AI-assisted chatbot for guiding crop management decisions
of smallholder farmers in Africa
The Virtual Agronomist copilot is delivered via WhatsApp Messenger. In some parts of sub-Saharan
Africa, over 50% of farmers use WhatsApp as their mode of communication. This solution is powered by iSDA
Transforming African Agriculture with AI-Powered Crop Management
Smallholder farmers across Africa are already using WhatsApp for social communication and information sharing. Leveraging this familiar tool, the Virtual Agronomist empowers farmers to access timely, AI-assisted guidance without the need to learn a new system or invest in additional technology.
Farmer and Plot Registration
When farmers first connect with the Virtual Agronomist on WhatsApp, they register and map their plot by sharing GPS points from its corners. The plot is displayed on a map for confirmation, after which the farmer selects the crop to be grown and their preferred units for area and yield.
Nutrient Management Plan
After registering a plot, farmers are guided to create a nutrient-management plan that combines soil data, farmer inputs such as yields, manure use, crop history, and expected conditions like rainfall and pest pressure. The plan helps set a realistic target yield by incrementally improving current yields toward attainable levels.
Planting Date and Emergence Check
After registration, farmers receive weekly alerts to track planting and crop emergence. Around 10 days after planting, they are guided to check and score emergence. If less than 75% of seeds emerge, the copilot helps diagnose possible causes—such as seed quality, planting depth, soil conditions, or pests—and provides tailored advice, including instructions for simple germination tests.
Crop Scout and Plant Health Check
Crop Scout guides farmers to monitor weeds, plant health, and signs of pests or diseases. Farmers record weed growth, check for symptoms, and can compare with photos of common disorders. Using soil and weather data, a Bayesian model analyzes the information and provides probabilities of likely problems along with advice on when action is needed.
Know Your Soil
The Know Your Soil tool helps farmers understand soil constraints, recognize hidden problems through visual assessment, and learn soil conservation practices. Using soil data from iSDAsoil and farmer observations, it highlights potential limitations such as poor structure or shallow depth and offers practical advice to improve soil health and crop performance.
