Inspiration Growing up in the Ruzizi Plain, I saw how smallholder farmers, many of them my own relatives, struggled with unpredictable weather, crop diseases, and low incomes. These challenges weren’t just agricultural, they were deeply connected to poverty, food insecurity, and even local conflicts.
What it does This inspired me to find a way to merge technology with traditional farming knowledge to improve livelihoods and resilience in these vulnerable communities.
How we built it : Through my studies in agronomy and work in community development, I learned that access to real-time information such as weather updates, disease diagnosis, and market trends, could dramatically transform farmers' decision-making. That insight led me to create RETFARMER, combining AI with on-the-ground training and support for cooperatives. We began by co-designing our mobile app with local farmers, ensuring it addressed their real needs and was accessible despite low digital literacy.
Challenges we ran into: Building the project wasn't easy. Challenges included limited connectivity in rural areas, skepticism from farmers unfamiliar with tech, and financial constraints. But by partnering with cooperatives, offering in-person training, and piloting our tools locally, we gained trust and traction. Each challenge reinforced our belief that empowering farmers with the right tools can transform not only harvests, but entire communities.
Accomplishments that we're proud of: Since its launch, RETFARMER has engaged over 700 farmers and 12 cooperatives, increased farm productivity by up to 20%,
What we learned: Success comes from struggling
What's next for RETFARMER (Revolution Technology of smallfarmer): the following step is to expand our operations through strategic partnerships and regional training programs, positioning teh Company as a catalyst for climate-resilient agriculture and rural economic development in East and Central Africa.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.