The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has launched an AI-powered fertigation system that automates irrigation and fertiliser application using real-time data to improve crop production and climate-smart agriculture.
The initiative forms part of the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TagDev 2.0) programme and aims to increase production of high-value crops while demonstrating how AI can help farmers adapt to climate change.
Implementation has already begun at MUST's main campus in Thyolo, where a greenhouse has been established ahead of planting tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers early next month.
The project is led by Dr Jabulani Nyengere, senior lecturer in geoinformatics and postgraduate coordinator at MUST, who said the system combines AI, precision irrigation and automated fertiliser management to improve efficiency while reducing water and nutrient waste.
"We are using AI to make farming more efficient, productive and climate-resilient while providing students and communities with practical skills that can transform agriculture," Nyengere said.
The technology continuously analyses crop growth data and automatically adjusts water and nutrient levels, ensuring plants receive the right inputs while conserving resources, he said.
The project also includes a smart tree nursery where AI-assisted systems will regulate watering and nutrient application to produce climate-resilient seedlings capable of withstanding drought, floods and other extreme weather conditions.
According to MUST, the digital farming facility will serve as a practical innovation hub where students, young people, farmers and surrounding communities will receive hands-on training in AI-powered fertigation, precision irrigation, climate-smart farming and sustainable nursery management.
The university said the initiative is expected to improve access to quality planting materials, increase agricultural productivity, and improve household food security and incomes.
The project forms part of MUST's participation in the TagDev 2.0 programme, which supports African agricultural universities in applying research and digital technologies to address agricultural challenges while preparing graduates with practical skills in AI-enabled farming.
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