Lightning Talk #15 Climate Smart Digital Ag for African Smallholders

Summary

This discussion focuses on leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to address agricultural challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The participants, including researchers from Cosmopolitan University in Nigeria and the University of Oslo, emphasize that while agricultural challenges are well-documented, the key issue is connecting solution providers with farmers who need practical, accessible technologies. Moustapha Binta from the Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture argues that the focus should shift from simply providing more fertilizers to re-engineering solutions specifically designed for smallholder farmers, particularly women farming in small communities who need food processing, storage, and packaging solutions.

Barak Otieno from Kenya provides concrete examples of successful technology implementation, highlighting how sensor technologies can measure soil humidity to optimize water usage and prevent flooding. He explains how proper water management can transform semi-arid regions into productive agricultural areas, noting that some Kenyan farms using these technologies are already exporting produce to Europe. The discussion reveals that traditional farming practices, such as crop rotation and natural soil renewal through foliage, can be enhanced with modern sensor technology.

A significant challenge identified is the limitation of traditional training methods, where information is lost as it passes from instructors to farmers. The participants propose AI as a solution for agricultural education, with Professor Noel Josef highlighting Norway’s substantial investment in AI centers. The discussion also addresses the critical issue of youth abandoning agriculture, suggesting that attractive, high-tech solutions like programmable tractors and drones could make farming appealing to younger generations. The conversation concludes with the recognition that bridging the gap between advanced agricultural technology and practical implementation for smallholder farmers requires collaborative efforts between universities, technology developers, and farming communities.

Keypoints

**Major Discussion Points:**

– **Access to technology and AI solutions for agriculture**: The speakers emphasized that while AI and technology can provide valuable answers and solutions for farming challenges, the fundamental issue is ensuring access to these technologies, particularly for smallholder farmers in Africa.

– **Climate-smart agriculture solutions for smallholder farmers**: Discussion focused on practical solutions like drip irrigation, borehole systems, weather monitoring, and soil management specifically tailored for small-scale farmers rather than large commercial operations, with emphasis on connecting solution designers with actual community needs.

– **Water and soil management using technology**: Detailed conversation about using sensor technologies to measure soil humidity, proper water harvesting during rainy seasons, and sustainable soil management practices that combine traditional methods (like crop rotation and natural foliage) with modern technology.

– **Training and capacity building limitations**: The challenge of scaling agricultural education and training, particularly the information loss that occurs when knowledge is passed from trainers to farmers through multiple levels, and how AI could potentially address these educational gaps.

– **Youth engagement in agriculture through technology**: Discussion of how modern agricultural technology (like programmable tractors, drones for pest control, and mobile apps) could make farming more attractive to young people who currently view it as uncool or outdated.

**Overall Purpose:**

The discussion aimed to explore how technology, particularly AI and digital solutions, can address agricultural challenges in Africa, with a specific focus on supporting smallholder farmers, improving food systems, and making agriculture more sustainable and attractive to younger generations.

**Overall Tone:**

The tone was collaborative, optimistic, and solution-oriented throughout the conversation. The speakers consistently built upon each other’s points with enthusiasm (evidenced by phrases like “Excellent, excellent” and “Super, super”), showing strong agreement and mutual support. The tone remained constructive and forward-looking, with participants sharing concrete examples and case studies while maintaining a sense of urgency about addressing agricultural challenges in Africa.

Speakers

– **Noel Josef**: Professor at University of Oslo, works on AI centers and farming education, energy education

– **Moustapha Binta**: Works at Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria; involved in climate-smart agriculture research and farmer incubation programs

– **Barak Otieno**: Professor at University of Oslo, Kenya; chairs the Association of Community Networks in Kenya; works on access and sensor technologies for agriculture

**Additional speakers:**

– **Dr. Rislan Kanya**: Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria

– **Dr. Badaru Usmaniaya**: Chief Scientific Officer, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria

– **Dr. Ibrahim Mani**: Registrar for Communications and Strategy, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria

# Discussion Report: Technology and AI Applications for Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

## Executive Summary

This discussion brought together agricultural researchers and technology experts to explore how artificial intelligence and digital technologies can address agricultural challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The conversation featured three main speakers: Professor Noel Josef from the University of Oslo, Moustapha Binta from the Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture at Cosmopolitan University in Abuja, Nigeria, and Professor Barak Otieno from Kenya who chairs the Association of Community Networks in Kenya.

