AI in Malawi: Helping Farmers Combat Climate Change
Malawian Farmer Turns to AI After cyclone freddy Devastation
Cyclone Freddy‘s Impact
Alex Maere, a 59-year-old farmer in Malawi, survived the destruction caused by Cyclone Freddy in 2023, but his farm was fully destroyed. The cyclone tore through southern Malawi, stripping precious topsoil from his small-scale farm located in the foothills of Mount Mulanje.
prior to the cyclone, maere typically harvested 850kg (1,870 pounds) of corn annually to support his family of five – three daughters and two sons. Following the disaster, he salvaged only 8kg (17 pounds) from the wreckage, describing the aftermath as a “wasteland of sand and rocks” in his village of Sazola.
Adopting AI for Resilience
The devastation prompted Maere to seek new farming strategies. He is now utilizing a generative AI chatbot developed by the non-profit Opportunity International to receive farming advice.
Maere is among thousands of small-scale farmers in Malawi who are leveraging this technology to improve their agricultural practices and build resilience against future climate shocks.