UjuziKilimo

The company

UjuziKilimo’s platform supports data[1]driven decisions for smallholder farmers by collecting, organising and interpreting agricultural data. The company has developed SoilPal – a device that uses IoT sensors to help farmers understand soil health.

The problem

Climate change has intensified water scarcity, soil degradation and erosion in Africa, diminishing soil fertility and agricultural output, with 65% of the continent’s farmland affected. Precision agriculture, which customises inputs like fertilisers and water to crop needs, could mitigate these issues but is largely inaccessible in Kenya due to the high costs of soil testing sensors and the distance to testing labs.

GSMA project

In March 2024, UjuziKilimo received a GSMA grant to implement SoilPal, a portable device equipped with sensors that can analyse 13 soil parameters in five minutes, including moisture, temperature, acidity, salinity, nutrient levels and GPS data. Farmers receive SMS advice on using carbon-negative fertilisers, water and chemicals to optimise crop yield. The grant will be used to assemble 35 SoilPal units in Kenya and aims to offer soil testing services to 50,000 farmers.

Outcomes

More than 1,400 actionable SMS recommendations have been sent to farmers with important information such as the type of seeds to be planted, type and quantity of fertiliser to use and soil improvement practices.

Traction

As of March 2025, UjuziKilimo has completed more than 17,600 soil tests for smallholder farmers in Kenya, providing farmers with results on six soil health parameters.

Founders

A message from the founder

“Building to address impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers is about finding the right partners who believe in our mission. The investment from GSMA is not just capital; it’s a vote of confidence in our mission of empowering smallholder farmers to increase their productivity, income and food security, while promoting sustainable practices and preserving the environment.”

Team | 11 - 50 employees