~ by Johan Coetzer
Restoration Manager: Upper Letaba Restoration Project
On 13 November 2025, the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC (K2C) supported the delivery of the PROTEA digital tools workshop. This workshop aimed at improving access to practical, farm-focused water and climate information for emerging farmers. The event brought together farmers, field officers, and government partners to explore new approaches to water-smart farming.
K2C is proud to facilitate this work as the local implementing partner. The training forms part of the project Digital Tools for Sustainable Water Use by Emerging Farmers in South Africa, funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and implemented by the World Water Academy (WWA) with technical support from Hydrologic (Netherlands).
The workshop introduced the PROTEA Chatbot, a user-friendly Telegram-based tool that provides real-time rainfall data, early warning alerts, rainfall trends, water-availability updates, and guidance to support irrigation, livestock management, and climate-adaptive decision-making. Participants were guided step-by-step through installation and setup on Telegram. The session was energetic and collaborative, with farmers helping one another, testing features, and discussing how the information could support their day-to-day decisions. The PROTEA Chatbot is particularly valuable in areas facing growing climate variability, giving subsistence and emerging farmers quick access to information that supports sensible irrigation and planting choices.
We extend sincere thanks to the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) and LandCare SA for helping gather the farmers and for their active support. Their involvement ensures the tools align with provincial extension priorities and on-the-ground realities. We also thank all participating farmers, their interest and feedback are shaping this pilot into a practical and relevant resource.
Given the strong engagement and the clear demand for further support, the next PROTEA workshop is scheduled for February 2026. This follow-up session will deepen the training, gather user feedback, and identify ways to make the tool more user-friendly while strengthening the use of PROTEA across the K2C landscape.
If you’d like to try the tool yourself, install Telegram and search for:
👉 @PROTEA_CHATBOT_BOT
Or simply scan the QR code below.
