Female farmers in the Obuasi East Municipal District, Ashanti Region, are taking an increasingly active role in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support agricultural decision-making.
Through the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project, these women are applying AI technologies for weather forecasting not just as users, but as informed participants shaping how these tools impact their farming practices.
The AI4SD initiative funded by the French Embassy in Ghana, and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) aims to improve agricultural productivity, enhance data driven decision making, and ensure that female farmers who form the backbone of many farming communities are at the center of Ghana’s digital agriculture transformation.
The interactive session with the female farmers in the Ashanti Region.
Interactive sessions were held with the female farmers to discuss how to increase their involvement in decision making across the agricultural value chain and the application of AI technologies.
Mrs. Elikplim Abui Tamakloe, a member of the AI in Agriculture theme, explained that the engagement is strengthening how women farmers use AI insights to make strategic farming decisions.
Mrs. Elikplim Abui Tamakloe, a member of the AI in Agriculture theme
According to her, “Women contribute significantly to the agricultural sector, but their voices are often underrepresented when it comes to technology and data use.
This session was designed to ensure that women not only access AI tools but also understand and apply the data to guide their day to day decisions on the farm”.
Dr. Enoch Bessah and Rev. Dr. Prince Odame, members of the AI in Agriculture theme, led another session to review the first two weeks of data collected by participating farmers on the Smart Indigenous Weather App.
Dr. Enoch Bessah led the review session
The team identified gaps in how some farmers were using the AI prediction tools.
Rev. Dr. Prince Odame also led the review session
To address these challenges, the team provided additional support and clarification to ensure that farmers collect data and use the Smart Indigenous Weather App accurately.
