African agricultural information service FarmBizAfrica has launched an artificial intelligence-based crop planning tool in Kenya aimed at helping farmers reduce climate-related losses and improve incomes as erratic rainfall threatens food supplies.
Kenya’s agriculture sector, which is largely rain-fed, has been increasingly affected by unpredictable weather patterns, with floods and droughts hitting different regions in the same season. Last year, farmers along the Coast who planted maize failed to harvest after poor short rains, while growers in higher rainfall areas lost tomatoes, beans and avocados to waterlogging.
“With nearly all our crops still rain-fed, planting the same crops regardless of the weather is destroying farmers’ incomes and driving up food prices,” said Antynet Ford, agronomy lead at FarmBizAfrica.
The new tool, known as HarvestMAX, uses AI to recommend crops based on a farmer’s location, soil type and long-season weather outlook. The platform provides free crop recommendations and, for a one-off fee of 500 Kenyan shillings ($3.90), offers a full-season plan detailing input requirements, expected yields, projected earnings and step-by-step agronomy guidance.
FarmBizAfrica said HarvestMAX also calculates likely profits for each recommended crop, allowing farmers to compare traditional staples with higher-value alternatives better suited to local conditions and climate risks.
“Many farmers earn as little as 50,000 shillings per acre in a season, yet there are options that can generate 250,000 shillings or even 500,000 with the right crop choices and support,” Ford said.
The company said it reaches more than three million farmers a month across Africa and chose Kenya as the first market for the launch because of the country’s large smallholder base and growing exposure to climate shocks.
“About 55% of our readers, subscribers and followers are in Kenya, which made it the obvious place to start,” said FarmBizAfrica Chief Executive Jethro Tieman.
HarvestMAX does not require an app download and allows farmers to create permanent accounts that can be consulted repeatedly or printed as field guides. The service is available nationwide through web and mobile browsers.
Kenya has faced rising food prices following recent crop losses linked to extreme weather, heightening concerns over food security and household costs. FarmBizAfrica said wider adoption of data-driven crop planning could help stabilise farm output and incomes as climate volatility increases across East Africa.