Across Kenya, smallholder farmers in different corners of the country face similar challenges that include pests, unpredictable weather, and limited access to agricultural advice. Yet even hundreds of kilometers apart, stories from farmers show how technology can make their work easier, more productive, and hopeful.
This is the story of Mama Janet Osundwa, from Bulechia village in Mumias East, Kakamega County, and Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera, from Kambe community in Kinondo ward, Kwale County. Although they are separated by nearly 870 km, their journeys with AI and the SAWBO App illustrate a shared transformation.
File Photo: Mama Janet demonstrates the jerrycan bean storage technique she learned during our first training in 2020. By applying this method, she has improved her seed storage and, together with hermetic sealing, has reduced post-harvest losses by up to 30%. She also leverages AI tools to monitor her crops and optimize storage, further enhancing her farm’s productivity and household food security. Photo Credit: Kataru Concepts.
Mama Janet Osundwa’s Journey: Skills from phone to the farm
Mama Janet grows crops like maize, beans, soy, groundnuts, bamabara nuts, and lots of vegetables in Bulechia village, Mumias East, Kakamega County. Like many farmers in the region, she used to face:
- Unexpected pest attacks and crop diseases that spread before she could identify them.
- Varying rains that start late, sudden drought, or unseasonal changes which affect her farming.
- Limited access to timely agricultural training hence lacking knowledge to combat most of the challenges.
Her breakthrough came when she began using the SAWBO App and AI tools such as PlantVillage, Nuru, FarmerChat. These tools allow her to:
- Access the SAWBO App for short, practical videos that teach improved practices in soil management, planting, and climate-resilient agriculture in her local wanga and maragoli dialects.
- Take photos of her plants and get instant diagnoses of diseases or pests using PlantVillage/Nuru, even while offline and in local language.
- Ask FarmerChat practical questions about planting, soil care, pest control, and harvest planning.
Ever since she started using this combination of tools she has had early detection, easy access to guidance, and actionable learning that she applies immediately.
Today, Mama Janet is not just a farmer. She volunteers with Kataru Concepts and teaches the techniques she learns to neighbors and local farmer groups. Her yields have improved; crop losses have dropped; her community trusts her as a local source of practical farming knowledge.
Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera: Community Leadership at Work
On the coast, in the Kambe community of Kinondo ward, Kwale County, Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera has made similar strides, but with the added role of a leader, teacher, and facilitator.
Challenges in the community include soil depletion, recurring crop disease, pests, and the additional burden of climate variability (salt spray, heat, sometimes drought). This is because larger portions of Kwale county are classified as the Arid ad Semi-Arid lands (AS-AL) Many farmers depend on rain‐fed agriculture and have less access to extension services.
Abdullaziz uses the SAWBO App to hold group sessions in Kambe: showing videos on pest control, post-harvest storage, soil conservation, and climate-smart farming. Because the videos are visual and in local languages, they overcome literacy or formal education barriers.
He also introduced farmers to PlantVillage, Nuru, and FarmerChat, showing them how to:
- Diagnose crop diseases early using AI image recognition.
- Ask FarmerChat questions about farm planning, pest management, and crop care anytime.
Through these efforts, Kambe community joined the KATARU & SAWBO COMMUNITIES network, giving access to peer learning, shared resources, and increased confidence among farmers. Under Abdullaziz’s leadership, the community is more proactive, responding quickly to disease outbreaks, adjusting planting times, and using better post-harvest practices.
“When I use Nuru and FarmerChat to check my crops, I catch disease early before it spreads, before its too late” affirms mama Janet Osundwa who has been a beneficiary of SAWBO content since 2020. On the coastal side, Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera a school teacher, community leader, and volunteer at Kataru Concepts says “The SAWBO App and FarmerChat help us see techniques and get advice instantly; when we see and ask, we can act quickly.” Their testimonies are a confirmation that indeed farmers can leverage AI and the SAWBO App to improve livelihoods.
Some of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools widely used by KATARU & SAWBO COMMUNITIES network in Kenya to leverage e-extension systems such as provided by the SAWBO App and make farming exciting. From Left to Right: FarmerChat, PlantVillage, and the SAWBO App. Photo Credit: To the owners.
How Technology is Making Their Work Easier
Here are some ways AI tools and the SAWBO App are transforming their daily farming work:
| Problem | Solution (AI / SAWBO App) | Effect in Their Lives |
| Disease & pest identification delayed | PlantVillage / Nuru give early, accurate diagnosis—even offline, in local language | Less crop loss; faster treatment; less guesswork |
| Lack of practical training / knowledge | SAWBO App: visual, simple, local language videos | New techniques adopted faster; easier to show others; better planting, storage, soil care |
| Hard to access research / advanced farming ideas | FarmerChat lets them ask questions and get explanations specific to their context | More informed decisions; adapting to climate; improved yields |
| Physical distance from extension staff / resources | Offline tools, videos, local learning groups, network via SAWBO/Kataru | Reduced dependence on distant support; more autonomy; stronger local networks |
Summary: Two Stories, One Message
The stories of Mama Janet Osundwa (Bulechia village, Mumias East, Kakamega County) and Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera (Kambe, Kinondo, Kwale County) show that even though they are nearly 870 km apart, the right technology bridges the gap.
These tools i.e. the SAWBO App, PlantVillage/Nuru, and FarmerChat—are not just nice add-ons; they are game-changers:
- They speed up detection of crop problems and farming challenges.
- Make training and best practices accessible despite distance or lack of formal education.
- Allow farmers to be both learners and teachers (farmer-to-farmer/peer-to-peer).
- Help communities become more resilient to climate shocks and unpredictable conditions.
Distance matters most. When farmers are far from agricultural support, when roads are bad, or when communication is difficult, information often arrives too late, or not at all. But for Mama Janet and Abdullaziz, AI-powered tools and the SAWBO App are shortening that distance.
From Bulechia village in western Kenya to Kambe on the coast, we see a new dawn. Farmers who once waited for help are now acting early, while those who were isolated are leading others. Knowledge is moving at the speed of technology across hundreds of kilometers.
Abdullaziz Athuman Kipera: Is a school teacher, community leader, rights activist, volunteer with Kataru Concepts, and Leader of the Kambe Community (part of the KATARU & SAWBO COMMUNITIES network)
Mama Janet Osundwa: Is a smallholder farmer,KATARU & SAWBO COMMUNITIES network member, member of the Trinity of Agriculture, Health and Development CBO, and peer trainer from Bulechia village, Mumias East, Kakamega County.