The discussion centered on three key areas: the critical need for technology access and infrastructure, the importance of designing solutions specifically for smallholder farmers, and the potential for AI to scale agricultural education and training. Speakers emphasized that successful agricultural transformation requires moving beyond conventional approaches toward solutions tailored to small farming communities, particularly addressing challenges in water management, soil health, and youth engagement in agriculture.

## Key Speakers and Their Main Points

**Professor Noel Josef** from the University of Oslo focused on AI applications in agricultural education, arguing that traditional training methods face scalability limitations due to information loss at each transmission step. He mentioned the Norwegian government’s investment of 1 billion Norwegian crowns (approximately $100 million) in six AI centers and advocated for directing these resources toward practical agricultural applications in distributed African environments rather than solely high-tech solutions.

**Moustapha Binta** from the Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture provided practical insights from Nigeria, particularly referencing the 2022 floods in Jigawa State and ongoing farmer incubation programs. He emphasized the need to connect solution designers with actual farming communities, noting that women farming vegetables in small communities need support for food processing, storage, and packaging rather than just more fertilizers. He highlighted low-tech solutions like USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) for documenting farmers and connecting them to services and loans.

**Professor Barak Otieno** contributed examples from Kenya, particularly regarding sensor technologies for measuring soil humidity and preventing flooding. He discussed the importance of soil pH measurement and monitoring soil composition, warning that prolonged fertilizer use without proper understanding can damage soil health. He also addressed the challenge of youth abandoning agriculture despite being financed through university by smallholder farmer parents, noting that farming is no longer considered attractive by graduates.

## Main Topics Discussed

### Technology Access and Infrastructure

The speakers identified technology access as a fundamental requirement for implementing AI and digital agricultural solutions. Professor Otieno described infrastructure building work through community networks, while Moustapha Binta discussed how USSD technology can serve as an accessible stepping stone within current infrastructure limitations to help document farmers and connect them to essential services.

### Smallholder Farmer Solutions

A significant focus was placed on designing solutions specifically for smallholder farmers rather than adapting large-scale technologies. Moustapha Binta argued for re-engineering agricultural solutions rather than simply providing more fertilizers, emphasizing the need to address specific challenges including drip irrigation, borehole systems, weather monitoring, and carbon and nitrogen management. Professor Otieno provided examples of sensor technologies that have enabled Kenyan farmers to optimize water usage and access international markets.

### Integration of Traditional and Modern Methods

The discussion explored combining traditional farming practices with modern technology. Professor Otieno emphasized that traditional methods like crop rotation and natural soil renewal through foliage should complement modern sensor technologies. The speakers discussed flood water harvesting as a way to return nutrients to soil and the importance of understanding soil composition over time.

### AI for Agricultural Education

Professor Josef proposed that AI could overcome scalability problems in traditional agricultural training by providing direct, consistent access to knowledge and guidance. He suggested that university AI centers could redirect focus toward practical agricultural applications in distributed African environments.

### Youth Engagement Challenge

Professor Otieno identified a critical issue where young people are abandoning agriculture despite many being supported through university by smallholder farmer parents. He noted that farming is perceived as “business for the poor or those who have no direction” and suggested that advanced agricultural technology could make farming more attractive to youth, citing examples of programmable tractors and other high-tech equipment.

## Specific Examples and Case Studies

– Sensor technologies in Kenya measuring soil humidity to optimize water usage and prevent flooding

– USSD systems for documenting farmers and connecting them to loans and services

– School-based climate-smart agriculture projects mentioned by Moustapha Binta

– The 2022 Nigeria floods in Jigawa State as an example of climate challenges

– Traditional farming methods including letting land rest and using foliage for natural soil renewal

## Challenges and Solutions Identified

**Key Challenges:**

– Limited technology access and infrastructure in rural areas

– Mismatch between available solutions and smallholder farmer needs

– Information loss in traditional agricultural training methods

– Youth abandonment of agriculture

– Soil degradation from improper fertilizer use

– Water management in arid and semi-arid regions

**Proposed Solutions:**

– Developing AI applications specifically for distributed African farming environments

