KilimoKipya

Farmers are the backbone of Tanzania, contributing 28% to the national GDP and employing 65% of the workforce. Yet, 70% of Tanzania's poor live in rural areas where agriculture is most dominant, highlighting that meaningful change in Tanzania must begin with transforming this sector. This disparity drove our team to focus on agriculture as the starting point for meaningful impact in our home country.

Tanzanian farmers face numerous challenges that hinder their productivity and sustainability. These include dilemmas in crop selection, difficulties accessing quality fertilizers and pesticides, complexities in crop rotation practices, challenges in obtaining quality seeds, and the worsening effects of climate change.

On top of these, financial barriers worsen the struggle. The reliance on informal, cash-based payment systems renders traditional credit mechanisms ineffective, making it difficult for banks to provide financial services to farmers. Banks struggle to assess expected farm yields or determine if farmers will employ best practices, leading to mismatches in loan amounts and high default rates. Consequently, only 3% of Tanzanian agricultural households have access to formal credit.

By addressing both the agricultural and financial challenges faced by farmers, we aim to enhance their productivity, improve access to financial services, and foster sustainable economic growth in rural Tanzania.

In our literature survey, we identified two primary solutions currently available to Tanzanian farmers, both of which have significant limitations. The first involves expensive soil analysis using Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Wealthier farmers can afford IoT devices that measure soil quality every few meters, providing detailed insights into soil nutrients and conditions. However, these technologies are costly and require technical expertise, making them inaccessible to the majority of farmers who lack sufficient financial resources.

The second solution consists of relief and aid programs that select certain farmers to receive training and grants. These programs often focus on specific crops aligned with the expertise of the sponsoring organization, such as cash crops. While beneficial to those included, these programs are limited to a small subset of farmers, leading to inequality and exclusivity. Moreover, reliance on grants fosters dependency, preventing farmers from achieving long-term financial independence and self-sufficiency.

Both solutions fail to address the broader needs of Tanzanian farmers. The high costs and limited reach of IoT devices exclude most farmers, while aid programs do not offer a sustainable or scalable solution. This underscores the need for an accessible, cost-effective, and inclusive approach that empowers all farmers to improve their agricultural practices and financial stability.

Our proposed solution is a Remote Sensing Recommendation System designed to empower farmers with actionable insights and long-term support. By leveraging satellite imagery refreshed every six weeks, the system analyzes soil nutrient and moisture content to generate tailored recommendations. For each specific piece of farmland, the system provides a ranked list of crops based on potential yield, taking into account the identified soil conditions. Additionally, it suggests optimal seed varieties, appropriate fertilizers, expected yield quantities, and projected revenue based on real-time market prices.

To ensure farmers can implement these recommendations effectively, we connect farmers with expert organizations such as USAID’s KilimoTija Project, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Farmer Training Centers (FTC). These partners provide training on best agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and sustainable fertilization methods, while also assisting farmers in accessing markets for selling their produce. This integrated approach ensures that farmers receive the knowledge and resources necessary to achieve long-term success.

Farmers interact with the system through a simple SMS-based platform, sending their location to receive personalized recommendations, making the service accessible even without smartphones or internet access. Banks and NGOs supporting farmers utilize a web application dashboard to access detailed analytics, monitor farmer performance, and manage financial support effectively.

We then offer continuous support by monitoring soil nutrients, moisture content, and crop health using satellite imagery updated every 8 days (revisit time for Landsat 8/9). This ongoing analysis allows us to provide timely advice and adjustments, ensuring that farmers can adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal farming practices. By integrating precise technological tools with expert guidance and continuous support, our solution operates effectively in real-life environments to improve farmers' productivity and livelihoods.

Finally, the system supports financial institutions by providing precise data on farm potential, enabling them to assess risk more accurately and extend loans tailored to the farmers’ actual needs. This end-to-end approach empowers farmers not only to improve yields but also to achieve financial independence and sustainable growth.