AFRALTI, GSMA and partners explore tech-driven climate solutions for farmers in Kenya
Date: 2026-04-19
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
The
African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI) has convened key
industry and agricultural stakeholders to explore technology-driven solutions
aimed at strengthening climate resilience among farmers in Kenya.
The
engagement, which marked a second meeting between AFRALTI and the GSMA, brought
together representatives from Safaricom PLC and the Kenya National Farmers’
Federation (KENAFF) to examine the impact of climate change on agriculture,
particularly in the context of disaster response.
Discussions
focused on potential collaboration around hyperlocalised weather stations, a
project led by Wireless Planet, a startup incubated at AFRALTI. Stakeholders
explored how such infrastructure could support farmers with real-time weather
data to inform crop selection and improve preparedness for climate-related
risks.
The
meeting also built on earlier engagements around the Early Warning System
Assessment Tool to Enhance Emergency Alerts, previously discussed at a
validation workshop hosted by the Communications Authority of Kenya in March
2026. Participants considered how existing weather monitoring systems could be
leveraged to develop more effective early warning systems for disaster risk
reduction.
In
addition to policy and technical discussions, participants toured AFRALTI’s
research laboratory, where startups under its acceleration programme showcased
innovations in robotics and assistive technologies. These included solutions
aimed at addressing practical challenges in sectors such as agriculture and
education.
Officials
noted that the collaboration reflects a growing emphasis on integrating
telecommunications, data, and innovation ecosystems to address climate
challenges and support sustainable agricultural practices in Kenya.
