Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges, and Impact
Kinyua Gikunda
TL;DR
The paper analyzes how AI can advance sustainable agricultural development in Africa by surveying opportunities, challenges, and impacts. It synthesizes evidence on precision farming, crop monitoring, and climate-resilient practices, and discusses infrastructural, data, and skill barriers. Key contributions include articulation of ethical considerations, policy implications, and case-study insights from KAOP and DAAS. The findings underscore AI's potential to empower smallholders, streamline supply chains, and foster inclusive growth, provided governance and capacity-building keep pace with technological change.
Abstract
This paper explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of sustainable agricultural development across diverse regions in Africa. Delving into opportunities, challenges, and impact, the study navigates through the dynamic landscape of AI applications in agriculture. Opportunities such as precision farming, crop monitoring, and climate-resilient practices are examined, alongside challenges related to technological infrastructure, data accessibility, and skill gaps. The article analyzes the impact of AI on smallholder farmers, supply chains, and inclusive growth. Ethical considerations and policy implications are also discussed, offering insights into responsible AI integration. By providing a nuanced understanding, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on leveraging AI for fostering sustainability in African agriculture.