This week saw the launch by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Pennsylvania State University this week of a new talking mobile app to help African farmers recognise the pest Fall Armyworm (FAW) in their crops.
The new app, branded Nuru, will enable farmers to take immediate steps to destroy the pest and curb its spread. This after its rapid spread across sub-Saharan Africa over the past year which is threatening the food security of over 300 million people.
“Many African farmers might have heard about FAW but are seeing it for the first time and are often unable to recognise it or unsure of what they are facing,” said FAO senior agricultural officer, Keith Cressman. “With the new application they can hold the phone next to an infested plant and Nuru can immediately confirm if FAW has caused the damage.”
According to a statement from the FAO, the app uses machine learning and artificial intelligence and runs both on and offline on any Android phone. It will walk farmers through the process of checking their crops for FAW, report back on infestation levels and provide advice on how to fight the infestation.
While Nuru currently only speaks in English, other languages will eventually be added to the app, with Swahili, French and Twi expected to be added soon.
Additionally, Nuru will soon be linked to FAO’s Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System app which analyses data from across Africa to give a real-time situation overview with maps of infestations and measures that have been most effective in reducing its impact.
“Digital tools are increasingly becoming integral components of the FAO’s systems of identification, monitoring, training, and decision-making of globally important crop pests and diseases,” added FAO’s principal technical coordinator on the FAW response, Allan Hruska.
