  Researchers say the AI tool will aid the production of staple foods including, maize, cassava, and sorghum, across 47 African countries. Photo: K-State, CC BY 2.0 An Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool is using satellite remote sensing and machine learning to predict agricultural yields of key crops across Africa, to help mitigate the harms of climate change and other crises, its developers say. The Africa Agriculture Watch (AAgWa) tool will aid the production of staple foods including, maize, cassava and sorghum, across 47 African countries.
The web-based platform, launched on 27 April, was designed to help tackle some of the impacts of climate change, conflicts and pests on food production. Racine Ly, director for data management, digital products, and technology at AKADEMIYA2063, says Africa’s agricultural sector faces multiple threats, including supply chain disruptions, as a result of extreme climate events and health crises.
“Relying on conventional analytic techniques alone will not deliver the effective decision-making we need to meet these challenges,” he explains. The developers say AAgWa will give policy-makers timely access to high-quality, predictive analytics, which are often lacking on the continent.
The crops were selected largely because of their contribution to food security in Africa, as well as high trade value, says Ly. “Our rural communities will, for example, consume more millet, sorghum, and yam,” he explained. “Those are not really used in international trade, but they are very critical in our livelihoods, so we rather focus on those because if they suffer from destruction or disruption these communities will also suffer in their livelihoods.”
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First published in SciDevNet
Published in International Pest Control – January/February 2024 issue.
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