Sama, a global leader in AI solutions, is set to transform agriculture in East Africa by leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and address pressing challenges such as food demand, labour shortages, and environmental protection.
Innovating Agriculture: AI Enhanced Farming in East Africa
Alleviating the Region’s Agricultural Challenges
NAIROBI, Kenya — In an effort to grapple with increasing food demand, labour shortages, and diminishing agricultural land, Sama, a global leader in data annotation solutions for AI and machine learning, has pledged to bolster agriculture in East Africa. By leveraging AI tools, the company aims to enhance productivity, increase yields, protect the environment, and reduce costs, aligning with the East African Community’s Vision 2050 plan.
Significant Opportunities and Pressing Needs
During the launch of a report on precision agriculture and the hurdles faced by AgTech models, Annepeace Alwala, Sama’s Vice President of Global Service Delivery, highlighted the dual benefit and urgent need for AI adoption in agriculture. “Agriculture is facing a number of challenges—an increase in the demand for food and food safety, decreasing agricultural land, and labor shortages among them. Our experience with clients in other parts of the world shows that computer vision applications, powered by Sama-quality data, are helping to address many of these challenges by automating tasks—from crop monitoring and weed control to livestock health and pesticide use,” said Alwala.
Addressing Global Food Security
Globally, the agricultural sector loses up to 40% of its crop production annually due to pests, costing over $220 billion for related plant diseases. Sama’s AI models have demonstrated effectiveness in identifying pests, diseases, and weeds, reducing pesticide usage, and enhancing crop management. A notable innovation in this arena comes from Carbon Robotics, which has created an autonomous machine capable of eliminating over 100,000 weeds within an hour across 15 to 20 acres, using carbon dioxide lasers.
Integrating Advanced Technologies
Drone technology also plays a pivotal role in modernising farming techniques. SENSOR advancements enable drones to monitor crops and spray pesticides with unprecedented accuracy. Sama, collaborating with Precision AI, has helped develop a computer vision model for drones that can identify images to a resolution of 0.55mm when travelling at speeds of 50mph. This precise imaging facilitates optimal decision-making concerning crop rotation, irrigation, and pesticide application.
A Vision for East African Farms
“With the increasing challenges faced by the agricultural sector in East Africa, our partnership with Precision AI demonstrates the transformative power of AI in farming. We plan to deploy these solutions to enhance crop monitoring and optimise resource distribution. Our goal is to inspire similar advancements within the region,” Alwala added. Sama sees a fertile ground for adopting these technologies to bring about a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector in East Africa.
Sama’s Corporate Mission
Sama’s involvement in East Africa is consistent with its broader mission of leveraging digital tools to foster economic growth in underserved communities. This Silicon Valley-based company offers scalable data annotation solutions that support AI and ML models across various industries. Sama’s client base includes 25% of the Fortune 50 companies, such as GM, Ford, Microsoft, and Google. The company operates under a B-Corp certification, emphasizing social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. To date, its employment and training initiatives have lifted over 65,000 people out of poverty, validated by an MIT-led Randomized Controlled Trial.
Moving Forward
Realising the full potential of AI in agriculture is not without its challenges. Farmers in East Africa will need support in terms of education and resources to effectively adopt these new technologies. However, companies like Sama continue to push the envelope, aspiring to revolutionise agricultural practices not only in East Africa but globally. By addressing both local and global agricultural needs, Sama aims to contribute to a more sustainable and food-secure world.
