Akello & Rose A.I. chatbots for irrigation and farming advice to smallholders

Smallholders in Amuru district struggle with low productivity due to limited agronomic knowledge, distant markets, and changes in climate which cause more dry spells. As a result, this leads to unsustainable practices like deforestation and soil depletion which causes to continue a cycle of low yields and income. 

Project overview

The Akello & Rose project is a collaboration between SmartFarming BV and Ajinya Mixed Farm Ltd, funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency under SBIR DM Uganda Phase 1. Ajinya Mixed Farm Ltd, an agricultural enterprise based in Amuru District, Uganda, aims to become a sustainable producer and regional aggregator.

The Akello & Rose project had two primary objectives: first, to conduct a farming system review for Ajinya Mixed Farm Ltd to support their development into a leading regional example; and second, to carry out a feasibility study on how an AI chatbot could enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by enabling informed decision-making.

SmartFarming supports smallholders with digital tools

SmartFarming B.V. is working to create a digital tool designed to assist smallholder farmers in managing their farms and making market decisions. The project uses a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach in its product development, ensuring that the products are tailored to meet users’ needs and address the specific challenges faced by smallholders. The initial phase of the UCD process, which involves user research and assessment, has been carried out by SmartFarming through stakeholder engagement and fieldwork to identify the needs and pain points of the intended users. Additionally, as part of the project, SmartFarming is providing support to Ajinya Mixed Farm Ltd by conducting a farming system review and hydrological analysis to enhance and develop its farming operations.