AI tool helps Ghanaian farmers identify crop threats from field observations
For a farmer, a yellow spot on a tomato leaf may seem insignificant. But that small change could be an early sign of a disease or pest infestation that, if not identified and addressed quickly, could spread across a farm and threaten an entire harvest. The challenge is that many farmers rely largely on experience to determine what may be affecting their crops. By the time the cause becomes clear,…
An AI tool is assisting Ghanaian farmers in detecting crop issues from observations made in their fields. This innovation aims to tackle the challenge many farmers face in identifying potential threats to their harvest early enough to prevent widespread damage. Ndua Analytics, developed by Nana Benyin Eboe Nyamekye Essel-Biney, a University of Ghana Research Assistant and YARA Research Fellow, offers an accessible solution for farmers lacking specialized agricultural expertise.
By allowing farmers to describe visible symptoms on their crops, the platform diagnoses potential diseases or pests affecting crops like maize, cassava, and tomatoes. The system's text-based approach, requiring no image uploads, mitigates issues related to poor camera quality and enhances accuracy. Farmers can receive recommended treatments and prevention methods, with the added benefit of language accessibility through speech and translation technology, providing responses in English and local Ghanaian languages.
While currently piloting on three crops, Ndua Analytics plans to broaden its scope to include additional crops like rice, onions, ginger, and garlic, and incorporate geographical information to account for regional differences in disease and pest conditions. Meteorologist Prof. Benjamin Lamptey emphasizes the importance of early detection, particularly for seasonal pests like armyworms, whose emergence can be unpredictable due to favorable weather conditions.
He stresses the necessity of integrating artificial intelligence into agricultural research and practice to effectively address emerging threats, advocating for collaborative efforts among researchers, industry stakeholders, and users to translate scientific findings into practical solutions. Despite its current limitations, including requiring a login link and expanding language options, Ndua Analytics represents a significant step toward empowering Ghanaian farmers with timely and actionable insights to safeguard their crops against unseen threats.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
