00:01Agriculture is under growing pressure from climate change, land degradation, labour shortages and disrupted supply chains.
00:09At the same time, a growing population means more food is needed.
00:13Experts say AI could help, improving efficiency while monitoring crops and livestock in real time.
00:21AI is allowing us to really move forward.
00:25We can even ask how would things look tomorrow.
00:28And this information will make the farmers to make a different decision.
00:35But AI isn't reaching everyone.
00:38Experts say only a small number of African farmers benefit from digital agriculture services, leaving many rural farmers behind.
00:50Less than 10% of farmers are benefiting from digital agriculture services in Africa.
00:58So the fact that this AI system exists does not mean that the smaller farmers and those in the rural
01:05areas you're mentioning benefit from it.
01:08So I have to say that many rural communities, just one out of 10, the rest about nine face the
01:18limitation related to connectivity that really make them not to be able to access.
01:27For FAO's Mashek Malo, Africa needs a seat at the table because that's how real progress begins.
01:36The AI is becoming such a powerful tool, but I have to say that it is not there to replace
01:42the extension workers so that maybe governments or the private sector can pull out of extension work.
01:49They still remain important and human oversight remains very essential.
01:56AI could make farming more productive and resilient, but without infrastructure and equal access, it could deepen existing inequalities.
02:048.
Comments