The cherry cultivation revolution in codos: quality and efficiency with SPHERAG
“Technology has changed our lives!” Of everything Diego and Guillermo, production managers at Frutas Mifra, told us, this phrase undoubtedly touched our hearts.
Codos is a municipality in Aragon, in the Calatayud region, where 40% of Spain’s cherries are produced. A large part of this farm’s production is exported to countries with high-quality demands, such as France, Germany, and Abu Dhabi. Thanks to digitalization with the integrated solution from SPHERAG and Telefónica, they can not only guarantee these high-quality standards but have also achieved significant savings in water, fertilizer, pumping fuel, and time—lots of time!
Smart irrigation for cherry trees in aragon: quantifiable savings
The adoption of SPHERAG’s smart solution for cherry tree irrigation has radically transformed operations at Frutas Mifra. Their operators no longer have to traverse the farm daily, as if participating in the Paris-Dakar Rally. Now, they can open and close valves, and know the farm’s status at any time, from their mobile phone or office computer. This control extends to the monitoring of their water reservoirs, allowing them to program the use of a vital resource for cherry cultivation in Aragon: water.
Advanced control is carried out using sensors that monitor various critical parameters for cherry cultivation in real-time:
- Soil temperature: Fundamental for assessing whether the root is in an active phase and requires irrigation, thus optimizing the amount of water and preventing water stress in the cherry trees.
- Ambient temperature: Allows them to decide the optimal time to apply phytosanitary products, maximizing their effectiveness. Additionally, it provides crucial real-time information to comply with occupational risk prevention regulations related to extreme heat, protecting worker health.
This real-time data management translates into concrete and quantifiable savings. Frutas Mifra has achieved considerable water savings by irrigating only when necessary and with the precise amount for their cherry trees. As a result, they have achieved significant savings in pumping diesel, reducing costs and also the carbon footprint of the operation, a key factor for an agricultural company focused on export.
Beyond savings: quality of life
Digitalization with SPHERAG has not only positively impacted Frutas Mifra’s economic results but has also transformed the daily lives of Diego and Guillermo, the farm owners. By reducing travel and manual, repetitive tasks, they gain time to dedicate to higher-value activities, rest, and balance their personal and professional lives.
During a recent visit, Diego shared this testimonial: “I wake up and go to sleep with the SPHERAG app.” This phrase underscores the complete integration of technology into their daily routine and the confidence they place in SPHERAG’s solution for decision-making. The ability to access clear and processed data allows them to make more precise and informed decisions in cherry cultivation, moving away from intuitive practices and advancing towards Agriculture 4.0 based on data for Aragon’s cherries.
