Project Overview
Project Description
The proposed project aims to integrate an AI-powered chatbot into Irri-Hub KE’s existing digital platforms – its farmer mobile application and website. Currently, the app enables farmers to order irrigation products and book services such as agronomy support and repairs. However, many farmers still rely on phone calls and WhatsApp messages for basic enquiries, which slows down response times and puts demands on team resources.
This project aims to:
- Automate frontline customer support so farmers get instant answers on product options, pricing, order status, PAYG payments, and basic troubleshooting.
- Provide agronomy and irrigation guidance at scale, including FAQs on crops, water management, and system care.
- Streamline service requests, allowing farmers to log issues, schedule visits, and track progress through the chatbot.
This will directly advance Irri-Hub’s mission by improving farmers’ access to timely information, reducing downtime of irrigation systems, and increasing adoption of climate-smart solutions. It will also free up staff to focus on complex cases and field support, strengthen data collection on farmer needs, and make its service more responsive, inclusive, and scalable across counties and, eventually, other countries.
Impact
Socially, the AI chatbot will give farmers—especially women and youth—24/7 access to information on products, agronomy, PAYG payments, and system troubleshooting. This should reduce downtime, improve crop performance, and increase farm incomes. It also lowers barriers for remote farmers who may prefer not to call or have limited time, supporting financial inclusion and decent work.
Environmentally, faster support and better guidance will help farmers operate solar irrigation and drip systems correctly, optimise watering schedules, and detect issues early. This is expected to improve water-use efficiency and reduce reliance on diesel pumps, supporting climate resilience and reduced emissions.
Eligibility Criteria
Skills / Experience:
- Required:
- Experience with chatbots, NLP/LLMs, and API integrations (mobile apps, web backends, WhatsApp/USSD or similar)
- Ability to translate farmer and staff needs into clear user journeys, conversation flows, and minimum viable features
- Ability to work remotely with a small team, communicate clearly, and iterate based on feedback.
- Desired:
- Experience with agritech, fintech, or social impact products serving low-income users.
- Familiarity with African or Global South contexts, rural connectivity constraints, and mobile-first users.
- Sensitivity to working with farmers, women and youth groups, and an interest in climate resilience and food systems.
Discipline:
- Software Engineering or Computer Science
Preferred Fellow Local Experience (all projects can be completed remotely):
- Local experience in East Africa may be beneficial
Preferred Timezone (when the Fellow should be available for meetings):
- Compatibility with East Africa Time (UTC+3)
