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In this article we introduce Quirico Camarda, owner of Azienda Agricola Montenetto located in Carbonelli (Puglia, province of Brindisi). This is a family-run farm that mainly grows tomatoes and other vegetables, and has recently invested in technology as an opportunity to increase efficiency and productivity.
One of the problems we encounter on the farm is water management, which is scarce in our area and tends to be brackish because of the proximity to the sea. Another problem we have is insects: in particular, the presence of Tuta absoluta in tomato cultivation. Tuta absoluta is a typical pest of the tomato plant that can quickly become highly destructive if not controlled properly.
With the support of xFarm , we decided to install an automatic insect monitoring trap, xTrap, which allows us to check their presence in our fields in real time on our smartphones and plan control interventions accordingly.
In addition, we installed a weather station to monitor environmental parameters. In particular, for monitoring wind speed: this information allows us to decide when to open or close the various greenhouses.
We have also installed soil moisture sensors that allow us to keep an eye on the situation, including with respect to soil salinity, and to decide when to irrigate.
In general, the technology of xFarm brings many advantages to our work, as it allows us to be more efficient and make better use of resources, such as water, which is a very valuable commodity in these areas.
I would recommend xFarm to all horticultural farms like ours that want to make the best use of resources and improve their efficiency. Technology in agriculture nowadays is crucial. We cannot remain with our eyes on the past.
In the future, we would like to be able to expand the monitoring network, installing new sensors that will allow us to have even more precise control of our fields and make increasingly targeted agronomic and management decisions.
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