Are Africa’s farmers leading a data revolution that is transforming the continent’s food systems and building resilience to climate change?
This week on the Unlocking Africa Podcast, I spoke with Brian Bosire, CEO and Co-Founder of UjuziKilimo, an agri-tech company using data science, machine learning, and IoT to empower smallholder farmers with real-time, field-specific insights.
Brian’s journey into agri-innovation began not in a lab or boardroom, but on a two-acre family farm in Kisii, Kenya. Growing up, he witnessed the frustration of his parents, who were farmers whose harvests often failed despite hard work and dedication. That experience became the seed for a powerful mission: to put actionable data directly into farmers’ hands.
Reflecting on those early years, Brian shared…
“The farming system I grew up in was driven purely by guesswork and intuition. Farmers made decisions based on what their neighbours were doing. I realised we needed to treat farming as a science—guided by data.”
Today, UjuziKilimo is doing just that. With innovations like the SoilPal sensor and the FarmSuite analytics platform, the company is helping over 100,000 farmers make more informed decisions about crop choice, fertiliser use, and regenerative practices.
The technology is accessible and scalable. Farmers can receive soil testing and tailored advice within minutes, right from their farms, without needing to visit distant labs.
As Brian explained…
“We flipped the model. Instead of farmers travelling to labs in cities, we bring the lab to them. In five minutes, they get their soil test results and a personalised recommendation—via app or SMS.”
The implications are far-reaching:
→ Precision recommendations that improve yields and reduce waste
→ Affordable services powered by a hybrid B2B and agent-led model
→ Scalable tech built for deployment across Africa and beyond
→ A clear pathway to support 1 million farmers within five years
Machine learning sits at the heart of the platform, analysing farmer behaviour, weather patterns, and crop performance to create hyper-personalised insights at scale.
Looking ahead, Brian sees a future where data drives every agricultural decision:
“Whether it’s a farmer in the field, a government planning a subsidy, or a bank issuing a loan, UjuziKilimo will be the go-to intelligence layer for African agriculture.”
Brian’s story is a powerful reminder that innovation rooted in lived experience can reshape entire industries and that Africa’s farmers are ready to lead the way.
If you’re interested in food security, digital agriculture, or tech for good, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.