Agrico is a well-known name in the farming community across Southern Africa. A family business with a passion for agriculture and farmers and a will to make our beautiful region a better place for everyone – this is the aspiration of Agrico.

Since 1896 Agrico has grown to become the largest supplier of irrigation equipment in Southern Africa. When you ask Walter Andrag, Managing Director of Agrico, about the company, there is excitement in his blue eyes.

Walter says: “With a rich history of more than 100 years in the industry, farmers place their trust in the Agrico brand. Loyalty is earned if you provide a good service over a long period of time and offer good value for money. We see Agrico as a reliable, stable long-term partner in irrigation.”

Together with Walter at the helm of affairs is his cousin, Roland Andrag, the Technical Director of Agrico. Roland is responsible for product design, information technology, manufacturing, and distribution.

Roland says it is Agrico’s goal to offer an optimal irrigation solution to farmers.

“To be able to do this, you have to put yourself in the farmer’s shoes and act as if it is your money and your farm. This is how you establish ownership throughout the supply chain”, Roland believes.

“Agrico’s role is to move close to the market and our customers so that we can offer optimal solutions to our farmers.”

Walter adds: “Farming optimally means something different to every farmer; it depends on his farm, the topography, the crops grown, the amount of water he has at his disposal, and so on.

“It is our job to help farmers use water, energy and capital optimally to farm profitably. Everything we do at Agrico is about the customer and ways to improve his life and business and put his interests first.”

Young and old: the passionate team behind Agrico’s success

Running a successful irrigation business, in a time where changing climate conditions are a reality, requires constant innovation. This is only possible with a team of enthusiastic experts who spend their energy on this.

Roland tells about the Agrico team: “What stands out for me at Agrico at the moment is the energy and excitement of the team, and the way they and the company are growing and moving forward together.”

With three factories and more than 35 branches across Southern Africa, the Agrico team consists of hundreds of members with lots of passion. Within the company’s participatory and open-door management style, everyone is encouraged to take responsibility, and to live out their talents.

A large team of experts are involved in each project: irrigation designers visit the farms and are in direct contact with the customer; mechanical, electronic and operational engineers handle the research and design of products, a manufacturing team leads production, and internal system managers look after the process flows and integration, thus keeping the train on track.

“Our team has grown quite a bit over the past year. We have a vibrant young team of technical people who bring new thinking and a certain drive to the company, paired with people with decades of experience in all the various aspects of irrigation,” says Roland.

Walter elaborates on the impact of such a dynamic team: “Stronger design skills and expertise to develop and manufacture better products offer a greater benefit to the farmer. I trust that this provides us with a competitive advantage.

“Although much has changed over the years, there is one thing the Agrico team stays united about: We are dedicated to bring farmers optimal irrigation solutions every day.”

With a distribution network that includes three factories and 39 branches across Southern Africa, Agrico strives to deliver only the best service, products, and advice to farmers.

Local manufacturing brings you even closer to the farmer

Agrico’s products are manufactured locally and distributed to branches across the region. According to Walter, modern manufacturing is non-negotiable.

“We started as a retail irrigation business,” explains Roland.

“When we reached a critical scale, we started to integrate backwards by manufacturing the products ourselves.”

Local manufacturing enables them to connect directly with farmers and to deliver customised products and solutions, which are focused on the South African and African market, faster.

“Agrico is in a privileged position where we have the scale to have a large part of the value chain in our hands. This means that we have a very close link between the market and our product. We are in a better position to respond quickly to feedback, solve problems, and adjust our presentation and products accordingly,” he explains.

Roland and Walter Andrag.

A season full of highlights and milestones

With a focus on continuous expansion and innovation, both cousins ​​believe there is great momentum within the business right now.

“What gives me the most pleasure is to see how the team develops and grows,” says Roland excitedly.

“It is difficult to single out only a few things; there is so much happening in the organisation. If I must highlight something, it is our PVC manufacturing. We have invested a lot of capital and thereby improved our quality, which is currently bringing in good sales – we cannot keep up!”

Walter shares a few highlights that have stood out for him in the past two years within Agrico: “Expansion is a theme within Agrico and it means several things. We are continuously expanding the branch network; we are privileged to have been able to open branches in Komatipoort and in Empangeni in the past two years, which gives us good exposure to the sugar industry.”

Agrico’s PVC factory plant produces more than three million metres of pipe annually.

What changes and what stands firm in the next century

When Walter is asked where he sees Agrico in the next hundred years, he replies: “Things change so much and so quickly, but we will continue to focus on what will remain the same. Customers will always want good service, customers will always want competitive prices and a steadfast service provider, and for the rest…time will tell!”

Walter adds that they also intend to further expand the branch network to gain greater retail representation, as well as to continuously invest in the company’s manufacturing capacity.

Roland’s drive to move forward encompasses what he believes is one of the most important lessons he learned from a South African farmer. In the words of Bertie van Zyl from ZZ2’s advice to his father: “Do not struggle.”

“Even if it is just three words, it calls to action: get out of bed and live, do what needs to be done,” says Roland.

Walter has the last word: “Agriculture is a long-term business. It is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to do the right thing every day and have a long-term focus, and I think that is what Agrico does well! We are excited and passionate about playing our small part in helping to feed the nation.”

Agrico’s strong team of designers, which includes electrical and mechanical engineers, is involved in every project.

For any enquiries, please visit Agrico’s website at www.agrico.co.za.