In a world where smallholder farmers face increasing challenges in achieving sustainable productivity, technology has emerged as a powerful ally. At the recent CPCN seminar, our innovative Virtual Agronomist AI advisory service took center stage. This cutting-edge tool delivers personalised agronomic advice directly to farmers via WhatsApp, bridging the gap between scientific insights and on-the-ground farming practices.
The Consortium for Precision Crop Nutrition (CPCN) seminar is coordinated by Dr Canon Engoke, Senior Scientist at the African Plant Nutrition Institute based in Nairobi, Kenya. The CPCN serves as a dynamic platform where companies, research institutes, universities, NGOs, and national programs collaborate to share expertise and data. It fosters the co-creation of aligned crop nutrition principles, standards, algorithms, and other vital resources. The seminar provides a hub for innovation, aiming to accelerate the development of effective, evidence-based digital crop nutrition advisory solutions.
At the seminar, members of our iSDA team participated in a panel to showcase the advanced technology behind Virtual Agronomist and highlight its real-world impact on farming practices, productivity, and profitability.
Bridging Extension Gaps with Virtual Agronomimst
Rejoice Musiiwa, one of our iSDA data scientists based in Zimbabwe, began the discussion by outlining the critical challenges that have long hindered traditional agricultural extension services in Africa. Chief among these is the high ratio of farmers to extension workers and the limited capacity for on-ground visits. In many regions, a single extension worker might be responsible for supporting hundreds of farmers, making it nearly impossible to provide timely, personalised advice. This systemic challenge often leaves farmers relying on generalised recommendations or outdated practices, ultimately limiting their productivity and sustainability.
A slide from our presentation demonstrating some of the current issues with traditional extension service delivery
Rejoice explained to seminar attendees how our Virtual Agronomist AI advisory service steps in as an innovative solution to bridge these gaps by leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide tailored, actionable guidance. The tool offers:
- Personalised Advice: Virtual Agronomist generates nutrient plans and pest management recommendations customised to the unique conditions of each farmer’s plot. This ensures that farmers receive advice specific to their soil type, crop choice, and local climatic conditions, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.
- AI Integration: At the heart of Virtual Agronomist is an advanced AI system that processes data from a high-resolution soil map covering all of Africa. This map, created using over 150,000 soil samples and advanced remote sensing techniques, provides critical insights into soil properties such as pH, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The integration of AI allows the tool to interpret this data and deliver recommendations that are scientifically robust and tailored to individual plots.
- Accessible Delivery: Understanding the challenges of internet connectivity and digital literacy in rural areas, Virtual Agronomist is delivered via WhatsApp—a platform that is widely accessible and familiar to many farmers. This user-friendly approach ensures that even farmers in remote locations can benefit from advanced agronomic insights without needing sophisticated technology or extensive training.
By addressing these key limitations of traditional extension services, Virtual Agronomist not only empowers farmers with the knowledge they need to optimise yields but also enhances the scalability and efficiency of advisory support across the continent. This transformative tool exemplifies how digital innovation can drive meaningful progress in agriculture, bridging gaps that have persisted for decades.
Real-World Impact, Adoption and Expansion
Paul Chunga, our Field Agronomist for Southern Africa, shared compelling data demonstrating Virtual Agronomist’s success. The tool has delivered transformative results for smallholder farmers across Africa, driving substantial yield improvements and enhancing farm profitability. Its impact is evident in the data:
- Sunflower in Tanzania: Farmers experienced an impressive 3.6-fold increase in yields by following Virtual Agronomist recommendations.
- Rice in Tanzania: Yield improvements of 1.7 times were achieved.
- Maize in Uganda: Yields rose by 66%, with 48% of farmers using Virtual Agronomist achieving high yields of over 4 tonnes per hectare, compared to only 10% of those relying on traditional farmer practices.
These results underscore the power of tailored, data-driven advice in unlocking the full potential of African agriculture. By providing precise recommendations based on high-resolution soil data and AI, the tool is helping farmers optimise their inputs, enhance cost efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve sustainable productivity.
A slide from our presentation demonstrating potential yield results when farmers incorporate Virtual Agronomist into their farming practice
Paul highlighted the rapid expansion of Virtual Agronomist, noting that over 30,000 plots have already been registered, with 29,000 farmers actively benefiting from tailored nutrient plans. He also shared iSDA’s goal of extending this impact to 100,000 farmers by the end of 2025.
A key driver of Virtual Agronomist’s success is the lead farmer model, which fosters peer-to-peer learning and community-level impact. Lead farmers, who are early adopters of the tool, act as ambassadors within their communities, sharing their knowledge and encouraging others to embrace the technology. This model has proven highly effective in building trust and promoting widespread adoption, ensuring that the benefits of Virtual Agronomist reach even the most remote farming households.
A Hands-On Demonstration
To round off the seminar, Abi Wairimu, one of our iSDA data scientists based in Kenya, provided seminar attendees with a live demonstration of Virtual Agronomist in action, offering a hands-on glimpse into its intuitive design and functionality. She guided attendees through the straightforward process of plot registration, beginning with selecting the crop, pinpointing the plot location, and recording the planting date. With clear explanations, Abi showcased how the platform empowers farmers to document key milestones such as crop emergence and growth stages, all within a few simple steps.
Her demonstration highlighted the tool’s user-friendly interface, designed with farmers in mind, ensuring accessibility even for those less familiar with technology. Abi emphasised how Virtual Agronomist simplifies complex agronomic decisions by generating precise, actionable nutrient plans tailored to each plot. This ease of use not only boosts adoption rates but also equips farmers with the confidence to make informed choices throughout the growing season. By demystifying the process, Abi illustrated how Virtual Agronomist seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology into the everyday practices of smallholder farmers, driving both productivity and sustainability.
A Promising Future
As our Virtual Agronomist AI advisory service continues to gain traction, its impact on farming practices, productivity, and livelihoods across Africa is becoming increasingly evident. As we continue to refine and expand this service, we remain committed to revolutionising farming practices and improving food security across the continent.
To learn more about Virtual Agronomist, click here.
