Safaricom, in partnership with Opportunity International, has introduced FarmerAI, an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to help smallholder potato farmers.
This tool delivers real-time agricultural guidance through Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform via SMS and WhatsApp.
The chatbot provides instant insights on fertilizer use, pest control, weather updates, and market trends.
Farmers can receive responses to their queries without the need for internet access, making the service widely accessible across different regions.
The pilot phase, running until August, aims to reach at least 1,000 farmers.
If successful, the initiative could expand to support more agricultural sectors beyond potato farming.
Many farmers struggle to obtain reliable agricultural advice, leading to poor yields and financial losses.
FarmerAI offers a direct solution by giving accurate, timely recommendations tailored to specific farming needs.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa noted that this is the company’s first AI-powered service tailored for farmers.
The chatbot seeks to bridge gaps in agricultural knowledge while integrating modern technology into traditional farming methods.
Potatoes rank among Kenya’s most important food crops.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country produced 10.2 million tonnes of potatoes between 2019 and 2023, generating Ksh 288 billion in revenue.
In 2023 alone, farmers cultivated 239,336 hectares of potatoes.
With rising demand for better farming techniques, AI-powered tools could play a vital role in improving productivity.
Safaricom and Opportunity International envision a future where AI supports various aspects of agriculture.
Expanding the chatbot’s capabilities to cover other crops, livestock, and soil health assessments could transform how farmers interact with technology.
By making expert knowledge easily accessible, FarmerAI has the potential to reshape the agricultural landscape, offering better decision-making tools to farmers across Kenya.
