Empowering Tanzanian Farmers with AI
Swahili-based, offline-ready artificial intelligence for smallholder farmers in Tanzania
Our Mission & Vision
Mission
To empower rural smallholder farmers with inclusive, localized, and offline-ready artificial intelligence tools that enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and elevate household livelihoods across Tanzania and beyond.
Vision
To become Africa's most accessible agricultural AI platform, closing the digital divide and transforming rural agriculture through inclusive technology designed with the farmer at heart.
Why Mkulima AI?
Swahili Interface
Designed specifically for Tanzanian farmers with full Swahili language support
Offline Functionality
Works without internet in remote rural areas
Organic Focus
Promotes cost-effective organic farming solutions
Farmer-Centered
Developed with direct input from smallholder farmers
Founder Story
Erwin Nanyaro
Hailing from Tanzania, Erwin Nanyaro is a project scholar and AI self taught technologist with a passion for empowering smallholder farmers through appropriate technology. His journey into agricultural innovation began with the transformative CLIFT project research in 2024, a collaborative initiative between Mzumbe University and the University of Copenhagen.
While conducting surveys across two Tanzanian regions (Morogoro, and Arusha), Erwin witnessed firsthand the technological gaps limiting smallholder farmers. The lack of accessible, localized digital tools for these farmers - who form the backbone of Tanzania's agriculture - inspired the creation of Mkulima AI.
Recognizing that 80% of Tanzania's farmers are smallholders often excluded from digital solutions, Erwin dedicated himself to developing an AI platform that works offline, in Swahili, and addresses real farmer needs identified through extensive field research.
Mkulima AI represents the convergence of Erwin's technical skills with his deep understanding of rural farming challenges - creating a tool that bridges the digital divide while respecting traditional farming knowledge.
MKULIMA AI FIELD IMPACT REPORTS
Documenting Real Transformation Across Rural Tanzania
Our Impact Journey
From 2 villages to 6 villages • From 20 farmers to hundreds • From Morogoro to Arusha
Kisosa & Maekani Villages
The foundational report documenting how 20 farmers (representing 500 regional farmers) used Mkulima AI to diagnose and treat crop diseases with agroecological methods.
"Sasa simu yangu imekuwa mwalimu wangu"
("Now my phone has become my teacher")
Usa River • Nkoaranga • Maji Ya Chai • Seela Sing'isi
Documenting the expansion from Morogoro to Arusha, showcasing how Mkulima AI scaled to 4 villages with diverse crops and transformative impact across tomatoes, beans, cabbage, and yams.
"Tulikuwa tunauza ng'ombe wetu ili kununua mbolea. Sasa tunachukua kinyesi cha ng'ombe na kuifanya mbolea."
("We were selling our cattle to buy fertilizer. Now we take cattle manure and turn it into fertilizer.")
Combined Impact Across Both Regions
Morogoro + Arusha = A Movement in Motion
Executive Summary
This field report documents how Mkulima AI empowered farmers in Kisosa and Maekani villages to diagnose and treat Gray Mold, Leaf Spot Complex, and Aphids using cost-free agroecological methods.
Key Impact Metrics
Village Case Studies
Kisosa Village (Mount Uluguru)
Challenge: Strawberry farmers battling Gray Mold and Leaf Spot Complex
Solution: Organic treatments using milk, baking soda, wood ash, neem, turmeric, and garlic
Results:
- 35% yield increase in one season
- Costs reduced from TZS 30,000-60,000 to under TZS 2,200
- Stronger plant immunity and soil recovery
- Young women initiated strawberry yogurt production
Maekani Village
Challenge: Aphid infestation destroying cabbage crops
Solution: Homemade spray (liquid soap + cooking oil + warm water)
Results:
- Aphids eliminated in 1 day (faster than predicted 2-3 days)
- Total treatment cost: TZS 2,000
- No soil or crop damage
- Farmers producing natural tomato paste for market
Sustainable Development Goals Addressed
Download Full Report
Get the complete 10-page field report with detailed case studies, farmer testimonials, and impact analysis.
Download Morogoro Report (PDF)
Executive Summary
This report documents the expansion of Mkulima AI from Morogoro to Arusha, showcasing transformative impact across four villages: Usa River, Nkoaranga, Maji Ya Chai, and Seela Sing'isi. The movement that began with 20 farmers has now reached hundreds, proving that technology built by Africans, for Africans, in African languages can scale across regions, crops, and generations.
Key Impact Metrics
Village Case Studies
Usa River Village
Farmers: 4 youth farmers (3 women, 1 man)
Challenge: Tuta absoluta (Kantangaze) destroying tomato crop
Solution: Neem treatment, garlic-chili repellent, pheromone traps, proper spacing
Results: Costs reduced from TZS 50,000 to TZS 3,800 (92% reduction)
Nkoaranga Village
Farmers: Mother-daughter team
Challenge: Red spider mites attacking bean crop
Solution: High-pressure water, hot pepper-soap spray, beneficial predators
Results: Treatment cost TZS 2,200; daughter became digital champion training other women
Seela Sing'isi Village
Farmers: Married couple with 2 hectares of cabbage
Challenge: Aphids + expensive fertilizer costs
Solution: Soap-oil spray for aphids; animal waste converted to organic fertilizer
Results: 100% elimination of fertilizer costs; aphid treatment under TZS 600
Maji Ya Chai Village
Farmer: Young woman pursuing horticulture
Challenge: Completely infertile soil; years of failed crops
Solution: Soil restoration protocol; yam potato planting
Results: Dead soil restored to life; first successful harvest after years of failure
Why Mkulima AI Is NOT on Google Play Store (And Why We're Proud)
The answer is simple: Our people cannot reach the Play Store.
