ZIMBABWE is accelerating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, with Government, universities, development partners and the private sector joining forces to modernise farming, improve productivity and expand digital inclusion in rural communities.Zimbabwe Business Directory
The new drive is expected to transform how farmers plan production, detect crop diseases, forecast weather patterns and access markets, while helping bridge long-standing information gaps affecting smallholder growers.
The Digital Villages Initiative side event held on Tuesday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, drew senior Government officials, FAO representatives, private sector executives, university researchers, farmer organisations, development partners and technology innovators, reflecting growing national interest in AI-driven agriculture.
Stakeholders said AI now has the potential to move beyond urban boardrooms and research laboratories into villages and farming communities where productivity gains are most urgently needed.
Speaking during the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) side event at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) yesterday, Chinhoyi University of Technology Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Taurai Bere said universities were already integrating AI into practical farming solutions.
“The discussion on artificial intelligence is actually very timely, especially when you put it in the context of rural development.
“As Chinhoyi University of Technology, we are developing human capital and embedding AI across our programmes so that it reaches the rural folk,” said Prof Bere.
He said AI was already being applied in crop surveillance, weather forecasting and decision-support tools for farmers.
Among innovations under development are applications known as Hurudza AI and Maminda AI, designed to help farmers decide what to plant, how to plant and where market demand exists.
“These applications have been put into our vernacular. We call them Mudhumeni Muhomwe.
“What these do is guide the farmer in making decisions and understanding weather patterns so that they make informed choices,” said Prof Bere.
General Manager for Data Centres and AI Compute at Econet AI, Engineer Farai Mutyasera, said connectivity remained central to ensuring AI reaches rural communities.
“We have got more than 6 000 base stations across the country. In the last year alone, we deployed 103 new base stations in rural areas,” he said.
“In addition to that, we deployed 80 micro base stations, which we call Rural Stars, again focused on rural areas.”
He said Econet had also launched EcoFarmer AI, an upgraded mobile platform designed to harness AI for farmers, while AI chat tools were now available even on basic phones through USSD technology.
Chief Agricultural Specialist in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Hillary Mugiyo, said AI was giving agriculture faster and smarter responses.
“Artificial Intelligence is giving agriculture a smarter and faster response system, from disease surveillance and pest monitoring to precision advisory services for farmers,” said Dr Mugiyo.
“With the right partnerships, these technologies can strengthen extension delivery, improve productivity and make our rural farming communities more resilient to climate and market shocks.”
FAO Food Security and Agricultural Livelihoods Assessment Specialist, Dowsen Sango, said AI was also strengthening early warning systems.
“AI-powered predictive models are enabling earlier detection of drought, water stress and extreme weather, allowing farmers and institutions to make timely decisions on planting, harvesting and resource allocation,” said Mr Sango.
“These approaches support national early warning systems and proactive responses to food security threats, reducing the cost of late humanitarian interventions.”
He said FAO was using AI-powered platforms that combine satellite imagery, geospatial data and machine learning to turn information into action.
Chief Engineer and Head of AI in the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Engineer Andrew Jukwa, said agriculture had been identified as a priority sector under Zimbabwe’s newly launched National AI Strategy.Zimbabwe Business Directory
The shift, stakeholders agreed that, could mark a turning point for rural agriculture, where access to timely data, extension services and markets has historically been limited.
With climate shocks, pests and rising production costs placing pressure on farmers, AI is increasingly being seen not as a luxury, but as a practical tool for food security and rural transformation.-herald
