AI Accelerates Development in Africa: Boosting Agricultural Productivity and Supercharging Startups
Aya Data Product Lead Simone Fugar Creates Change through Data
Simone Fugar is the product lead at Aya Data, where she’s driving the development of AI solutions for crop management. Before Aya Data, she spent seven years at Esoko, bringing digital agronomic services to smallholder farmers across Africa using SMS, voice, and IVR. Simone is deeply passionate about development in Africa and has a love for food, music, and philosophy. She's got two fur babies - Munchy (a Maltese poodle) and June (a British shorthair cat).
Shara Karasic: You’re currently product lead for Aya Data, an AI company based in Ghana that builds agriculture-related AI models and annotates data. Tell me about some of your projects and their impact.
Simone Fugar: At Aya, we’re developing agricultural solutions that leverage AI to automate crop monitoring. I’ve been with Aya for almost two years, and it’s been incredibly exciting to work closely with the AI model development process. This spans the entire value chain, from understanding data annotation to deploying AI models.
Currently, we’re supporting growers in the oil palm industry by developing AI computer vision models that detect oil palms, generate counts, and geolocate each tree from drone imagery. Traditionally, manually counting palms is a tedious process that can take months, especially over thousands of hectares, and often results in data inaccuracies. Our AI models, however, can perform this task in a matter of hours with over 99% accuracy, significantly saving growers both time and costs.
We’re also working on a solution for counting and grading fresh fruit bunches (FFB), which are simply bunches of oil palms. Growers face challenges tracking these in the field during harvest due to manual data collection methods. Our approach uses mobile or mounted cameras to capture images and assess the count and ripeness of the FFBs. This eliminates the time-consuming and inefficient paperwork process, significantly enhancing data accuracy for farm managers.
All our model outputs are visualized through a centralized dashboard or integrated into existing data management systems via APIs.
Our work is based in Accra, where we are also committed to building Africa’s tech workforce. At Aya, we collaborate with over 100 graduates, training them at various stages of the value chain, from annotation to data science. AI represents the future, and we aim to play a crucial role in equipping Africa’s workforce with the skills needed to embrace and lead in this technology-driven world.
Shara Karasic: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for AI in African countries?
Simone Fugar: When it comes to AI in African countries, the potential for economic growth and innovation is enormous. AI offers a unique opportunity to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing challenges and create new business prospects. Imagine AI-driven solutions that boost agricultural productivity, make healthcare more accessible and efficient, and open up financial services to more people. For entrepreneurs and businesses, this means a chance to develop groundbreaking products and services, which can generate income and stimulate local economies.
But, of course, there are hurdles to overcome. As AI technology becomes more widespread, a pressing concern arises regarding the potential exploitation of Africa’s natural resources, including coltan and lithium mining, which are vital components in the production of electronic devices. The extraction of these resources has been linked to conflicts and human rights abuses in several African countries. It’s crucial to ensure that the deployment of AI does not exacerbate these issues by fueling unsustainable extraction practices or contributing to further conflicts. Instead, there is a need to prioritize sustainable resource management practices that support local communities and promote long-term environmental and social stability.
Shara Karasic: What’s the startup ecosystem like in West Africa? Specifically for women?
Simone Fugar: When talking about the startup ecosystem in West Africa, it’s clear that it’s traditionally been dominated by men. However, we’re starting to see some encouraging changes aimed at balancing the scales. For instance, there are now funds that specifically offer lower-interest loans to women-led startups, which is a fantastic initiative to support female entrepreneurs.
Additionally, we’re witnessing the rise of female-focused venture capital firms like Aruwa Capital, which is another step in the right direction. This growth is helping to create more opportunities for women in the startup scene.
While there’s still a lot of room for improvement, these positive moves are making it easier for women to get involved and succeed in the entrepreneurial landscape. It’s an exciting time, and I’d love to see even more women take part and thrive in the West African startup ecosystem.
Shara Karasic: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for startups in the region?
Simone Fugar: There are immense opportunities for startups in Africa, mainly because there are so many unique problems that need solving across the continent. Currently, the startup scene is heavily dominated by fintech and e-commerce, but I’d love to see more ventures exploring unconventional spaces like healthcare, education, transportation, and other critical sectors. These areas are ripe for innovation and can have a significant impact on improving everyday life in Africa.
Additionally, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is breaking down borders and bringing the continent closer together. Much like the EU, which thrives on the free movement of goods and people, AfCFTA is creating a massive market that startups can tap into, making it easier to scale businesses across Africa.
One major challenge is creating sustainable business models. We’ve seen a number of startups shut down recently, highlighting the need for more resilient and viable business strategies. Another hurdle is the concentration of funding. A significant portion of investment goes into just a few industries, mainly fintech, and is concentrated in specific countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. This focus means many other regions and sectors are left behind. We need to ensure that the benefits of the startup ecosystem are spread more evenly across the continent, bringing everyone along for the ride.
Shara Karasic: What’s your vision for the future?
Simone Fugar: I envision a future where African youth have growing opportunities to excel and thrive right here on the continent. I hope to see more seamless movement across African countries to open up expanded market opportunities, supported by advancements in transportation that make this possible. By leveraging technology, the internet, and AI, we can help bridge the economic gap between the Global North and South, elevating the standard of living for young Africans and addressing the challenges that often lead to brain drain – which is a pressing problem on the continent.
On a personal level, I want to continue building my skills and working in areas where technology brings innovative solutions to the continent’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about sectors like housing, agriculture, waste management, and resource management—areas that tackle the significant societal challenges Africa faces today. My goal is to be part of the change that drives sustainable development and improves lives across Africa.
Shara Karasic: What advice would you give to a company that would like to expand into West African markets?
Simone Fugar: The first piece of advice is to make sure your product or service fits the specific needs and preferences of the West African market. What works elsewhere might not resonate here, so it’s crucial to understand the local context and tailor your offerings accordingly.
Keep in mind that technology adoption rates can vary significantly across different African countries. Some markets might be quick to embrace new technologies, while others may adopt them more slowly. This means you need to be patient and possibly adjust your expectations and strategies for tech integration.
West Africa is not a single, homogeneous market. Each country has its own economic landscape, with varying GDP levels and market sizes. It’s essential to conduct thorough research on each country you plan to enter to understand its unique characteristics and opportunities.
Shara Karasic: It’s a time of rapid change in West Africa, led by youth. What worldwide trends do you see being spearheaded by African youth?
Simone Fugar: African youth are harnessing digital platforms in creative and impactful ways to drive change. They’re not just posting updates—they’re launching powerful social movements. Take the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria or the #FeesMustFall campaign in South Africa. These movements started locally but gained global attention, highlighting issues like police brutality and education costs. Young activists are using technology to amplify their voices, connect globally, and push for democracy and social justice, showing they are active drivers of change, not just recipients.
On the entrepreneurial side, young African founders are turning into investors. These aren’t the typical Silicon Valley venture capitalists; they’re local success stories reinvesting in their own communities. In places like Nigeria’s tech hubs and Ghana’s startup scene, successful entrepreneurs are funding the next wave of innovators. This trend of local angel investing is fostering a cycle of growth and mentorship, creating a resilient and vibrant startup culture. It’s grassroots support that aligns with global trends of nurturing local talent and fostering innovation from the ground up.
Shara Karasic: What’s a must-do while visiting Accra?
Simone Fugar: I’m a huge foodie – so I’ll give you my favorite must-eats in Accra.
3. Fried rice and chicken from Papaye