AI seen as future of farming in Africa

Henry Gichobi, a rice farmer in central Kenya, relies on an artificial intelligence tool called Virtual Agronomist to assess soil fertility and optimize yields.

Developed by the global nonprofit Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture, the tool allows farmers like Gichobi to communicate via a chatbot on WhatsApp.

"Using satellite information, the app analyzes data to help farmers decide the right type and amount of fertilizer needed to maximize crop yields," said Patrick Wanyaka, a field technician with the organization.