– Creating farmer incubation programs and collaborative AI centers

– Implementing low-tech solutions like USSD as stepping stones

– Combining traditional knowledge with modern sensor technologies

– Using advanced technology to make farming more attractive to young people

– Focusing on comprehensive support including food processing, storage, and packaging

## Conclusion

The discussion highlighted the need for practical, accessible agricultural technologies designed specifically for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The speakers emphasized that successful solutions must address infrastructure limitations, integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology, and appeal to younger generations. The conversation identified concrete opportunities for collaboration between AI centers, universities, and farming communities to develop relevant agricultural technologies that can scale effectively across diverse African farming environments.

Moustapha Binta: Dr. Rislan Kanya, Binta Moustapha Dr. Rislan Kanya, Binta Moustapha Binta Moustapha, Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria Dr. Rislan Kanya, Binta Moustapha, Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria Dr. Badaru Usmaniaya, Chief Scientific Officer, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria Dr. Ibrahim Mani, Registrar for Communications and Strategy, Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, Nigeria Dr. Barak Otieno, Professor, University of Oslo, Kenya

Noel Josef: That AI then will give me the answer which I need to have. But that then means that I need to have, and that is what I’m always saying here at the IGF, we need access.

Moustapha Binta: Excellent, Prof. In line with what Prof. has been saying, we’ve been talking about the challenges, the challenges, but at Center for Climate, Smart Agriculture, Cosmopolitan University, we recognize that there are solutions. The problem is how to connect solution leaders. We talk about drip irrigation. We talk about borehole systems. We talk about weather. We talk about carbon, nitrogen. Those are the challenges with agriculture for smallholder farmers. We do not need more fertilizers. We need to rethink, re-engineer. We need to talk to the technology developers of the solutions. What do we really need for smallholder farmers, not just big farming projects? How do we connect the gaps, the silos that exist within our communities to make sure that the solution designers are actually designing solutions that cater to the needs of not large-scale farmers elsewhere around the world, but in those small communities where women are farming vegetables, where we need food packaging, where we need food processing, where we need storage facilities, where we need to revive school-based, climate-smart agri-projects. Those are the conversations we’re having at the center, and we hope that as many of you can join us on this transformation to improve the food systems on the continent. So, Mr. Barak, are there case studies specific to your community that you can share with us?

Barak Otieno: Yes. I come from Kenya. I chair the Association of Community Networks in Kenya. We have been building infrastructure. Prof has just said that access is key. We have been working with him on access in the last five years. But as we interact with the government, the question now is beyond access, what next? Beyond access, we need solutions that are helpful to farmers. Kenya, as with the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, has different terrains. We have terrains that are arid, and we have terrains that are semi-arid. In fact, majority of sub-Saharan Africa is semi-arid. But we have seen that with technology, you can actually turn semi-arid places into places that are arable, places that are able to produce food. It’s all about management of water, which is a scarce resource, management of soil. We are talking about fertilizers, but we can’t talk about fertilizer without talking about measurement of the soil. DH and all the related ingredients of the soil. We can’t talk about fertilizers without understanding their effect on the soils. Because if we use fertilizer on the soil over a given period of time, there’s a likelihood that it will destroy it. And we have had natural ways of ensuring that our soils remain relevant from days of old. We could farm in some portions and let them rest during certain seasons, plant trees and allow leaves to fall there so that we can be able to have a natural way of… Foliage. Foliage, yes. A natural way of renewing the soils. And we are seeing sensor technologies, an area that Prof is working on, which can be able to tell you the amount of humidity in the soil. Based on the amount of humidity, you can determine how much water you need to take into the soil to avoid flooding. Because flooding is wastage. You may find that, for instance, a smallholder farmer may require 50,000 liters or 100,000 liters of water per year, which if properly harvested during the rainy season, then we don’t need to keep talking about the perennial water challenges or water situations that we do have. And that’s really technology in action. So we have farms that are already doing this and exporting produce here in Europe. But I think it’s an opportunity for many more farmers to be trained. As Prof has said, we need to do capacity building and capacity development so that we can be able to address food problems that are both in the global north and in the global south.

