KM INSIGHT RESEARCH BRIEF February 2026
Knowledge Management
Farmers Get Agricultural Information Through Artificial Intelligence (AI)
v3
Farmers Access an Opportunity App, Farmer AI, to Answer Critical Questions Research Overview In 2025, Opportunity tested the scale-up of a chatbot/generative AI solution in Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. The solution, Farmer AI, was designed for use by Opportunity Farmer Support Agents (FSAs) to easily and rapidly provide accurate answers to smallholder farmer questions using a WhatsApp interface with text or voice interaction, and even by sending photos. The information the chatbot searches originates from authoritative sources, usually ministries of agriculture. Around 260,000 farmers had access to Farmer AI in 2025 through 1,400 agents, with around 1,800 farmers using it themselves. Key Conclusions The following high-level conclusions emerged from a year of action-research engaging implementers, agents, and farmers. 1. Farmer AI is widely used by women – a high portion of users in Uganda and Malawi (agents and farmers) are women. 2. Farmer AI is quite accurate, could be more detailed – according to an agricultural expert who ranked it 7.3 out of 10. 3. High user satisfaction – earned a net promoter score of 35, higher than the Kenya benchmark of 26. 90% of users rating messages give Farmer AI a “thumbs-up,” with 26% of messages rated. 4. Strong benefits for FSAs – Farmer AI boosted FSA confidence and respect, and saved time and money. 5. Users especially value accuracy, convenience, practical advice, early identification of pests and diseases. 6. Strong indications of meaningful value to farmers – 80% of users say farmer AI advice is being applied; 72% say farmer AI is enhancing farm performance; In Kenya, 67%% of farmer users report improved production, and 58% better pest control. Plans for Scale-up and Further Research Opportunity plans to continue scale-up of Farmer AI by FSAs, but is also exploring government and private sector models. These innovative models, along with improvements in the app and its dissemination, will continue to be studies, and Opportunity is also planning a comparative study to better assess the impact of Farmer AI on farmers and farms.
Deborah, Ghana An experienced rice farmer and mother of five, Deborah’s productivity had plateaued, and she noticed some neighboring farmers doing better. Her extension agent, Agnes, introduced her to Farmer AI, and Deborah used it to improve her planting techniques, the timing of fertilizer application, and pest management. Her harvest increased by 11%. “I’m excited to be making more money,” she says. “This could go a long way to help me take care of my children’s needs.”
RESEARCH CONTEXT The Challenge of Access to Agricultural Information. In Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa), modern agricultural advice is hard to come by. Radio and word of mouth are common sources of farming information, with the former often being too general and the latter limited in accuracy and depth. Governments strive to provide adequate extension services, but resources are limited. In Uganda, for example, each government extension agent serves 1,800 farmers, over four times the number recommended by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is 400.1 To help fill the gap, Opportunity’s Agricultural Finance Program (AgFinance) trains and deploys a cadre of community-based Farmer Support Agents (FSAs), who are relatively successful farmers. Ultimately, though, for more in-depth or up-to-date information, these FSAs need to consult government agricultural extension agents, which can take time and money as they sometimes travel to government offices to get an in-person response. Opportunity’s Digital Innovations Group (DIG) saw a potential solution through AI, which could be accessed through FSAs or directly by farmers with smartphones. With the advent of Farmer AI, Opportunity joined a small group of innovators bringing AI to the agricultural sector in Africa. Opportunity is one of the few with a focus on designing localized, human-centered solutions for people living in poverty. 1 Barman, B., Singh, R., & Quader, S. W. (2024). Are agriculture podcasts a new way to deliver extension services? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO Family Farming Knowledge Platform).