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Extension workers are often responsible for hundreds of farmers across difficult terrain. They struggle to access timely data on disease outbreaks or market prices.
Farmers rely on traditional methods and face increasing climate variability. Without real-time guidance, their yields and food security are at risk.
The project deploys a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) chatbot. This allows it to answer questions based strictly on verified Ministry of Agriculture manuals and crop calendars, minimizing hallucinations.
Key features include hybrid retrieval for low-bandwidth areas and support for both Sesotho and English interactions via WhatsApp and SMS.
This initiative is strictly aligned with the philosophy of Digital Public Goods (DPGs), ensuring that the technology built for Lesotho can be audited, replicated, and scaled by other nations. By contributing to the global knowledge commons, we reduce vendor lock-in and promote sustainable development.
Central to this approach is the adoption of the OGCC framework. By prioritizing open standards, we ensure that the AI models remain transparent and that the country retains sovereignty over its agricultural data and digital infrastructure.
GENIE AI Framework
GenAI for Good Challenge
Open Source Ecosystem Enabler
GovStack Global Initiative - Helping government digitalise public services