How AI is taking on locust swarms in East Africa

HERE’S HOW KUZI IS USING AI, ML TO HELP AFRICAN FARMERS PREDICT, CONTROL DESERT LOCUST SWARMS

Kenyan agricultural company Selina Wamucii has developed a free AI-powered tool that is helpingfarmers across the Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa forecast and control desert locust.

Kuzi the Swahili name of the wattled starling, a bird that feeds on locusts -- uses an array of data that includes satellite data, soil sensor data, ground meteorological observation, and machine learning (ML) to predict the breeding, occurrence, and migration routes of desert locusts in East Africa.

Selina Wamucii explains on its website that the tool uses a machine-learning model trained on satellite data, soil sensor data, as well as other factors like soil moisture, wind, humidity, surface temperature, and the vegetation index. These factors, the company points out, affect the breeding, swarm formation, and movement of locusts.

Kuzi currently displays a real-time heatmap of high-risk areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. The heatmap also shows forecasts of breeding, swarm formation and potential migratory routes that can alert farmers and pastoralists to potential locust activity up to between two to three months ahead of an invasion.

Selina Wamucii spokesperson Tim Wahome said it had taken the startup seven months to develop the tool which went live on 6 January. Prior to that, the firm had been running pilot tests for close to 3 months. The company said some of the challenges it faced in developing the tool were around acquiring and processing the huge amount of data available.

At the time of writing, Selina Wamucii said Kuzi had over 60 000 farmers registered users, including 89 co-operatives and farmer organisations.

Wahome explained that between early to mid-2020, Selina Wamucii saw firsthand the frustration caused by locusts and the impact that had on the farmers the startup works with as they encountered what he said was the worst locust invasion in decades.

“Immediately, the question on our mind was, how come such a plague could still strike yet it had been given attention many years back with the first international conference on fighting locusts having been held 100 years ago in 1931? This challenged us but at the same time inspired us to find a solution,” he added.

Selina Wamucii points out that early detection and control are “critical” in desert locust management. Using deep learning, Kuzi can spot the formation of locust swarms, giving those at community level the means to identify and deal with favourable breeding areas.

Desert Locust swarm in northeastern Kenya in January 2020 (©FAO/SVEN TORFINN)

Farmers and pastoralists in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda can currently sign up for free SMS alerts -- available in Kiswahili, Somali and Amharic -- of when their respective areas are going to be in danger of a locust swarm attack. The company says anyone can sign up for the service and to capture the GPS location of their farm, regardless of device type or whether or not they have internet access.

Selina Wamucii says Kuzi provides the foundation of early warning, forecasting, and preventive control strategy, allowing intervention to be undertaken in a more efficient and timely manner.

Selina Wamucii CEO John Oroko explained that the worst locust invasion in 70 years occurred last year, threatening food supplies for millions of people across Eastern Africa.

He believes it is crucial that local communities be involved in fighting locusts. “A new wave of locust upsurge now threatens millions across Eastern and Southern Africa, exacerbating food insecurity for already vulnerable communities, amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a responsibility to develop and deploy locally bred solutions that address these challenges faced by our vulnerable rural communities,” said Oroko.

Selina Wamucii funded the initial development of the tool and has also received financial backing from Expo 2020 Dubai and Tommy Hilfiger through PVH. Wahome said the startup is keen to get funders for up- grade releases, as well as additional features and enhancements.

The company says it plans to scale and reach as many farmers as possible across Africa, and if need be, extend the tool to support and help farmers in the Middle East and Asia where farmers are also suffering from the scourge of locusts.

While Kuzi’s SMS warning service is free to use, Selina Wamucii intends to monetise the tool. Farmers will in future pay a small feee for advanced features. “Our intention is to keep the SMS alert service a free feature for individual farmers,” the company said. ai