AI4SD introduces indigenous AI-integrated weather forecasting system for farmers in Kwabeng

Farmers in Kwabeng, Atiwa West District, received training on a new weather forecasting system. This system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and was developed under the AI for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project.

The initiative is led by the AI for Agric theme. It is funded by the French Embassy in Ghana and supported by several organizations, including FCDO and IDRC.

The goal is to improve farming decisions. It combines traditional weather forecasting with machine learning technology.

This system addresses unpredictable weather patterns and issues from illegal mining, known as galamsey. These factors have disrupted traditional weather indicators that farmers rely on.

Dr. Enoch Besah from the agriculture team explained the project's motivation. He noted that farmers often lack reliable weather information for their decisions.

Farmers traditionally relied on indicators like cloud movement and animal behavior. However, environmental degradation has made these indicators unreliable.

In 2022, the community participated in a pilot project. Data collected over two years helped develop a mobile app tailored for local farmers.

The app combines indigenous forecasts with a machine learning model. It learns from historical predictions and provides feedback on forecast accuracy.

Dr. Eric Tutu Tchao emphasized that the goal is to enhance indigenous knowledge, not replace it. Initial results showed farmers' forecasts were about 50% accurate.

With AI integration, they aim to increase accuracy to 90% or even 99%. This approach fosters collaboration between indigenous knowledge and technology.

The session also discussed illegal mining's broader impacts on local weather systems. Farmers acknowledged that changing conditions make traditional methods less reliable.

Rev. Dr. Prince Odame and Dr. Caleb Melenya Ocansey educated farmers about illegal mining dangers. They encouraged exploring complementary income-generating activities as well.

Team members Esmond Adjei and Mackleode Ben-Boulo gathered data during the meeting to improve the app further.

District Director of Agriculture Ben Owusu urged farmers to use this new system fully. He highlighted that it is specifically designed for their environment and free of charge.

The AI4SD team plans to return in October to evaluate the app's effectiveness on farming activities in the district.