Edemanwan Eyo Bassey, a new farmer in southern Nigeria, struggled with her chickens showing signs of paralysis. With limited access to extension agents, she turned to an AI tool, which diagnosed her birds' condition and advised vaccination. This use of AI highlights a broader trend among farmers worldwide, particularly in Africa, who rely on technology for advice on agriculture, including pest management and weather forecasts, as traditional support dwindles. The chatbot supports multilingual inquiries, showcasing its adaptability in assisting diverse farming communities.
I couldn't get across to my EA. So I asked AI, 'Why are my birds walking funny?' The AI assistant told her it could be a kind of Newcastle disease, a highly contagious viral infection that can cause paralysis and death in infected poultry.
Farmers across the globe, including tens of thousands of African farmers, are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to stay ahead of shifting weather patterns, respond to pests and diseases, and connect with buyers.
Eyo Bassey has asked Farmer.chat how to keep tiny flies called aphids off her pepper plants and which poultry breeds thrive in rainforest-rich Cross River State.
The tool's weather forecast helps her know when to heat her chicken coop. She poses questions in English, but the chatbot, which is used by more than 50,000 farmers across Africa, also responds to Hausa.
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