Mkulima AI is designed differently:
- ✅ Pre-installed directly onto phones
- ✅ Works 100% offline
- ✅ Shared via Bluetooth
- ✅ Swahili voice interface
"This is not a limitation. This is liberation."
Sustainable Development Goals Addressed
Download Full Report
Get the complete 10-page field report documenting the transformation across four Arusha villages.
Download Arusha Report (PDF)App Features
Icon-Based Interface
Designed specifically for rural farmers with low digital literacy using intuitive visual icons
Advanced AI Disease Detection
Flutter-integrated ML model achieving 94% accuracy with offline capability and real-time analysis
Indigenous Knowledge Base
Documented traditional farming wisdom from Tanzanian elders for sustainable agriculture
Organic Fertilizer Calculator
Step-by-step production, application, storage guidance with precise farm-size calculations
Traditional Storage Solutions
Cost-effective, sustainable African storage methods to reduce post-harvest losses by 60%
Traditional Processing Methods
Low-cost value-addition techniques preserving nutritional quality while increasing income
Smart Crop Rotation
Personalized recommendations based on crop type, region, season, and soil conditions
Research Journeys in Tanzania
Bridging the Gap in Uluguru Mountains
Engaging with strawberry farmers to balance agriculture and water sustainability. Pioneering AI-driven solutions for irrigation and organic farming...
The AI Revolution by Tanzanians
Building an app that works offline, in Swahili, with solutions based on local knowledge rather than expensive imported inputs...
From Code to Community Impact
Meeting Eliah in Maekani - a farmer battling crop losses until Mkulima AI provided affordable, sustainable solutions...
Hope in Action: One Farmer's Transformation
Returning to Eliah's farm weeks later to see remarkable recovery after implementing Mkulima AI's recommendations...
Bridging the Gap: Climate Action Meets Sustainable Agriculture
In the heart of the Uluguru Mountains, I engaged with local leaders and strawberry farmers, witnessing firsthand the challenges in balancing agricultural productivity and water resource sustainability.
At Mkulima AI, we integrate AI-driven solutions to revolutionize water management and organic farming. Our initiative uses AI-powered hydrological sensors and predictive analytics to ensure efficient irrigation and improve soil health.
We're calling on Tanzania's leading institutions - Sokoine University, Mzumbe University, and NM-AIST - to join us in pushing the boundaries of innovation in sustainable farming. Collaboration with global partners like University of Copenhagen and WWF can help integrate climate-smart practices for rural resilience.
This is just the beginning of our vision where people and nature thrive together through AI-powered, climate-resilient agricultural systems.
The AI Revolution by Tanzanians, for Tanzanians
After teaching myself to code using generative AI, I built an app being tested in Turo, Kisosa, Morning Sight, Mlali, and Mgeta villages.
Unlike European houseplant apps, Mkulima AI is built in Swahili, with images of African farmers, and advice based on local solutions - not expensive imported inputs. It works offline for areas with poor coverage.
New features include weather alerts with farming advice and a profitability calculator using numbers farmers can easily collect. After the rainy season, we'll gather farmer feedback to improve the app.
This is the beginning of an AI revolution led by African youth - building tools to liberate ourselves from structures that hold us back. The dream is for Tanzanians to lead in developing solutions for our unique challenges.
From Code to Community Impact
In Maekani near Mzumbe, I met Eliah - a young farmer battling crop losses for 1.5 years, misled by expensive chemicals that didn't cure his plants' unknown diseases.
With one photo, Mkulima AI diagnosed Bell Pepper Early Blight and provided affordable, environmentally conscious solutions. His disbelief turned to hope as he finally understood what harmed his crops and how to fix it sustainably.
This moment validated why I built this app - to restore agency to farmers excluded from tech innovation. As climate change increases disease outbreaks, our solutions must be accessible, practical, and just.
Mkulima AI proves technology can be a tool of liberation when designed by and for the people it serves.
Hope in Action: One Farmer's Transformation
Returning to Eliah's farm weeks after introducing Mkulima AI revealed a remarkable transformation. His once-devastated pepper plants were recovering after implementing the app's recommendations:
- Removing infected leaves to prevent spread
- Applying neem oil as natural pesticide
- Watering at the base to avoid leaf wetness
- Mulching to prevent soil splash
Eliah's testimonial: "After removing the infected plants, truly I did not see that challenge anymore. The difference is huge... it helped me identify the disease and solve it... and that increased my harvests."
This tangible impact demonstrates how accessible AI can restore dignity and hope to smallholder farmers when rooted in local knowledge.
Support Our Mission
National Expansion Campaign
We're seeking funding to deploy Mkulima AI across 8 Tanzanian regions over 6 months:
- Months 1-2: Train and install Mkulima AI for 500 farmers per region
- Months 3-4: Monitoring and control phase
- Months 5-6: Collect feedback from 4,000 farmers and conduct final refinements
This campaign will culminate in making Mkulima AI a public good, distributed offline through community networks and Bluetooth sharing so all Tanzanian farmers can use it.
Your support will directly impact food security and livelihoods across Tanzania.