Varsities put best foot forward with new tech at agri showcase

Local universities exhibited various innovations at the recent 4th National Agriculture Summit, which if upscaled have the potential to transform Kenya’s agricultural sector.

The event, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, was organised by the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

This year’s summit was themed Embracing Sustainability: Innovations, Research and Competitiveness in Agriculture, bringing together stakeholders from the private and public sectors, academia, and development agencies.

It also featured a series of panel discussions and presentations on agriculture.

One of the innovations that stood out was Shamba Assistant, which assists farmers in testing their soil through an application on their smartphones.

Developed by Ycenter Shambah Solutions, the technology measures key parameters such as soil temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, providing farmers with valuable insights into their soil conditions. 

Ashley Bana, a sales agronomist at Shamba Solutions based at Kenyatta University, says the tech is poised to elevate soil testing to new heights, particularly for small and medium-scale farmers.

“Initially, testing soil parameters such as pH moisture and moisture could take days to get results. But with the app, it takes less than a minute,” said Ashley.

She revealed that the app tests for fertilisers, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil, thereby providing essential guidance to the farmers.

She explains the app is designed to guide users who may find it difficult to navigate the soil testing process. After opening the app, the first step is to enter personal details, such as your name, identity card, location, size of the land and the crop you are growing.

The technology provides real-time readings of the tests and can also generate a comprehensive report. The report includes recommendations for necessary solutions and the types of fertilisers to use. Ashley explains: “For the three solutions of fertilisers, the app specifies when to apply them, the optimal period and the required quantities. It also identifies potential pests and diseases associated with the plants you are growing and offers tailored solutions to address those challenges.”

Farmers interested in soil testing services can either subscribe to the service or buy and own the device. Each device goes for Sh35,000. 

For subscribers, Shamba Solutions technicians will visit the farm to conduct soil testing. Alternatively, farmers can collect soil samples and take them to the laboratory for testing.

Ashley reveals they have already sold several devices and manufacturing of other units is on ongoing.  

The Shamba Assistant consists of several key components- a Soil Sensor Hub, which links phone and sensor magic; and the Soil Probe, a sensor designed for comprehensive soil monitoring, which provides users with valuable insights into their soil’s conditions.

In addition, the system also includes Hub Cable for data transmission and OTG Cable that connects the Hub Cable to any Android phone, be it Type C or Type B.

To get the measurement, first, connect the device to the phone via the charging port using either USB type B or C, and open settings on your device. Then, search OTG in the settings search bar before turning on the OTG connection.

Next, you open Shambah Solutions application and insert the sensor probe into the soil sample you wish to measure. Finally, click “connect” on the application to prompt the device to collect the readings.

To measure the soil, collect samples from all designated areas. Start by scraping away surface litter to obtain a uniformly thick slice of soil. Then, make a V-shaped cut with a spade to remove a 1-2cm slice of soil and put it in a clean bucket. Finally, add water to the sample and create a mud paste ready for testing.

Speaking at the summit, Bimal Kantaria, ASNET chairman, noted a significant shift in the private sector’s approach to agriculture. He revealed there has been increase in collaboration among all stakeholders in agriculture since the formation of ASNET four years ago.

“If you look at the private sector, there’s close to 400 organisations at both county and national levels talking about agriculture initiatives. So, one of our major achievements has been bringing everyone under one umbrella, which has been a big win for us,” he explained.

Kantaria also revealed that for the first time this year, they have included academia in the discussions about innovative research.

“Innovation and technology are the key drivers of any sector, particularly agriculture. As you know, Elgon has established Africa’s first technology centre at the Nairobi University, Kebete campus, which is set for launch soon,” he said.

Kantaria further noted that the centre would facilitate collaboration between the private sector and academia to focus on innovation and commercialisation.

Another notable innovation was sweet potato propagation, which produces clean seeds for planting.

Tom Obote, founder of Technophile Research and Innovation Hub at the University of Kabianga, explained that they use a technology called macro-propagation to establish a mother sweet potato or parent tuber.

Since sweet potatoes do not produce seeds, Obote uses a part of the plant, typically the tuber for propagating.

“Propagation involves first selecting the best tuber, based on size, quality and evidence of disease or pest infestation free,” Obote, who was accompanied by his colleague, Joyce Muhoma, explained.

After selecting the best mother tuber, its introduced it to a growth medium, which provides essential nutrients for sweet potatoes.

Within a week, tubers begin to sprout, with temperatures and infection rates controlled within the facility.

He explains: “Once sprouts emerge, we cut them and apply rooting hormone to encourage root development. Once the roots mature, they are ready for transplant, and growth continues.”

Obote noted the entire process takes three weeks, beginning from selecting the parent tuber to having the sprouts ready for transplanting.

He emphasises the importance of visual inspection to ensure the parent tuber is free from pests or diseases, such as bacterial infections.

“If it has holes, broken parts or shows signs of abnormal growths, then it is not a suitable parent. If you’re not careful about disease prevention, you risk transferring to the seedlings,” he warned.