Latest news with #Kenya-based
The Star
4 days ago
- Science
- The Star
Feature: Kenyan smallholders embrace smart technology to boost yields
NAIROBI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- In western Kenya, maize farmer Josephat Ouma walked through rows of green, leafy stalks with a smartphone in hand. He paused and bent down before snapping a picture of a sickly-looking leaf. "I used to wait for someone to come and help. Sometimes, they never came. Now, I take a photo, and the app tells me what is wrong," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. Like Ouma, thousands of smallholder farmers in Kenya are turning to technology to manage crop diseases and fight declining yields. In a region where traditional extension services are stretched thin as some counties have only one officer for every 1,500 farmers, affordable tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), mobile apps and WhatsApp groups are emerging as indispensable lifelines. One such tool is called PlantVillage Nuru, a free app developed by researchers at Penn State University, which uses AI to analyze photos of crops and instantly diagnose diseases such as maize lethal necrosis or cassava mosaic. It functions offline and supports local languages, making it especially useful in rural areas. "The app is so easy to use, even for farmers who are not literate," said an agricultural extension officer in Kakamega County of western Kenya, who works closely with smallholders using the app. Across Kenya, localized WhatsApp groups now function as mini extension networks. Farmers share pest alerts, crop management advice, and photos of affected crops, allowing others to crowdsource diagnoses and solutions. "It is like a daily clinic," said James Otieno, a maize farmer near the western Kenyan county of Kisumu. "You wake up, check your group, and see what others are facing." In Bungoma County, Catherine Wanjala faced repeated losses to striga, commonly known as witchweed, a parasitic plant that attacks the roots of maize and sorghum. Traditional methods, including herbicides and crop rotation, had failed. Then she was introduced to a fungal bioherbicide that significantly boosted her yields. "Before using the bioherbicide, my maize was weak and yellow. It barely grew," Wanjala told Xinhua. "After the treatment, the difference was like night and day." Agricultural organizations are also leading the way in digital adoption. One Acre Fund's Kenya-based initiative Tupande has integrated AI and machine learning into its services to improve field-level recommendations. "We use advanced systems to tailor advice based on farm-level data like soil moisture and productivity," said Makandi Laiboni, director of digital strategy at Tupande. "Even a simple change, like optimizing planting dates, can significantly reduce losses and boost yields." The Tupande mobile app, which has about 150,000 users to date, is especially popular among youth aged 18 to 35. "Reaching young farmers is crucial for the future of agriculture," added Karigu Ekumbo, Senior Communications Specialist at One Acre Fund. "They are more receptive to digital tools and help expand our impact in both rural and urban areas." According to Ekumbo, barriers remain. Women, for instance, account for only 30 percent of Tupande's app users. "While that is above the national average, we are focused on closing the gender gap in agritech by tailoring support for female farmers," Ekumbo said. A recent study by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis estimated that only 20 to 30 percent of Kenyan farmers have adopted digital agricultural technologies. This limited uptake underscores a significant gap in scaling up these services, which hold immense potential to boost productivity, profitability, and market access for smallholder farmers. "We used to wait and hope. Now we know and act," Ouma said, surveying his healthy field. "It is not magic. It is just good information."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
When elephant moms need help, nannies step in
