The Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project's lead for AI in Agriculture, Dr. Eric Tutu Tchao, is spearheading initiatives to use AI to solve problems in Ghana.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Embassy in Ghana are funding the AI4SD initiative, which seeks to advance technology in ways that improve livelihoods, alleviate socioeconomic issues, and advance sustainable environmental practices.
Dr. Tchao talked about the project's development and possible effects on sustainable development, water safety, and smallholder farmers in an exclusive interview.
He underlined that a large portion of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) research is still restricted to lab settings with little practical use.
Prof. Jerry John is the AI4SD project lead and the principle investigator for RAIL.
Research on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) is still mostly restricted to lab settings with little practical use.
"Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, the AI4SD project lead and the principal investigator for RAIL, challenged us to develop projects that demonstrate our solutions function outside of the lab," Dr. Tchao stated.
"Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, the AI4SD project lead and the principal investigator for RAIL, challenged us to develop projects that demonstrate our solutions function outside of the lab," Dr. Tchao stated.
The study team discovered important problems in Ghana's ecosystem, such as the difficulties smallholder farmers confront, agri-tech knowledge gaps, and the effects of illicit mining, or "galamsey," on water quality.
Enhancing information transfer, reducing water pollution, and improving agricultural practices are the main objectives of the AI4SD project in agriculture.
On February 5, 2025, the Agric team and the head of the Department of Agric Engineering went to the Anwomaso demonstration site to gain access to the property.
The group is creating low-cost technologies to assist farmers in maximizing productivity, predicting yields, and guiding planting dates.
Additionally, the project seeks to provide reasonably priced methods for identifying pollutants linked to "galamsey's" effects on water, including cyanide, lead, and arsenic.
In order to ensure accessibility for farmers and stakeholders, AI technologies are being developed to offer information in local languages.
Dr. Tchao gave specifics about the cutting-edge AI tools employed in the project:
• Language Models: To address communication gaps, large language models are being employed to provide feedback and instructions in regional languages.
• Predictive and Analytical Tools: AI models that are lightweight and portable are being created to provide farmers with real-time insights.
• Sensor Technology: To overcome the drawbacks of pricey, imported sensors, the research aims to create inexpensive sensors that can identify heavy metal contamination in water.
Reasonably Priced Water Safety Solutions
The development of sensors has seen a significant breakthrough. Using off-the-shelf sensors proved to be expensive in the beginning; one sensor for detecting lead or mercury cost US $1,900.
In order to solve this, the group worked with chemistry and materials engineering researchers to develop reasonably priced substitutes.
We have created sensors that are as little as GH¢2,000, which is a substantial decrease from the US $8,000 for a multisensor system, Dr. Tchao said.
These sensors are designed to be used in houses, communities, and locations afflicted by "galamsey," which provide access to safe drinking water through boreholes.
A Sustainable Development Vision
By tackling practical issues, the AI4SD initiative shows how technology may promote sustainable development.
"The solutions we're developing ensure health and well-being while also showcasing the power of technology," Dr. Tchao stated.
As the initiative develops, its ideas have the potential to revolutionize Ghana's water safety and agriculture, serving as a template for other areas dealing with comparable issues.