This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Western Kenya is set to benefit from a groundbreaking 18-month project that harnesses the power of digital technology to boost maize yields and sustainability. The KILIMO project, led by French agtech company itk, will utilize satellite and modelling technologies to provide tailored, farm-level recommendations to farmers in Vihiga County.
According to Aline Bsaibes, Director General of itk, the project's goal is to demonstrate how satellite and modelling technologies can generate real-time data on soil health, fertiliser use, and carbon sequestration. This information will be used to determine the optimal amounts and types of fertiliser to be applied, ensuring maximum crop productivity and sustainability.
“Technology is driving a massive transformation of African agriculture,” said Bsaibes. “What we learn from the KILIMO project can be easily scaled to other regions or countries, as well as for related climate-smart agriculture initiatives.”
The project, which stands for “Kenyan Innovation for Low Impact Maize Production”, will track in real-time the carbon storage potential of agricultural soils, as well as nitrogen and potassium levels. This data will be used to provide bespoke recommendations to individual farmers via SMS or voice message, ensuring that government-issued fertiliser subsidies are used efficiently.
With a budget of over €800,000, the KILIMO project is being run in collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space, academic experts from UMR Eco/, IRD, CIRAD, GE-Data, and Locate-It. The project is supported by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, which aims to promote the use of green technologies globally.
