By Gloria Anderson
In fields once limited by literacy barriers and distance from research centres, farmers are now finding their voices heard, literally, through Artificial Intelligence (AI). Using speech-to-text technology, scientists are transforming farmers’ spoken feedback into valuable data that helps develop better and more resilient crop varieties.
This innovation, led by Stephen McCauley, a scientist with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in Tanzania, is revolutionising the way farmers communicate with researchers, giving them a direct say in how future seeds are bred.
AI is now helping farmers across Africa overcome literacy barriers and improve crop productivity through smarter, data-driven decisions. Speaking in an interview with Gloria Anderson of GBC Ghana on the sidelines of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) World Congress in Kenya, Mr McCauley explained how his team is using AI-powered tools to collect farmers’ insights directly from the field and integrate them into crop breeding programmes.
“We are directly getting conversations from farmers through speech-to-text AI models,” McCauley said. “By recording farmers in their local languages, we can capture their opinions on crop varieties, what they like or dislike, and use Natural Language Processing, similar to ChatGPT, to extract valuable insights.”
He noted that this innovative method enables farmers who cannot read or write to share feedback easily, helping researchers and plant breeders develop crop varieties better suited to real field conditions.
“The use of speech, where farmers can speak in their own language, breaks the literacy barrier,” he explained. “We are seeing more farmers open up to provide feedback because they now have a medium that easily allows them to do so.”
Mr McCauley added that breeders use this feedback to refine crop varieties for greater resilience and productivity, ensuring that seeds perform well not only in research stations but also on farmers’ actual fields.
Scaling the innovation to West Africa
When Gloria Anderson asked when such an initiative would be introduced in Ghana, Mr McCauley said CGIAR plans to expand the technology beyond East Africa once product testing is completed.
“By mid-2026, we are planning to scale to the West African side,” he revealed. “We already have a footprint in Nigeria and Senegal, so Ghana should definitely expect us. As we implement the tool in those countries, we also plan to include Ghana.”
He emphasised that the same processes used successfully in Tanzania can be replicated in Ghana, with minor adjustments to suit local conditions. McCauley also noted that Google’s research office in Ghana could serve as a valuable partner in facilitating a smoother expansion.
AI empowering farmers
Mr McCauley believes AI will continue to play a crucial role in transforming African agriculture by providing fast, reliable data that supports both farmers and researchers.
“AI provides a quick way to collect and analyse information, which allows for informed decision-making not only for researchers and breeders but also for the farmers themselves,” he said. “The farmer is able to know what they can do first, and that way, improve their livelihoods.”
The integration of AI in agriculture, as demonstrated in Tanzania, signals a future where technology bridges literacy gaps, accelerates innovation, and gives farmers a stronger voice in shaping the crops they grow.
