Kenyan operator Safaricom and global NGO Opportunity International last week announced the launch in Kenya of FarmerAI, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot aimed at providing real-time, relevant farming best practices to smallholder farmers in underserved communities – notably potato farmers.
Opportunity International is a global non-profit that has been empowering people to work their way out of poverty since 1971. With an initial pilot running from now until August – aligned with the potato crop cycle – the project aims to enrol 800–1,000 farmers across key regions of Kenya by the end of the year.
FarmerAI combines generative AI with localised agricultural insights, delivering vital information on topics like weather patterns, fertilizer application, pest management and market prices.
Opportunity International says that, unlike other solutions that rely on a field agent network, FarmerAI will go directly to farmers through accessible channels such as SMS and WhatsApp. Safaricom’s DigiFarm service, which digitally connects thousands of farmers, will provide the platforms needed for farmers to interact seamlessly with the AI chatbot.
Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom, explains: “FarmerAI is the first solution we are bringing to farmers that enables them to interact with AI and feel the power of that technology. One of the challenges that farmers face today is access to the right information at the right time such as what to plant, when to plant [and] weather advisory among others. This AI chatbot will allow smallholder farmers to access verifiable information on common questions to guide their decisions.”
The pilot will engage with potato farmers both digitally and in person on a regular timetable. This field engagement is expected to deepen insights into farmers’ challenges and ensure that the chatbot’s design remains human-centric and responsive to on-the-ground realities.
The potential of ICT in African agriculture is gaining more attention recently. A recent report from industry association the GSMA on the role of digitalisation in unlocking sustainable economic growth in Benin suggested that in agriculture alone XOF 197 billion (just under US$310 million and 4.3% of sector GDP) could be added by 2028, creating 82,000 jobs.
