Smallholder farmers are the backbone of African agriculture, producing over 80% of the continent’s food. Yet despite their hard work, many struggle to earn a decent income. Poor soils, expensive fertilisers and limited access to expert advice mean that effort doesn’t always translate into profit.
Virtual Agronomist is changing that. Our science-backed, AI-powered advisory tool delivers personalised, expert guidance via WhatsApp, helping farmers not just grow more, but earn more. Already in use by over 250,000 farmers across 350,000+ farm plots, Virtual Agronomist is turning subsistence into scale — boosting yields (by 1.6x on average), increasing incomes and creating opportunities for long-term investment. And it’s doing so at a tenth of the cost of traditional extension.
Moses’ Story
“In the past, before I used Virtual Agronomist, I used to harvest about 4 to 5 bags [of maize] from this land. But this year, I expect to harvest more than 10 bags from about three quarters of an acre.” Moses Kilei shares, his pride evident.
With eight acres of maize and coffee, Moses, who farms in Kericho, Kenya, began using Virtual Agronomist to guide his farming decisions this year. By analysing soil fertility and management practices, Virtual Agronomist sets realistic yield targets and generates tailored nutrient plans.
For Moses, that meant applying fertiliser differently — and more effectively.
“After my soil was tested, I was able to know what I needed to use for that soil. For fertiliser, I was told to use NPK, this is what I have used on my farm. I can see the production is good.”
The results are transformational: Moses isn’t just getting more grain — he’s getting more income.
“I think it will help me to do commercial agriculture. I can now do agri-business in the right way. My expectation after getting a good harvest is to increase production even more… I want to be able to stand on my own and do business.”
Building Long-Term Profitability
For crops like maize, profitability is often elusive because of poor soils. But Virtual Agronomist helps farmers steadily improve soil fertility and management year after year — turning fertiliser into profit and creating a foundation for resilient farm businesses.
With the right tools and advice, smallholder farmers like Moses are proving that scale, self-sufficiency, and stronger incomes are within reach.
