CS Kagwe calls for AI driven solutions to solve malnutrition

Speaking in Paris, France, on the final day of the Nutrition for Growth summit, Kagwe urged the participating stakeholders to provide resources to employ more agriprenuers and equip research institutions such as KALRO, which have the potential of helping other countries with data.

He added that AI presents a game-changing opportunity for agriculture and hence integrating machine learning, remote sensing, and automation will boost food security across the country.

The CS noted that AI's potential in agriculture such as early warning systems to predict droughts, pest invasions and disease outbreaks, Smart irrigation systems to optimize water use especially in arid regions and AI-driven market analytics to help farmers make informed decisions.

"We must work towards democratizing access to AI and digital tools by making them affordable and accessible to smallholder farmers. Public-private partnerships will be key in ensuring AI-driven solutions benefit all farmers, not just large agribusinesses," he said. 

To harness AI's power, CS Kagwe stressed on the need for the government to develop policies that invest in agricultural technology. 

He added that partnerships with the private sector and international organizations would be crucial in expanding digital infrastructure to rural areas.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the future of agriculture lies in the integration of technology, research, and nutrition-focused policies. Malnutrition is not just a food issue; it is a data, research, and technology issue," he noted. 

"By leveraging AI, research, and data-driven policies, we can make informed decisions to eradicate malnutrition."