Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has trained about 20 smallholder farmers in Morogoro through the Integrated IoT, AI, and a Swahili Chatbot: Agri-Tech Solution (MkulimaGPT) Project, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The training focused on an Artificial Intelligence (AI) System that operates in Swahili and aims to provide farmers with timely advice on maize cultivation. This system also enables farmers to address farm-related issues on their own, without the assistance of an Extension Officer.
According to Ms. Theofrida Maginga, the Project Leader and SUA Assistant Lecturer from the Department of Informatics and Information Technology, speaking at a workshop that was held at Morena Hotel, Morogoro, MkulimaGPT operates as a ‘Chatbot‘ guiding farmers on field preparation and effective maize management through AI technology.
Ms. Maginga stressed that the integration of AI stems from SUA researchers’ aim to leverage technology for farmers’ benefit. While initially focusing on maize cultivation, they aspire to extend this technology to other crops after implementation.