In December 2023, a 10-year-old African elephant disappeared from her herd in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve. When she returned a month later, she was accompanied by two unrelated females, thought to be about 10 and 15 years old; the younger one had a newborn calf in tow. What happened next was remarkable, according to Giacomo D'Ammando, research manager for the Kenya-based conservation organization Save the Elephants. '[The recently returned elephant] had stepped into a caregiver role, helping the inexperienced young mother raise her calf, like a nanny,' D'Ammando says. While an exceptional story, allomothers—female elephants that help take care of calves that are not their own—have always been around. They play an important role in elephant society by comforting and teaching babies while giving mom a hand. 'They're essentially nannies and they're all over elephant society,' says Shifra Goldenberg, a population sustainability scientist for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, who has studied wild elephants in Kenya. Sometimes older females like grandmothers and aunts fill this role, 'but more commonly, you get this sort of younger age set…who are really attracted to babies, really want to spend time with them and take care of them, and it provides quite a lot of benefits,' she says. Most nannies are less than 15 years old and have never given birth, D'Ammando notes. Younger allomothers get vital parenting experience as they interact with their adopted calves, Goldenberg explains. Plus, moms get extra eyes on their young one. Since elephants tend to spread out to search for food, 'that helps to have more legs and trunks surrounding your baby,' she adds. According to D'Ammando, elephant nannies spend a lot of time greeting and touching the baby. They also comfort distressed calves, often 'touching them all over' with their trunk, according to Goldenberg. D'Ammando says nannies step in to assist in a variety of stressful situations—for instance, if a very young calf falls and cannot walk properly, or if they get stuck in the mud or panic after being separated from their mother. In high-stress situations, all of the group's females will engage in a group defense, D'Ammando adds. For example, in April, a viral video showed a 5.2-magnitude earthquake at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California. Three of the park's older female elephants scrambled to form a protective circle around two 6-year-old calves. The actions in this video are a great example of herd dynamics in general, Mindy Albright, the facility's curator of mammals, says. 'Survival strategy is key, right?' she says. 'And so anytime there's any kind of signs of danger, you'll see the herd congregate together and often creating these alert circles where the calves are in the center so that they can be more protected.' However, Goldenberg says that the 'nanny' elephant's allomothering instincts also came out during the quake. When one of the young elephants first remained on the outside of the circle, his nanny repeatedly tapped him on the back and face as if to encourage him back in. According to Goldenberg, the relationship between nanny and baby includes a lot of play, which helps calves build confidence to eventually become independent from mom, a years-long process that's different for each elephant, though many are nutritionally independent around 4 years of age. Females ultimately stay with their natal group, while males gradually disperse around age 14. Elephants also participate in 'allosuckling,' with calves nursing from young females for comfort rather than nutrition. 'The allomothers will often sample trying to let the calf nurse from them even though they're not necessarily lactating,' Albright says of the Safari Park's herd. 'So, you see them practice. They'll even use their trunk to try to guide them to their nipple, kind of trying to share with them, 'I can comfort you too, and I'm a resource for that.'' Staff at the Safari Park have also witnessed impromptu sleepovers when tired calves wander over to the allomothers while their mom is foraging. 'They'll go cuddle with them and sleep in these big giant piles of juveniles all taking care of the babies while the moms can still go and forage throughout the night,' Albright says. 'They're really cute.'
National Geographic
09-05-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
When elephant moms need help, nannies step in
Elephant caregivers play an important role in their society by comforting and teaching babies when mom is occupied. Allomothers, aka "nannies," play an important role in elephant society by comforting and teaching babies while giving mom a hand. Photograph By David Chancellor, Nat Geo Image Collection In December 2023, a 10-year-old African elephant disappeared from her herd in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve. When she returned a month later, she was accompanied by two unrelated females, thought to be about 10 and 15 years old; the younger one had a newborn calf in tow. What happened next was remarkable, according to Giacomo D'Ammando, research manager for the Kenya-based conservation organization Save the Elephants. '[The recently returned elephant] had stepped into a caregiver role, helping the inexperienced young mother raise her calf, like a nanny,' D'Ammando says. While an exceptional story, allomothers—female elephants that help take care of calves that are not their own—have always been around. They play an important role in elephant society by comforting and teaching babies while giving mom a hand. 