Just one month ago, we announced that Virtual Agronomist had reached more than 250,000 farm plots with locally tailored, AI-powered advice. Today, that figure already looks out of date.

We’ve now passed 350,000 farm plots, and for the first time, we can say we are directly serving a quarter of a million farmers themselves.

This is more than a milestone. It’s evidence of huge, rapid growth — and of the power of a model that is working at scale, and in reality, for African farmers.

What Makes Virtual Agronomist Different

Agricultural technology is often talked about in terms of promise. With Virtual Agronomist, we are proving delivery.

• Grounded in science: Virtual Agronomist is trained on world-class agronomy and soil nutrient management data.
• Proven in the field: Early deployments show average yield increases of 1.6x, with high engagement rates of above 60%.
• Scaling through people, not just platforms: Our lead farmer model ensures Virtual Agronomist is championed, and advice shared by, trusted local figures who understand their communities.

As a result, adoption spreads rapidly. Over 40% of new users join through referrals from fellow farmers. In other words, farmers themselves are driving Virtual Agronomist’s growth.

Youth at the Centre of Scale

Across Africa, digital agriculture is attracting a new generation back to farming. The majority of users of ag-tech platforms are aged 15–35.

Virtual Agronomist is part of this shift. Many of our lead farmers are young, tech-savvy and entrepreneurial. They don’t just use Virtual Agronomist to increase their own productivity — they act as multipliers, persuading others in their communities to adopt.

As one of our most successful lead farmers, 36-year-old Amos Langat in Kericho County, puts it:

“I enjoy visiting farmers in their fields and teaching them how to adopt. The farmers I visit are very happy because they have seen amazing results.”

Amos alone has reached over 15,000 farmers in his county — proof of how quickly youth leaders can drive adoption at scale. Read more about Amos’ impact here.

Why This Matters Now

This growth comes at a critical moment. The African food system faces enormous challenges: climate volatility, stagnant yields and fragmented markets. Donors and governments alike are asking tough questions about what works, what scales and ultimately what delivers for smallholders.

Our numbers – 250,000 farmers, 350,000 plots, 10x lower cost than traditional extension - show that Virtual Agronomist is not just another promising technology. It is a proven, scalable solution.

Looking Ahead

Reaching 250,000 farmers is just the beginning. With new partnerships underway - including a major rollout in Nigeria with the Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel (based at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)), and a collaboration in Rwanda with One Acre Fund, as well as a partnership with TomorrowNow in Kenya - we are poised to reach, and deepen our impact, for millions.

But we are clear on one point: scale must never come at the cost of substance. Every rollout is grounded in science, validated by evidence, and delivered by people farmers trust.

Join Us

At iSDA, we are here, proven and ready to scale.

👉 Want to learn more or partner with us to take this model further? Contact us.