Globally, nearly 3 billion people are digitally disconnected, about one-third of the world’s population. Entire communities are unrepresented and without critical, timely information, farmers and farming communities included. Rural extension agents and farmers grapple with limited resources and education, compounded by unreliable internet and high caseloads.
These constraints hamper access to vital, up-to-date agricultural information and best practices essential for climate-resilient farming. Consequently, agents are often ill-equipped to advise on optimized resource use, crop management, and disease prevention, leading to increased vulnerability to climate impacts and food insecurity. This systemic issue underscores a critical need for an innovative AI solution to bridge informational gaps and enhance decision-making for sustainable, resilient rural agriculture.
Project overview
Viamo and Farm to Market Alliance (FTMA) Tanzania will test Viamo’s mobile-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Voice Companion technology with Tanzanian sunflower farmers in the Northern and Southern highlands, to increase access to localized and customized agricultural information.
Designed specifically for basic, non-internet mobile phones, Viamo's AI-enabled Voice Companion revolutionizes agricultural extension. Its IVR platform, active in 22 countries, offers essential resources via audio aids and digital training.
The Voice Companion elevates this service, allowing farmers to ask spontaneous, open-ended questions, receiving immediate, tailored advice in their local language. It harnesses AI to sift through extensive agricultural content, delivering precise, context-specific solutions directly. This not only bridges the informational gap but empowers agents with actionable insights, enhancing their capacity to offer superior, climate-resilient agricultural guidance. Instant access to customized advice fosters informed decision-making, optimizing resource use, bolstering disease prevention, and amplifying crop yields, securing rural livelihoods against climate adversities.
Viamo will test with 5,000 sunflower farmers in northern and southern Tanzania. The target is to increase their yields by at least 20 percent through improved access to vital, up-to-date agricultural information and best practices.