Moustapha Binta: Excellent, excellent. I kept nodding to all the comments you were making. You just hit on the notes for Kenya, and I wish that there were more African countries on the stage to share their experiences, especially maybe you, Taki, an experience which may be relevant for East Africa. There might be similar stories or different verticals for south, west, and north. I just wish that we had more smallholder farmers from the continent. So Prof, do you agree or disagree with the solutions that Mr. Otieno has just provided?

Noel Josef: There’s this point of training. And of course, we can only train a limited amount of people at a given time. When I give my classes, I have 20, 30 people. And the question is how much information is lost in the next step and the next step and the next step. Because there’s always the limitation that whatever training we are giving, we don’t get it all over to the next line. And that actually brings me again to, I’d love to bring in the AI, because I really see that we at university, we are lucky the Norwegian government has spent 1 billion Norwegian crowns, which is about $100 million on six AI centers. And as the University of Oslo, I have to say my colleagues have done such a tremendously good job to be in all of the six AIs. So what I want to bring across is we should, or what I love to invite you is when you can, together and after the stage, get out the use cases where we see the AI being used in our farming, in our distributed environments, which we have in Africa. Then we can bring them in to these AI groups and say that, hey, don’t only look at high-tech, look at how we can actually change the market for agriculture. Because I would believe that AI on education, on farming education, on energy education is a very, very good step.

Moustapha Binta: Super, super. What a way to step in into this lightning talk. I kept nodding when Mr. Barak was talking because he mentioned the environmental challenges, the value of geosensing. At the Center of Climate Smart, we have similar examples. For example, in 2022, Nigeria had one of the worst floods in 10 years. It was, it didn’t make the news globally, but it was very serious. There was loss in lives, loss. And you would be very surprised as we talk about climate challenges. Some of the locations that were worst hit are areas that are arid, semi-arid areas. One of the case studies where we’re currently working on at the center, Jigawa State, is in Northwest Nigeria. We’re trying to harvest the flood water to see how we can package it into a reverse solution that can be valuable for farms. Because when those floods come, they wash away all the nutrients, they take away the soil. But if you can integrate science and technology, you can find a way to return back what was lost. So that’s one of the samples. That’s one of the case studies that Chief Scientific Officer at the center is working on. We hope that we can have more partners to take this skill and in agreement with Prof, we have a center at the University Center for Collaborative AI. We have different programs, farmer incubation programs. We’re trying to see how to work with low tech, especially USSD, to document farmers. We have a lot of challenges with smallholder farmers assessing services, assessing loans, and other solutions that we talk about here that can be very valuable for them. So Mr. Barak, do you think that youth, because we have to talk about, this is the reality for Africa. The young people don’t want to go into farming anymore, whether it’s small scale or large scale. How do we get technology and digital solutions to bring them back into this? Because that’s the first occupation on the continent. What’s your take about Kenya?

Barak Otieno: You actually read my mind. It’s interesting to note that majority of the students in universities are actually financed by their parents who are smallholder farmers or peasants. But when they leave university, farming is no longer cool. It looks like the business for the poor or those who have no direction, for lack of a better word. And I want to give the example of Germany, which is way ahead in terms of agri-tech. And I was just reading that many youth are being attracted into farming because of the cool tractors that are coming up. You know, it’s really like a Mac, which you can be able to program and drive around. And you know, youth like toys or youth like things that they can be able to enjoy. There’s also a lot of usage of drones in dealing with pests or spreading pesticides and very advanced tech, which is the band for youth. And I think this is something that can actually attract many young people into the agricultural fields because the apps that we need is the young people that need to develop them. Operating the drones, most of the people who are senior in the society may not really have the interest in operating.

Moustapha Binta: . . .

