Climate change poses new and unexpected threats to fruit growers. Many times, they have seen their orchards being devastated within moments by sudden, heavy hailstorms, thus increasingly turning to protective covering nets. But what if the supporting systems are not properly supported to endure heavy weights, strong winds, or severe shaking, like earthquakes? "Then branches or whole trees can be destroyed, and the damage to the orchards is even bigger, but this is something completely avoidable if using cement stakes," says Mr. Christos Garis, owner of the Greek construction company Garis, which specializes in this technology.
"Cement is far firmer than metal. Cement stakes are absolutely stable and can stand a greater burden, no matter if they are placed vertically or at an angle. There is more: Cement is more durable in the passing of time, while many metallic constructions suffer from erosion caused by time and weather conditions. In contrast to this, cement stakes constructed more than twenty years ago by our company by using the right materials, are still in their place, perfectly doing the job for which they have been designed, to protect multi-year crops once and for all," the Greek entrepreneur says.
Cement stakes, though heavy, are movable. "Growers who need to reshape their orchards and change the distances between the lines can also dig up the cement stakes and place them in their new positions. The basis of the stakes is 11 to 11,50 cm wide, going narrower while moving higher up to 9,50 cm on top. This offers them greater stability. Their cost is not very different from that of metallic stakes. It depends on the height of the cement stakes, which can be from 2,5 to 4 meters high."
"Our cement stakes bring one more advantage. They have specially designed holes across their length to pass irrigation hoses, wires, or even to apply and tie iron trusses for greater weights. Moreover, soon we will have some more news to share, as we are going to construct a new type of cement stakes, with special reinforcement, following the new standards set by the Greek agricultural insurance organization (ELGA)," Mr. Garis concludes.
For more information:
Christos Garis
Garis
Tel: +30 233 204 2789
http://www.tsimentopassaloigaris.com