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New data app can warn African farmers with predictions of drought

Mobile platform ITIKI (Information Technology and Indigenous Knowledge) was recently launched, which sends African farmers drought forecasts, whether via app or SMS.

“I grew up in a [Kenyan] village, and I noticed that most farmers do not have any form of science to tell [them] when to plant,” shared Kenyan computer scientist Muthoni Masinde told CNN Business. “They watch insects, they watch the behavior of animals, and then they make a decision, ‘I think it’ll rain in two weeks’ time.’”

Developed by Masinde, ITKI is backed by young workers in farming communities who gather photos and updates about animal behavior. The data is then analyzed for weather patterns alongside insights from local weather stations.

ITIKI can predict drought months in advance for farmers for just a few cents. After receiving $750,000 in funding from both the US and South African governments, Masinde is aiming to get over 100,000 farmers to sign up for the platform.

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jelly

Jelly is a data fanatic! She is a Law graduate, and currently works and focuses her interests at the juncture of digital, marketing and analytics.

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