman concludes.

Open Spatial Solutions

(011) 324 3800

pschoeman@openspatial.co.za