AI Meets Agriculture as Safaricom and Opportunity International Unveil FarmerAI

Safaricom PLC and global NGO Opportunity International have launched FarmerAI in Kenya, an innovative AI chatbot aimed at providing real-time, relevant farming best practices to smallholder farmers in underserved communities. With an initial pilot running from now through August—aligned with the potato crop cycle—the project aims to enroll 800–1,000 farmers across key regions of Kenya by year’s end.

FarmerAI combines generative AI with localized agricultural insights, delivering vital information on topics like weather patterns, fertilizer application, pest management, and market prices. Unlike other solutions that rely on a field agent network, FarmerAI will go directly to farmers through accessible channels such as SMS and WhatsApp. Safaricom’s DigiFarm service, which digitally connects thousands of farmers, will provide the platforms needed for farmers to interact seamlessly with the AI chatbot.

AI is already transforming the world around us, but the impact this technology can have on underserved communities is truly impactful. Above all, this partnership underscores Opportunity International’s and DigiFarm’s shared mission to uplift smallholder farmers. Our partnership, and this new tool, will make agricultural information more accessible, actionable, and equitable for everyone.

– Greg Nelson, Opportunity International Chief Technology Officer, Opportunity International

Throughout the pilot, FarmerAI will operate under a co-branded model, featuring both DigiFarm and Opportunity International branding. This collaboration highlights the commitment of both organizations to strengthen Kenya’s agricultural sector by providing farmers with tools that help increase their yields and streamline access to financing.

AI is a critical part of the present and the future. Our mission at Safaricom is to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030. In line with this, we are committed to bring to our customers and stakeholders technological solutions that will positively impact on them. FarmerAI is the first solution we are bringing to farmers that enables them to interact with AI and feel the power of that technology. One of the challenges that farmers face today is access to the right information at the right time such as what to plant, when to plant, weather advisory among others. This AI chatbot will allow smallholder farmers access verifiable information on common questions to guide their decisions.

– Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom

FarmerAI – and all of Opportunity International’s digital interventions – rely upon human-centered design strategies. Engagement with end-users are a key foundation of the development process, and the pilot will regularly engage with potato farmers both digitally and in person on a regular timetable. This field engagement is expected to deepen insights into farmers’ challenges and ensure that the chatbot’s design remains human-centric and responsive to on-the-ground realities.

As per a 2022 report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the agricultural sector contributes roughly 22.4% to the country’s total GDP, and smallholder farmers make up around 5.6 million of the overall farmer population.

By actively working to bridge the digital divide—particularly in rural areas where connectivity and cost are often barriers—Opportunity International and DigiFarm aim to bolster food security, increase incomes, and foster long-term economic resilience for smallholder farming communities across Kenya.