Farm by Farm: Building a Stronger Agricultural Future in Angola

When you can no longer depend on the rain

Angola has abundant water resources. But that doesn’t mean water is always available to farmers when their crops need it. The seasons are changing. Dry periods are becoming longer, and even during the rainy season there can be longer stretches without rain. For growers who have always planned their season around the rains, that uncertainty creates a real challenge. They can no longer rely on the weather in the way they once did.

This is where irrigation can make such a difference. Instead of waiting for the next rainfall, farmers can decide when their crops receive water and apply it where it is needed. It gives them greater control over production and the possibility to keep growing through periods when rainfall alone may not be enough.

This is also where I believe Netafim has an important role to play in Angola. The need is not only for irrigation equipment, but for complete solutions that are designed around the farm and supported over time. Netafim is already a recognized name among many farmers and agricultural professionals here, and our current work is giving us the opportunity to build relationships, demonstrate what precision irrigation can deliver and establish a stronger presence in the country.

Today, I am working with farmers across three provinces as part of a government-supported initiative designed to increase agricultural production. The project includes 20 irrigation systems in each province, mainly for small farms of around five hectares. Farmers are growing crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage and sweet potatoes, while some are also interested in avocado and citrus.

“They need to see to believe”

Introducing irrigation, however, is not simply a matter of installing equipment.

Many farmers here are used to seeing water. They see the rain falling or water spraying across a field. Drip irrigation can feel very different because you don’t see large quantities of water everywhere. That can take some getting used to.

When I speak with farmers, I try to explain things in a very simple way. There can be a big gap between what irrigation professionals know and what someone using this type of system for the first time knows. Technical terminology is not what matters most.

What matters is showing farmers what irrigation can mean for their farm: helping them use the water they have more effectively, supporting more consistent production and giving them greater control over their growing season.

And once they understand that potential, many of them are eager to learn. I have visited farms where the farmers were so happy about receiving their irrigation system that they had lunch waiting for me when I arrived so we could sit together and talk.

Installing irrigation is only the beginning

One of the biggest lessons I have learned from working on agricultural projects in Rwanda, South Africa and now Angola is that the relationship with the farmer cannot end when the system is installed.

Farmers need training. They need to understand how to operate and maintain their irrigation system. They may need support with soil and water analysis, irrigation scheduling, fertilizers and other agronomic decisions. Most importantly, they need to know that someone will still be there afterwards.

For me, this is one of Netafim’s greatest strengths. We have the irrigation technology, but we also have the agronomic knowledge and people to continue supporting growers after installation. That continuity is especially important when a farmer is making a significant investment in a new way of working. It gives them confidence that they will have the support they need to turn that investment into results.

Why working with farmers matters to me

I grew up on a farm, and my family still has a farm in Portugal, where my mother lives. My professional life has also always been connected to agriculture. I started out working with tractors and agricultural equipment before moving into agricultural projects and, eventually, irrigation.

For me, farmers are some of the most interesting customers you can work with because irrigation is never just about selling a product. You can actually see what happens afterwards in the field. You can see the difference between having irrigation and not having irrigation, and you can see how better water management can influence production.

That is what gives me the most satisfaction: working directly with farmers and helping them achieve more from their land.

Building something for the long term

My journey with Netafim began in Rwanda in 2020 with the Gabiro project. When I first arrived, there was little development around the project area, mostly bush, with just a few houses nearby. By the time I left, I could see activity everywhere: people working, produce moving and trade developing around it.

That experience showed me that agricultural development can influence much more than crop yield. Now, I hope to help create that kind of momentum in Angola.

I hope to see more land under irrigation, more farmers producing successfully and more growers with greater control over their production, even as rainfall becomes less predictable.

And as we build momentum in Angola, my goal is to help create a strong, sustainable local business, and ultimately establish a Netafim Angola subsidiary with its own local team.