Agreement points

Access to technology is fundamental for agricultural solutions

Speakers

– Noel Josef
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Access is fundamental requirement for AI and digital solutions to work effectively

Community networks have been building infrastructure and working on access solutions for five years

Summary

Both speakers emphasize that access to technology is a prerequisite for effective agricultural solutions, with Josef advocating for access at IGF and Otieno describing five years of infrastructure building work

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Need for capacity building and training in agricultural technology

Speakers

– Noel Josef
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

AI can overcome limitations of traditional training methods that lose information through multiple transmission steps

Young people are abandoning farming despite being financed by smallholder farmer parents

Summary

Both speakers recognize the need for better training and capacity development, with Josef identifying limitations in traditional training methods and Otieno emphasizing the need to train more farmers

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Technology solutions must be practical and tailored to smallholder farmers

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Need to connect solution leaders and bridge gaps between technology developers and small-scale farming communities

Sensor technologies can measure soil humidity and optimize water usage to prevent flooding and waste

Summary

Both speakers advocate for practical technology solutions designed specifically for smallholder farmers rather than large-scale operations, emphasizing community-focused approaches

Topics

Development | Economic

Youth engagement is critical for the future of agriculture

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Technology solutions must be designed to attract young people back to agriculture as it remains Africa’s primary occupation

Advanced agricultural technology like programmable tractors and drones can make farming attractive to youth

Summary

Both speakers identify the challenge of youth abandoning agriculture and propose technology-based solutions to make farming more attractive to young people

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for leveraging university AI resources and collaborative centers to address practical agricultural challenges in African contexts

Speakers

– Noel Josef
– Moustapha Binta

Arguments

University AI centers should focus on agricultural use cases in distributed African environments, not just high-tech applications

Farmer incubation programs and collaborative AI centers can bridge technology gaps for smallholder farmers

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Both speakers emphasize the importance of combining traditional knowledge with modern technology to address specific community needs in agriculture

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Solutions should focus on specific needs like drip irrigation, weather monitoring, food processing, and storage facilities for small communities

Traditional farming methods like crop rotation and natural foliage renewal should be combined with modern technology

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Both speakers focus on sustainable soil and water management practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding and working with natural systems

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Flood water harvesting can be converted into valuable farming solutions, returning lost nutrients to soil

Proper soil measurement and understanding fertilizer effects are essential to prevent soil destruction

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Unexpected consensus

Integration of traditional farming methods with modern technology

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Flood water harvesting can be converted into valuable farming solutions, returning lost nutrients to soil

Traditional farming methods like crop rotation and natural foliage renewal should be combined with modern technology

Explanation

Despite the focus on modern technology and AI, both speakers unexpectedly emphasize the value of traditional farming practices and their integration with new technologies, showing respect for indigenous knowledge systems

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Low-tech solutions alongside high-tech AI applications

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Noel Josef

Arguments

Low-tech solutions like USSD can help document farmers and connect them to services and loans

University AI centers should focus on agricultural use cases in distributed African environments, not just high-tech applications

Explanation

While discussing advanced AI applications, there’s unexpected consensus on the importance of accessible, low-tech solutions that can work in current infrastructure conditions

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrate strong consensus on key issues including the fundamental importance of technology access, the need for practical solutions tailored to smallholder farmers, the critical challenge of youth engagement in agriculture, and the value of combining traditional and modern approaches

Consensus level

High level of consensus with complementary perspectives rather than conflicting viewpoints. The speakers build upon each other’s arguments and share similar priorities for agricultural development in Africa. This strong alignment suggests potential for collaborative action and indicates that stakeholders in this field have developed shared understanding of key challenges and solution pathways

Different viewpoints

Approach to knowledge transfer and capacity building in agriculture

Speakers

– Noel Josef
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

AI can overcome limitations of traditional training methods that lose information through multiple transmission steps

Young people are abandoning farming despite being financed by smallholder farmer parents

Summary

Josef focuses on AI as a solution to overcome information loss in traditional training methods, while Otieno emphasizes the need for hands-on training and capacity development for farmers, suggesting different approaches to the same knowledge transfer challenge

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Unexpected differences

Technology complexity level for agricultural solutions

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Low-tech solutions like USSD can help document farmers and connect them to services and loans

Advanced agricultural technology like programmable tractors and drones can make farming attractive to youth

Explanation

Unexpectedly, while both speakers advocate for technology solutions, they differ significantly on the appropriate level of technology complexity – Binta emphasizes accessible low-tech solutions while Otieno promotes advanced high-tech equipment, representing different philosophies about technology adoption in African agriculture

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Overall assessment

Summary

The discussion shows remarkable consensus on core challenges (youth engagement, smallholder farmer support, technology access) but reveals subtle disagreements on implementation approaches – particularly between high-tech versus low-tech solutions, and institutional versus community-based approaches

