By Erdly Agona
IN JULY 2024, Pure Plant Organics, in partnership with Shambah Solutions, launched a portable soil testing kit called the Shambah Assistant to address the challenges faced by small-scale farmers across Kenya. Designed to deliver results in just 15 minutes, the device uses a mobile app to test for soil nutrients and provide tailored recommendations at only Ksh 1,000. Shambah Assistant is a downloadable app for mobile phones, and the test is conducted on a wet soil sample. The soil sample is mixed with water, as water acts as an activating agent. The device’s sensor is then dipped into the soil-water mixture and connected to the phone via the app. Once connected, the app prompts for information to be keyed in, which includes farmer’s details along with the crop and crop variety intended for planting. The app then analyzes the soil and provides tailored recommendations based on the specific crop selected.
Shambah Assistant developed a model that not only ensures accessibility of the technology by rural small-scale farmers in far-flung areas, but also creates an income-generating activity for youths. “The gadgets are mostly purchased by young people seeking employment. We sell the gadgets at Ksh15,000, so with about 15 farmers, one can recoup the investment,” says Ngige, emphasizing that they mostly work with agronomists, whom they train on how to use the machine and collect samples. “We also give brochures that inform farmers on how t o collect samples,” he says. The agronomists pay a fee of Ksh 200, to Pure Plant Organics for every soil test performed.
Shambah Assistant is a downloadable app for mobile phones, and the test is conducted on a wet soil sample. The soil sample is mixed with water, as water acts as an activating agent. The device’s sensor is then dipped into the soil-water mixture and connected to the phone via
the app.
Derrick also emphasized the impact of the technology, saying, “We have had case studies where farmers realized that the issue with their soil wasn’t nitrogen or potassium, but pH imbalance. Once they corrected the pH, their production costs significantly reduced. On the other hand, youths are using this technology to offer services to farmers, as they earn an average of between Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 20,000 per month.”
Since its launch in July 2024, the soil testing kit has reached 15 counties, with 60 units sold and more than 3,000 farmers already benefiting from its use. Kenyan small-scale farmers are adopting affordable field-ready tools like Shambah Assistant to manage their soils.
Extensionists providing soil testing services using the Kit
Erdly Agona works on farmer feedback at Biovision Africa Trust.
Email: eagona@biovisionafrica.org