East Africa hands over control of agri-data hubs, pushing for smarter farming systems
Regional institutions take charge as data-driven farming shows strong yield results.
EAST AFRICA – A regional push to make agriculture more data-driven is gaining ground in East Africa as countries take full control of key digital platforms and report higher yields from data-based farming.
After four years of work, the Land, Soil and Crop Information Services (LSC-IS) Project, supported by the EU DeSIRA programme and partners, has officially transferred full ownership of its national data hubs to research agencies in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda.
The handover means that the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) now manage and maintain the systems directly.
“The idea was never to keep control outside the countries,” said one project coordinator. “We wanted to make sure the data remains accessible and usable by national researchers, farmers and policymakers.”
Each hub is an online platform that combines data on land, soil and crop conditions. They follow the FAIR data principles, findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, and aim to support climate-smart agriculture by giving farmers and extension officers the information they need to make better decisions.
Farmers report higher yields
Alongside the handover, a new report shows that farmers using data-driven practices in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda are seeing clear gains. Wheat yields in one trial area rose from 15 to 34 quintals per hectare, while teff yields increased to 22 quintals per hectare.
“These results show that good data can turn into good harvests,” said a researcher from KALRO. “When farmers receive accurate, localized advice, they respond fast and the results speak for themselves.”
Experts say that smallholder farmers across East Africa face changing weather and outdated farming methods. Decision-support tools built on quality data can help close this gap. Global studies suggest that digital farming could raise productivity by up to 70 percent by 2050 when scaled effectively.
The mix of improved infrastructure and positive yield results marks an important shift, from foreign-led systems to locally owned ones, and from broad agricultural advice to site-specific recommendations.
For countries like Kenya, where smallholders produce most of the food but access to extension services remains limited, these tools could help raise both productivity and incomes.
Still, the work is far from over. Keeping data systems updated requires funding, skilled staff and strong cooperation between institutions. Making sure the data reaches and benefits small farmers, especially women and youth, will test how inclusive these systems truly are.
“The real success will come when farmers feel the impact on their fields,” said an official from RAB. “That is when data stops being numbers on a screen and becomes part of everyday farming.”
As the project enters its next phase, national research bodies will focus on scaling the approach to more regions and crops while tracking profitability and climate resilience. The alignment of local control, data use and farmer adoption signals a turning point for East Africa’s agriculture.
Be the first to leave a comment