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level with high collaborative potential. The disagreements are primarily methodological rather than fundamental, suggesting different but potentially complementary approaches to shared goals. This creates opportunities for integrated solutions that combine multiple approaches rather than requiring resolution of conflicts.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for leveraging university AI resources and collaborative centers to address practical agricultural challenges in African contexts

Speakers

– Noel Josef
– Moustapha Binta

Arguments

University AI centers should focus on agricultural use cases in distributed African environments, not just high-tech applications

Farmer incubation programs and collaborative AI centers can bridge technology gaps for smallholder farmers

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Both speakers emphasize the importance of combining traditional knowledge with modern technology to address specific community needs in agriculture

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Solutions should focus on specific needs like drip irrigation, weather monitoring, food processing, and storage facilities for small communities

Traditional farming methods like crop rotation and natural foliage renewal should be combined with modern technology

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Both speakers focus on sustainable soil and water management practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding and working with natural systems

Speakers

– Moustapha Binta
– Barak Otieno

Arguments

Flood water harvesting can be converted into valuable farming solutions, returning lost nutrients to soil

Proper soil measurement and understanding fertilizer effects are essential to prevent soil destruction

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Key takeaways

Access to technology infrastructure is fundamental for implementing AI and digital agricultural solutions in Africa

Technology solutions must be specifically designed for smallholder farmers rather than large-scale operations, focusing on local community needs

Traditional farming methods should be integrated with modern sensor technologies for optimal soil and water management

AI can overcome the limitations of traditional agricultural training by reducing information loss through multiple transmission steps

Advanced agricultural technology like programmable tractors and drones can attract youth back to farming by making it more appealing

Flood water harvesting and soil nutrient recovery represent viable climate-smart agricultural solutions for semi-arid regions

Collaboration between universities, AI centers, and farming communities is essential for developing relevant agricultural technologies

Resolutions and action items

Develop use cases for AI applications in distributed African farming environments to present to AI research centers

Continue collaboration between University of Oslo AI centers and African agricultural institutions

Expand farmer incubation programs and collaborative AI initiatives at the Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Work with technology developers to create solutions specifically tailored to smallholder farmer needs

Implement capacity building and training programs for farmers on new technologies

Unresolved issues

How to effectively scale technology solutions across diverse African terrains and farming conditions

Specific mechanisms for connecting solution leaders with smallholder farming communities

Funding and implementation strategies for widespread adoption of agricultural technologies

How to ensure technology solutions remain affordable and accessible for smallholder farmers

Methods for measuring and preventing long-term soil damage from fertilizer use

Strategies for making farming attractive to youth beyond just introducing advanced technology

Suggested compromises

Using low-tech solutions like USSD alongside high-tech AI applications to accommodate different access levels

Combining traditional farming methods (crop rotation, natural soil renewal) with modern sensor technologies

Focusing on both immediate practical solutions and long-term technological advancement in agricultural development

We do not need more fertilizers. We need to rethink, re-engineer. We need to talk to the technology developers of the solutions. What do we really need for smallholder farmers, not just big farming projects? How do we connect the gaps, the silos that exist within our communities to make sure that the solution designers are actually designing solutions that cater to the needs of not large-scale farmers elsewhere around the world, but in those small communities where women are farming vegetables.

Speaker

Moustapha Binta

Reason

This comment challenges the conventional approach to agricultural development by questioning the assumption that more fertilizers are the solution. It introduces a critical perspective about the disconnect between solution designers and actual smallholder farmer needs, particularly highlighting gender considerations and community-specific requirements.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion from general challenges to specific solution-oriented thinking. It prompted Barak Otieno to provide concrete examples from Kenya and established the framework for discussing technology that serves smallholder farmers rather than industrial agriculture.

We can’t talk about fertilizer without talking about measurement of the soil. DH and all the related ingredients of the soil. We can’t talk about fertilizers without understanding their effect on the soils. Because if we use fertilizer on the soil over a given period of time, there’s a likelihood that it will destroy it.

Speaker

Barak Otieno

Reason

This comment introduces scientific complexity to the fertilizer discussion, challenging the simplistic view of fertilizer application. It connects traditional farming wisdom with modern technology needs and emphasizes the importance of soil health monitoring.

