This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Western Kenya is set to benefit from a cutting-edge project that aims to boost maize yields using technology. The KILIMO project, which stands for 'Kenyan Innovation for Low Impact Maize Production', will run for 18 months and use digital tools to monitor soil health conditions.
Led by French agtech company itk, the project's goal is to demonstrate how satellite and modelling technologies can generate tailored, farm-level recommendations at scale. This will involve using satellite imaging to map and track the condition of Vihiga Country's soils through colour spectrometry, which analyses crop colour and density.
The real-time information gathered will be combined with meteorological data and fed into itk models to determine the appropriate amounts and types of fertiliser to be applied, and at what time, to maximise both crop productivity and sustainability. Bespoke recommendations will then be sent to individual farmers via SMS or voice message, ensuring that government-issued fertiliser subsidies are used efficiently.
The project, which has a budget of over €800,000, is being run by itk in collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space, academic experts, and other partners. According to Aline Bsaibes, Director General of itk, the project has the potential to drive a massive transformation of African agriculture and can be scaled to other regions or countries.
