The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, one of Africa’s most esteemed awards, has fostered nearly 150 entrepreneurs across 23 countries, resulting in over 28,000 jobs and benefiting more than 10 million people through groundbreaking products and services. The Royal Academy of Engineering awarded Esther Kimani from Kenya the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation at a ceremony in Nairobi on June 13, 2024.
Kimani’s revolutionary AI-based tool for detecting crop pests and diseases clinched the award for its significant impact on the agricultural sector, particularly benefiting small-scale farmers in Kenya. She becomes the third woman in Africa and the second in Kenya to win this esteemed award, after Edmund Wessels and Anatoli Kirigwajjo from South Africa, who were joint winners in 2023.
Innovative AI Tool to Aid Farmers
Kimani’s innovation addresses a significant challenge faced by about five million small-scale farmers in Kenya. These farmers lose approximately 33% of their crops annually due to pests and diseases.
Her AI tool utilizes advanced computer vision and machine learning to identify pests, pathogens, and diseases in real-time. Upon detection, it alerts farmers via SMS, recommending suitable interventions to mitigate the issue. Additionally, it notifies government agricultural agents to enable a coordinated response to outbreaks, supporting broader agricultural management efforts for timely and effective solutions.
Affordable and Accessible Technology
A notable feature of Kimani’s tool is its affordability. The solar-powered device is available to farmers for a rental fee of just $3 per month, making advanced pest and disease detection accessible even to the smallest farms. This scalable solution will transform agricultural practices in Kenya and across Africa.
Celebrating a Decade of Innovation in Africa
Established by the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation aims to support the development of sustainable and scalable engineering solutions to local challenges in Africa. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Academy hosted a reunion for Africa Prize alumni, bringing together 100 past participants for a three-day event to celebrate achievements and foster collaboration. The grand finale featured four finalists, including Kimani, presenting their innovations to an audience of 700 people, showcasing the continent’s remarkable talent and ingenuity.
Impact of the Winning Innovation
Kimani’s AI pest detection tool stands out for its potential to revolutionize agricultural practices. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “My parents lost up to 40% of their crops each season, which affected our living standards. We are empowering small-scale farmers, many of whom are women, to increase their incomes. We aim to reach one million farmers in the next five years.”
The prize includes a $60,000 financial award, the highest amount ever granted to a laureate, marking the prize’s 10th anniversary. This funding will support the development and scaling of the device, extending its benefits to a broader audience.