Impact

This deepened the technical discussion and led to exploration of sensor technologies and traditional farming methods. It bridged the gap between indigenous knowledge and modern technology, setting up the conversation about humidity sensors and water management.

There’s this point of training. And of course, we can only train a limited amount of people at a given time… And the question is how much information is lost in the next step and the next step and the next step… And that actually brings me again to, I’d love to bring in the AI.

Speaker

Noel Josef

Reason

This comment identifies a fundamental scalability problem in agricultural education and training. It’s insightful because it recognizes the information degradation problem in traditional training cascades and proposes AI as a potential solution to scale knowledge transfer.

Impact

This comment introduced AI as a concrete solution to the training scalability problem, shifting the discussion toward technology integration. It led to exploration of how AI centers could focus on agricultural applications and prompted discussion about collaboration between academic institutions and practical farming needs.

It’s interesting to note that majority of the students in universities are actually financed by their parents who are smallholder farmers or peasants. But when they leave university, farming is no longer cool. It looks like the business for the poor or those who have no direction… And I want to give the example of Germany, which is way ahead in terms of agri-tech… many youth are being attracted into farming because of the cool tractors that are coming up.

Speaker

Barak Otieno

Reason

This comment reveals a profound irony in agricultural development – that education funded by farming leads young people away from farming. It’s thought-provoking because it identifies the perception problem around agriculture and suggests that technology appeal, rather than just economic incentives, could be key to youth engagement.

Impact

This comment introduced the critical issue of generational transition in agriculture and reframed the youth engagement problem as one of perception and technology appeal rather than just economic opportunity. It provided a concrete pathway for making agriculture attractive to young people through technology integration.

Overall assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by progressively building a comprehensive framework for addressing agricultural challenges in Africa. The conversation evolved from identifying problems to proposing systemic solutions, moving through three critical phases: 1) Challenging conventional approaches and emphasizing smallholder-specific needs, 2) Integrating traditional knowledge with modern technology and scientific approaches, and 3) Addressing scalability through AI and youth engagement through technology appeal. The comments created a logical flow that connected immediate technical solutions (soil sensors, water management) with broader systemic issues (training scalability, youth engagement), ultimately presenting a holistic approach to agricultural transformation that considers both technological innovation and social dynamics.

How do we connect solution leaders and bridge the gaps between technology developers and smallholder farmers’ actual needs?

Speaker

Moustapha Binta

Explanation

This addresses the critical disconnect between available agricultural solutions and the specific needs of small-scale farmers, particularly women farming vegetables who need food packaging, processing, and storage facilities.

Beyond access to technology, what solutions are specifically helpful to farmers in different terrains (arid and semi-arid)?

Speaker

Barak Otieno

Explanation

This question emerges from the recognition that access alone is insufficient and that solutions must be tailored to specific geographical and climatic conditions across sub-Saharan Africa.

How can AI be effectively integrated into farming education and distributed agricultural environments in Africa?

Speaker

Noel Josef

Explanation

This explores the potential for AI to overcome training limitations and scale agricultural education, particularly important given the challenge of information loss in traditional training cascades.

What are the specific use cases where AI is being used in farming in distributed African environments?

Speaker

Noel Josef

Explanation

This research area is needed to provide concrete examples to AI research centers to demonstrate practical applications beyond high-tech solutions.

How can flood water be harvested and converted into valuable agricultural solutions, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas?

Speaker

Moustapha Binta

Explanation

This addresses the paradox of flooding in drought-prone areas and the potential to capture and utilize this water while recovering lost nutrients and soil.

How can technology and digital solutions attract youth back to farming and make agriculture ‘cool’ for young people?

Speaker

Moustapha Binta

Explanation

This addresses the critical issue of youth abandoning agriculture despite being financed by farming parents, which threatens the future of food production in Africa.

How can low-tech solutions like USSD be used to document farmers and improve their access to services and loans?

Speaker

Moustapha Binta

Explanation

This explores practical technology solutions that can work within existing infrastructure limitations to connect smallholder farmers to essential services.

How can sensor technologies be scaled and made accessible to smallholder farmers for soil and water management?

Speaker

Barak Otieno

Explanation

This addresses the practical implementation of precision agriculture technologies for small-scale farmers to optimize water usage and soil health.