'They're essentially nannies and they're all over elephant society,' says Shifra Goldenberg, a population sustainability scientist for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, who has studied wild elephants in Kenya. Sometimes older females like grandmothers and aunts fill this role, 'but more commonly, you get this sort of younger age set…who are really attracted to babies, really want to spend time with them and take care of them, and it provides quite a lot of benefits,' she says. Most nannies are less than 15 years old and have never given birth, D'Ammando notes. An elephant matriarch is followed by calves. Photograph By Michael Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection Younger allomothers get vital parenting experience as they interact with their adopted calves, Goldenberg explains. Plus, moms get extra eyes on their young one. Since elephants tend to spread out to search for food, 'that helps to have more legs and trunks surrounding your baby,' she adds. According to D'Ammando, elephant nannies spend a lot of time greeting and touching the baby. They also comfort distressed calves, often 'touching them all over' with their trunk, according to Goldenberg. D'Ammando says nannies step in to assist in a variety of stressful situations—for instance, if a very young calf falls and cannot walk properly, or if they get stuck in the mud or panic after being separated from their mother. In high-stress situations, all of the group's females will engage in a group defense, D'Ammando adds. A juvenile elephant plays in a river in Samburu National Park in Northern Kenya. Photograph By Michale Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection Two African elephant calves play near a grazing adult elephant. Photograph By Beverly Joubert, Nat Geo Image Collection A young elephant raises its trunk. Photograph By Beverly Joubert, Nat Geo Image collection A newborn elephant sleeps in the shade of its mother. Photograph By Michael Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection For example, in April, a viral video showed a 5.2-magnitude earthquake at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California. Three of the park's older female elephants scrambled to form a protective circle around two 6-year-old calves. The actions in this video are a great example of herd dynamics in general, Mindy Albright, the facility's curator of mammals, says. 'Survival strategy is key, right?' she says. 'And so anytime there's any kind of signs of danger, you'll see the herd congregate together and often creating these alert circles where the calves are in the center so that they can be more protected.' However, Goldenberg says that the 'nanny' elephant's allomothering instincts also came out during the quake. When one of the young elephants first remained on the outside of the circle, his nanny repeatedly tapped him on the back and face as if to encourage him back in. According to Goldenberg, the relationship between nanny and baby includes a lot of play, which helps calves build confidence to eventually become independent from mom, a years-long process that's different for each elephant, though many are nutritionally independent around 4 years of age. Females ultimately stay with their natal group, while males gradually disperse around age 14. Elephants also participate in 'allosuckling,' with calves nursing from young females for comfort rather than nutrition. A female elephant cares for two calves orphaned by the deaths of their mothers. Photograph By Michael Nichols, Nat Geo Image Collection 'The allomothers will often sample trying to let the calf nurse from them even though they're not necessarily lactating,' Albright says of the Safari Park's herd. 'So, you see them practice. They'll even use their trunk to try to guide them to their nipple, kind of trying to share with them, 'I can comfort you too, and I'm a resource for that.'' Staff at the Safari Park have also witnessed impromptu sleepovers when tired calves wander over to the allomothers while their mom is foraging. 'They'll go cuddle with them and sleep in these big giant piles of juveniles all taking care of the babies while the moms can still go and forage throughout the night,' Albright says. 'They're really cute.'
