Water management innovations –opportunity to evaluate new technologies

by Claire Pengelly

AAs part of a pilot accelerator project funded by the Dutch Consulate General, GreenCape is currently working with two international companies that offer innovative watermanagement solutions for agricultural users. The companies are looking for sites to pilot their technologies and, depending on their success in applying for funding, may be able to subsidise a pilot project on a farm, partly or fully. A brief overview of the two technologies is given below:

• An innovative irrigation water storage solution that aims to increase the productivity and climate resilience of agriculture through managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Water is stored underground by recharging the aquifer through one or more injection wells – safe from evaporation and contamination – and then abstracted when needed during the dry season.

• Niche soil moisture sensors that integrate with weather stations and go through a GSM- or LoRmA connection to a central database. The smart dashboard converts the data into a user-friendly image. The farmer can view the image on a computer or mobile device to make real-time farming decisions with the added data interpretation it provides.

If you are interested in finding out more about these technologies, or are trialling either of the technologies, please contact GreenCape at water@green-cape.co.za AP