We were thrilled to make a significant impact at the 3rd African Conference of Precision Agriculture (AfCPA), held in Marrakech, Morocco, from December 3rd to 5th, 2024. Representing iSDA, our Southern Africa agronomist, Paul Zauzau Chunga, delivered a presentation to showcase our Virtual Agronomist AI advisory service.
Highlighting the Power of the Virtual Agronomist
Paul’s presentation showcased the remarkable achievements of our Virtual Agronomist service, with a focus on its deployment for four key crops: sunflower and lowland rice in Tanzania, maize in Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, and sorghum in Uganda. Backed by strong data, we demonstrated how the implementation of Virtual Agronomist significantly boosts agricultural productivity for small-holder farmers:
- Yield increases of 1.4 to 1.7-fold across all four crops.
- Full implementation of our recommendations led to 3.5-fold yield increases and profits rising 2.7 to 4.7 times compared to traditional farmer practices.
- In Uganda, 48% of maize farmers using Virtual Agronomist achieved high yields of 4 t/ha or more, compared to only 10% of those relying on conventional methods.
These results affirm Virtual Agronomist’s transformative role in equipping farmers with expert, tailored advice throughout the growing season. It enhances not only yields and profitability but also agricultural knowledge, empowering farmers to make better decisions.
Beyond Yields: Advanced Capabilities
The Virtual Agronomist goes beyond just increasing yields. Attendees at the conference were particularly impressed by its advanced capabilities, including:
- Farm-specific fertiliser recommendations: tailored to maximize efficiency.
- Diagnosis of pests and diseases: providing farmers with actionable solutions.
These features optimise resource use and address critical challenges faced by farmers, enabling them to overcome obstacles with precision and confidence.
We were encouraged by the enthusiastic response from participants, with many asking how they could access the tool in their respective countries. Others were keen to learn more about our implementation strategies, which have resulted in high adoption rates among farmers.
Supporting Agricultural Innovation in Africa
The AfCPA, organised by the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) in collaboration with the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA), and the African Association for Precision Agriculture (AAPA), provides a vital platform for advancing precision agriculture across Africa. By uniting the precision agriculture community, the conference highlights cutting-edge advancements in experimental and applied practices.
Our participation in AfCPA reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering farmers with innovative tools that promote sustainable and precision-driven farming. As African agriculture continues to embrace technology, we’re proud to see Virtual Agronomist making a real difference, offering data-driven solutions for farmers to thrive in today’s challenging agricultural landscape.
