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,…
Ghanaian farmers often have difficulty identifying crop threats early enough to prevent significant damage. An artificial intelligence platform called Ndua Analytics aims to address this issue. Developed by Ghanaian researcher Nana Benyin Eboe Nyamekye Essel-Biney, the system enables farmers to describe crop symptoms and receive potential diagnoses without requiring extensive agricultural knowledge.
Ndua Analytics currently pilots on maize, cassava, and tomatoes, providing possible diagnoses and recommendations for treatment and prevention. The platform uses text-based input rather than images, allowing it to work with limited datasets and accommodate language barriers, offering responses in English, local languages, and various voice settings.
Meteorologist Prof. Benjamin Lamptey emphasizes the importance of early pest detection due to changing weather conditions, which influence pest behavior and create favorable conditions for outbreaks. He advocates for collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and farmers to turn research into practical solutions.
Written by urgent.news from Joy Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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