In the landlocked country of Malawi, over 80% of the population is employed in agriculture. But smallholder farmers there face a number of challenges, including climate change, lack of access to hyperlocal weather forecasting and data, and pests and diseases.
To help address these challenges, IBM and global nonprofit Heifer International have developed OpenHarvest, a digital tool that empowers smallholder farmers through technology and a community ecosystem.
OpenHarvest is an open source platform with a mobile application that provides farmers with access to visual agricultural data, specialised recommendations through AI and climate modeling, and better farm and field management tools.
The platform assigns each participating farmer’s field a set of latitude-longitude points that trigger comprehensive recommendations according to local weather and crop growth stages. It also monitors soil composition data to identify how fertilisers should be applied.
OpenHarvest was designed to be low-cost and accessible to farmers without smartphones. The platform delivers precise crop and soil management recommendations via SMS text message.
In addition to technology, OpenHarvest also provides farmers with access to a network of hands-on experts who can help them build trust and implement solutions.
The platform is also differentiated by its structure, which incentivises farmers to adopt best agricultural practices through a digital extension solution, while simultaneously facilitating connections to access finance and the formal market.
This structure encourages farmers to embrace digital technology and retain new farming practices, which leads to long-term profitability and success in a changing environment and economy.
OpenHarvest has now reached 200 users in the district of Mchinji in western Malawi, with over 1,000 direct beneficiaries. Compared to previous years, most farmers who have used OpenHarvest have seen increased yields, with some participants even doubling or tripling their output for the season.
Heifer International plans to onboard around 300 additional farmers and expand the project into Kasungu, a district in the central region of Malawi. The program is also evaluating other innovations, such as building out robust AI models and AI integrations.
IBM and Heifer International are proud to help change lives in Malawi and build sustainable farming solutions alongside farmers and their communities.
Insights:
- OpenHarvest is a unique digital tool that addresses the specific needs of smallholder farmers in Malawi.
- The platform is designed to be low-cost, accessible, and easy to use.
- OpenHarvest provides farmers with a combination of technology and human support to help them succeed.
- The platform is incentivising farmers to adopt best practices, leading to long-term profitability and success.
- OpenHarvest is a model for other digital agriculture initiatives in developing countries.
