Zimbabwe pushes AI revolution in rural agriculture

Published: 22 April 2026

Zimbabwe is accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, with Government, universities, development partners and the private sector joining forces to modernise farming, improve productivity and expand digital inclusion in rural communities.

The initiative is expected to transform how farmers plan production, detect crop diseases, forecast weather patterns and access markets, while addressing long-standing information gaps affecting smallholder growers.

The Digital Villages Initiative side event held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) brought together senior Government officials, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representatives, private sector executives, university researchers, farmer organisations and technology innovators, reflecting growing national interest in AI-driven agriculture.

Stakeholders said AI is now moving beyond urban centres and research institutions into rural communities, where productivity gains are most urgently needed.

Speaking at the FAO side event, Chinhoyi University of Technology Pro-Vice Chancellor Taurai Bere said universities are already integrating AI into practical farming solutions.

"The discussion on artificial intelligence is very timely, especially in the context of rural development. As a university, we are developing human capital and embedding AI across our programmes so that it reaches rural communities," he said.

Professor Bere noted that AI is already being applied in crop surveillance, weather forecasting and decision-support systems. Among the innovations are applications such as Hurudza AI and Maminda AI, which help farmers decide what to plant, how to plant and where market demand exists.

"These applications have been localised into vernacular languages, making them more accessible to farmers. They guide decision-making and help farmers better understand weather patterns," he said.

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe General Manager for Data Centres and AI Compute, Farai Mutyasera, said connectivity remains central to ensuring AI reaches rural areas.

"We have more than 6 000 base stations across the country. In the last year alone, we deployed 103 new base stations in rural areas, along with 80 micro base stations known as Rural Stars," he said.

He added that Econet has introduced EcoFarmer AI, an upgraded mobile platform leveraging AI for farmers, while AI-powered chat tools are now accessible on basic mobile phones through USSD technology.

Chief Agricultural Specialist in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hillary Mugiyo, said AI is enabling faster and smarter agricultural responses.

"Artificial Intelligence is providing a smarter and faster response system, from disease surveillance and pest monitoring to precision advisory services," he said.

"With the right partnerships, these technologies can strengthen extension services, improve productivity and enhance resilience to climate and market shocks."

FAO Food Security and Agricultural Livelihoods Assessment Specialist Dowsen Sango said AI is also strengthening early warning systems.

"AI-powered predictive models are enabling earlier detection of drought, water stress and extreme weather, allowing timely decisions on planting, harvesting and resource allocation," he said.

"These approaches support national early warning systems and reduce the cost of delayed humanitarian interventions."

Chief Engineer and Head of AI in the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Andrew Jukwa, said agriculture has been identified as a priority sector under Zimbabwe's newly launched National AI Strategy.

Stakeholders agreed that the shift could mark a turning point for rural agriculture, where access to timely data, extension services and markets has historically been limited.

With climate shocks, pests and rising production costs placing pressure on farmers, AI is increasingly being viewed not as a luxury, but as a critical tool for food security and rural transformation.
- the herald

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