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Smart farming in Kenya: FarmShield’s AI and solar solution boost yields and resilience
Stacy Oyalo and Lynnete Njeri of Synnefa, showing the FarmShield innovation AI-powered farm automation system designed to give precise, real-time insights for crops and environment in this photo taken on October 2, 2025.
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) solutions play a critical role in responding to untimely shocks, while achieving resilience, sustainably, productivity and farmer disposable incomes.
In that context FarmShield is an AI-powered farm automation system designed to take the guesswork out of farming.
It takes over repetitive yet critical farm tasks such as opening and closing irrigation valves or turning fans on and off while giving farmers precise, real-time insights into their crops and environment.
Lynnete Njeri, a production engineer at Synnefa, told Seeds of Gold that with the device, farmers no longer have to rely on outdated routines or instincts.
“The system continuously monitors soil moisture, humidity, temperature, light intensity, and carbon (iv) oxide levels, sending this data to the cloud where it is analysed and displayed on an interactive dashboard called FarmCloud,” she adds.
From here they can instantly see what their crops need and act on timely alerts, including soil nutrient levels such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), which are crucial for healthy crop growth.
According to her, one of FarmShield’s unique strengths is connectivity.
Every unit is fitted with a SIM card for cellular connection, allowing it to transmit live updates on soil health, irrigation status, and fan activity directly to the farmer’s FarmCloud dashboard.
The device is fitted with solar panels that power the sensors and control action, so there is no energy cost.
“The sensors are the ones that check the state of your soils or substrate and take immediate action such as opening of water valve or powering the fan,” she says.
For remote areas where Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or mobile networks are unreliable, FarmShield also supports satellite internet connectivity.
This ensures that even farmers in the most isolated parts of Kenya can benefit from cutting-edge, data-driven farming.
When asked where the innovation is applicable, Njeri says it is built for versatility. It can be deployed in open fields, greenhouses, and net houses, making it relevant for both smallholder and commercial farmers.
Additionally, it is fully solar-powered, runs seamlessly even in rural areas with limited access to electricity, ensuring inclusivity across Kenya’s diverse farming communities.
It is fitted with a SIM Card loaded with internet bundles enabling it to connect with cellular internet and send updates on your farm. Beyond irrigation and data collection, FarmShield has transformed post-harvest handling.
Integrated into solar dryers, the device uses sensors to monitor air temperature and humidity, automatically activating solar-powered fans that remove excess moisture.
Njeri adds that this automation cuts drying time by more than half and ensures consistent quality whether for coffee, chillies, mangoes, or pyrethrum—helping farmers avoid losses while meeting premium market standards.
Data and Insights
All farm data is securely stored and analysed on Synnefa’s FarmCloud platform.
Farmers access clear, actionable insights via mobile devices or computers, empowering them to make smarter decisions, improve yields, and boost incomes.
Mr Taita Ngetich, the founder and chief executive officer of Synnefa Green Limited, says that recent advancements in climate-smart agriculture technologies for irrigation are focused on integrating data-driven decision-making, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance water efficiency and resilience in farming.
“Our vision is simple—give every farmer, from Kiambu to Turkana, the same level of precision that large farms in Europe or the US enjoy. With AI now a reality, FarmShield is about making technology practical, affordable, and transformative, “he adds.
“With just Sh21,000 per year, farmers using our system report higher yields, reduced water use, and better market access because their produce meets traceability and quality standards. This is how we believe Kenya will achieve food security and prosperity—by combining tradition with technology.”
