Nakuru Deploys AI-Powered FarmerChat to Bring Agricultural Advice Closer to Farmers

Farmers in Nakuru County are set to access agricultural extension services through a new digital platform designed to provide timely, localised advice on crops, livestock, weather and climate-smart farming.

The County Government of Nakuru has launched FarmerChat, a mobile-based agricultural advisory application developed in partnership with CARE Kenya and Digital Green.

The platform allows farmers to seek information directly from their mobile phones without waiting for a physical visit from an agricultural extension officer. It provides guidance on crop diseases, pests, soil management, fertiliser use, weather conditions, irrigation and livestock production.

County Chief Officer for Agriculture Engineer Margaret Kinyanjui said the platform would strengthen the existing extension system by making agricultural information available when farmers need it.

“The mobile app is an important addition to our agricultural extension system,” Kinyanjui said, noting that farmers can access reliable information without having to wait for an extension officer to visit their farms.

FarmerChat uses artificial intelligence to provide agricultural advice based on information supplied by users, local conditions and available weather data. Farmers can interact with the platform through text, voice or photographs when seeking help with a particular farming problem.

For example, a farmer whose crop develops unusual symptoms can upload a photograph and seek preliminary guidance on possible pests or diseases. Farmers preparing for a new planting season can also use the platform to obtain information on suitable crops and recommended production practices.

The location-based features are intended to make recommendations more relevant to farmers operating under different climatic and agricultural conditions within the county.

The platform also supports multilingual and voice-based interaction, which could help farmers who face literacy, language or digital access barriers when using conventional online services.

Kinyanjui said the technology would not replace agricultural officers but would complement face-to-face extension services. Digital access can help farmers obtain basic information quickly while allowing extension officers to focus on complex cases requiring specialised advice or physical assessment.

Timely weather information is expected to be particularly useful as farmers contend with increasingly unpredictable rainfall and changing temperatures. Such information can support decisions on planting, irrigation, crop protection and other farm operations.

The initiative also aligns with Nakuru County’s agroecology agenda, which promotes healthier soils, sustainable production, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Nakuru is one of Kenya’s major agricultural counties, with farmers producing maize, beans, Irish potatoes, wheat, fruits and vegetables. Dairy farming, horticulture, floriculture, fisheries and other livestock enterprises also contribute significantly to the county’s agricultural economy.

The partnership with CARE Kenya and Digital Green adds technical support to the county’s efforts to modernise agricultural extension. CARE works with communities and development partners on food security, livelihoods and climate resilience, while Digital Green uses digital technology, artificial intelligence and locally generated knowledge to improve access to agricultural information.

The county government expects FarmerChat to help farmers make more informed decisions and reduce reliance on guesswork when dealing with production challenges.

As agriculture becomes increasingly exposed to climate variability, Nakuru officials say combining conventional extension with digital advisory tools can help reach more farmers while improving access to practical information.

The rollout of FarmerChat therefore adds a new digital layer to Nakuru’s agricultural extension system, with the county seeking to use technology alongside existing services to improve farm productivity, strengthen food security and increase household incomes.