- Farmers delivers relevant, real-time farming best practices for smallholder farmers living in underserved areas.
- The initial pilot is now running and will continue until August. The project will enroll 800 to 1,000 farmers in Kenya.
- The project is focusing on the potato crop cycle.
Safaricom and Opportunity International
have launched FarmerAI, an AI chatbot, to provide smallholder farmers with real-time, relevant information about farming in Kenya.
FarmerAI is a chatbot that combines generative AI and localized agricultural insights to deliver vital information about topics such as weather patterns, pest management, fertilizer applications, and market price. FarmerAI, unlike other solutions, will use SMS and WhatsApp through Safaricom’s DigiFarm, which connects thousands farmers via WhatsApp and text message.
AI is already transforming our world, but its impact on underserved community is truly impactful. This partnership highlights the shared mission of DigiFarm and Opportunity International to empower smallholder farmers,” said Opportunity International’s Chief Technology Officer Greg Nelson. “Our partnership and this new tool will make agricultural data more accessible, actionable and equitable for all,” said Opportunity International Chief Technology Officer Greg Nelson. Safaricom’s DigiFarm and Opportunity International are co-branding FarmerAI in order to provide farmers with tools to increase their yields and streamline financing.
This platform will engage with potato farmers regularly, both digitally and physically, on a regular schedule to gain deeper insights into their challenges and bridge the digital gap–especially in rural areas where cost and connectivity are often barriers. According to a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the agricultural sector is responsible for approximately 22.4% of the country’s GDP. Smallholder farmers account for around 5.6 millions of the total farmer population.
AI is a crucial part of the future and the present. Safaricom’s mission is to become Africa’s leading technology company by 2030. In line with our mission, we are committed in bringing to our customers and stakeholder technological solutions that have a positive impact on them. FarmerAI, our first solution for farmers, allows them to interact with AI technology and feel its power. Farmers face a number of challenges, including accessing the right information when they need it, such as when to plant and what to plant. This AI chatbot allows smallholder farmers to access verifiable answers on common questions that will guide their decisions,” Dr. Peter Ndegwa CEO, Safaricom.
