At Maniry, the quality of our fruit begins long before the first bud appears. It begins underground. To nourish our Meyer lemon and avocado orchards, we have made a bold technological choice that respects the Madagascan ecosystem: drainage galleries.
Here is why and how we implemented this system, which is vital to our production.
Why use a drainage gallery rather than direct pumping?
Citrus fruits and avocados have one thing in common: they hate water stress. Even a short period of water shortage can affect the oil content of avocados or the juice of lemons.
- Inféroflux water : even when surface waterways dry up during the dry season, water continues to flow beneath the riverbed, filtered by sand. It is this water, protected from evaporation, that we collect.
- Natural purity : as it passes through layers of sand and gravel, the water undergoes natural filtration. For our production, which aims to be exemplary, this ensures clean water without sediments that could clog our drip irrigation systems.
The project: building the “lungs” of the plantation
The construction of our gallery was a major technical challenge, involving four key stages:
1. Tracking down the water vein
Thanks to topographical and geological surveys, we identified the groundwater flow. The goal was to place the gallery where the flow was greatest, even at the lowest water level.
2. Deep excavation
We dug a horizontal trench perpendicular to the underground flow. It's precision work: you have to dig deep enough to reach the water table, while ensuring the stability of the sand walls.
3. The skeleton and the filter
We installed large-diameter collector drains. The secret to success lies in the filter bed: layers of calibrated gravel surrounding the drain. This system allows large amounts of water to pass through while blocking fine particles that could clog the system over time.
4. The heart of the system: The pump well
The water naturally flows into a concrete well. From there, a solar-powered pump propels the water to our elevated storage tanks, ready to irrigate each tree with precision.
An investment in the quality of our oils and fruits
For Maniry, this system is not just infrastructure; it is a promise of quality.
- For our Meyer lemons :regular irrigation results in thin skin and optimal juice content, which are essential for demanding markets.
- For our avocados controlled water supply is key to obtaining fruit rich in healthy fats, perfect for our avocado oil production.
- Sustainability : this system is designed to last for decades with minimal maintenance, without depleting surface resources.