Esther Kimani, the 2022 YouthADAPT winner, received the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in 2024 for her groundbreaking solution that helps smallholder farmers protect their crops. Her invention has already transformed the lives of thousands in Kenya!
Esther Kimani is a young Kenyan inventor who developed an advanced early detection system to help smallholder farmers safeguard their crops from pests and diseases. Powered by solar energy, her invention swiftly identifies crop threats, reducing harvest losses by up to 30% and increasing yields by 40%. This device uses modern technologies like artificial intelligence to detect issues within seconds, sending real-time alerts to farmers and offering tailored advice via SMS.
The system costs just $3 per month, far cheaper than traditional methods like drone surveillance or manual inspections. With this innovation, Esther hopes to support one million farmers in the next five years, especially women, who make up a significant portion of Kenya’s agricultural producers. To recognize her efforts, Esther Kimani was awarded £50,000, the largest prize ever given for the Africa Prize. This funding will help her further develop her invention. Esther’s vision is to revolutionize farming across Africa, enabling farmers to better manage their crops and improve their livelihoods.
