By Brandon Moss Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries across the globe, and agriculture is no exception. Once considered futuristic technology reserved for advanced economies, AI is now becoming an increasingly valuable tool for African farmers seeking to improve productivity, reduce costs and strengthen resilience against climate change. Across the continent, governments, agribusinesses, technology ...

According to Daniel Huba, Head of Markets and Partnerships Execution for Growth Segments at Mastercard, AI is helping shift African agriculture from fragmented, informal production systems to connected, data-driven value chains that create greater value for farmers and agribusinesses alike. With the African Development Bank projecting that Africa’s food and agriculture market could be worth ...

SAS Uses AI And Data Analytics To Support South African Micro-Farmers Global data and AI company SAS is helping South African micro-farmers improve crop planning, increase income potential and strengthen food security through a Data for Good initiative that applies advanced analytics to small-scale farming. Developed in partnership with data science consultancy dataDecisions.ai and the ...

LONDON, United Kingdom – Ugandan technology entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year after developing artificial intelligence and solar-powered agricultural technologies that help reduce post-harvest losses, improve food security and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers. Ainomugisha received the award at the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in London, ...

Zimbabwean startup Maminda Agri-Fintech is transforming the way smallholder farmers access financial services, agricultural expertise and markets through an integrated digital platform designed to improve productivity and financial inclusion. Founded in 2025, the agri-fintech startup combines artificial intelligence (AI), satellite technology and digital financial tools into a single ecosystem that supports farmers throughout the agricultural ...

Before sunrise, across small plots of land stretching from the temperate rural heartlands of Southern Africa to the tropical landscapes of East and West Africa, millions of smallholder farmers begin their day. Their work feeds families and underpins national food systems. Yet when it comes to access to finance – the credit, insurance and working ...

Nigeria is ramping up efforts to tackle its persistent agricultural inefficiencies, as billions of naira continue to be lost annually to poor harvest management, post-harvest spoilage and weak farming systems. The situation is worsening under rising food inflation, climate variability and structural bottlenecks in the food supply chain. In response, the Ibom Innovation Network (IIN) ...

ILRI Director General Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng addresses delegates attending the launch of the World Agriculture Forum Kenya Country Council. Photo Credits: Saleef Nyambok (ILRI) Kenya has launched the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Country Council to accelerate the transformation of its agriculture sector, aiming to boost productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and connect global innovation with local ...

A wave of innovation is reshaping agriculture across Africa, led by 3Farmate, a Ghanaian agritech startup founded in 2021 by Clinton Anani. The company is deploying AI-powered autonomous robots to modernize farming, enhance productivity, and tackle operational challenges. While initially focused on Ghana, 3Farmate plans to expand regionally, bringing its technology to multiple African countries. ...

A new report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa highlights how emerging technologies could play a transformative role in accelerating Africa’s economic growth and agricultural development. According to the report, the continent’s growth has historically relied heavily on labour and capital accumulation, rather than productivity gains—slowing the transition from subsistence farming to high-value, ...