Gulf Today
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Visionary women take centre stage at animation conference
Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter Scores of students from all age groups, professionals and animation enthusiasts attended the 3rd edition of the Sharjah Animation Conference 2025 and heard from three visionary women who led a panel discussion 'Women in Animation: Leading Change & Shaping the Future.' Moderated by Paris-based cultural strategist Mounia Aram, the panel hosted Nigerian powerhouse Damilola Solesi, Ghanaian-British disruptor Comfort Arthur, and Kenya-based storyteller Sarah Mallia, all ready to challenge the industry's status quo. From Lagos to Nairobi, London to Accra, their origin stories spoke of resilience, cultural reclamation, and unapologetic ambition, proving that animation is far more than moving images and is about moving perceptions. Sarah Mallia, co-founder of Nairobi-based Pungulu Pa Productions and Freehand Movement, shared an unconventional path. A communications specialist for charities and UN agencies, she spent years commissioning animations for social causes. 'I saw how storytelling could drive change, but I wanted to create those stories,' she said. Partnering with her husband, a comic artist and animator, she launched her studio, blending her advocacy background with his creative expertise. Mallia spoke about collaboration as key to dismantling industry barriers, but women need to trust in their own strength too. 'Women don't have to choose between career and family; and it's important that we get our perspectives out into the world,' she said, highlighting her studio's focus on indigenous storytelling and environmental themes. Mallia's flagship project, Uli & Tata's African Nursery Rhymes, is a 2D animated series following siblings who rediscover Africa's disappearing nursery rhymes. The show blends entertainment with education, preserving oral traditions through lively and textured animation 'We have been proud to create beautifully illustrated comics and animations, turning complex ideas and issues into engaging stories that celebrate our cultures.' Nigerian animator Damilola Solesi, founder of Smids Animation Studios Ltd, opened with a nostalgic reflection on her childhood love for gaming and cartoons. Her 'lightbulb moment' came during a screening of Toy Story: 'I stayed until the credits rolled and realised hundreds of people brought that magic to life. I knew I wanted to be part of that world,' she recalled. Despite parental pressure to pursue computer science, Solesi secretly honed her skills in 3D character design through YouTube tutorials. 'The internet became my classroom,' she laughed. Her path to founding Smids Animation Studios was fraught with scepticism. 'People dismissed me for being young and a woman in a male-dominated field,' she shared. Yet her persistence paid off, with her studio now producing award-winning content that blends African storytelling with cutting-edge animation. 'Every 'no' fueled my determination to prove that talent has no gender,' she asserted. Ghanaian-British animator Comfort Arthur, founder of Comfy Studio, recounted her struggle to reconcile her artistic passions with societal expectations. Born in the UK to Ghanaian parents, she faced pressure to pursue 'safe' careers like medicine or engineering. 'Art was seen as a hobby, not a livelihood,' she said. After following her passion regardless, and earning a degree in art, Arthur hit a wall, and struggled to find employment in her field. An opportunity arose when she relocated to Ghana for an editing role, even though she had no prior experience, and with a rough start, her manager noticed she had a strong talent in storytelling. After gaining some experience and learning about the ins and outs of producing content for television, she decided to take the plunge and founded Comfy Studio, creating animated productions that tackled social issues like mental health and identity. 'In Ghana, I found my voice,' she explained. 'Animation became my tool to challenge stereotypes; both cultural and gendered.' Her work, including the acclaimed short 'The Peculiar Life of a Spider Girl,' and the impactful 'Black Barbie' which challenged the concept of skin bleaching and colourism, her powerful work and storytelling has since sparked global conversations.
The Print
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Sharjah Animation Conference provides animators platform to showcase their success
Moderated by Paris-based cultural strategist Mounia Aram, the panel hosted Nigerian powerhouse Damilola Solesi, Ghanaian-British disruptor Comfort Arthur, and Kenya-based storyteller Sarah Mallia, all ready to challenge the industry's status quo. Sharjah [UAE], May 3 (ANI/WAM): The Sharjah Animation Conference 2025 drew scores of students, professionals, and animation enthusiasts on Saturday, who visited to hear and draw inspiration from three visionary women who led a panel discussion 'Women in Animation: Leading Change and Shaping the Future.' From Lagos to Nairobi, London to Accra, their origin stories spoke of resilience, cultural reclamation, and unapologetic ambition, proving that animation is far more than moving images and is about moving perceptions. Sarah Mallia, co-founder of Nairobi-based Pungulu Pa Productions and Freehand Movement, shared an unconventional path. A communications specialist for charities and UN agencies, she spent years commissioning animations for social causes. 'I saw how storytelling could drive change, but I wanted to create those stories,' she said. Partnering with her husband, a comic artist and animator, she launched her studio, blending her advocacy background with his creative expertise. Mallia spoke about collaboration as key to dismantling industry barriers, but women need to trust in their own strength too. 'Women don't have to choose between career and family, and it's important that we get our perspectives out into the world,' she said, highlighting her studio's focus on indigenous storytelling and environmental themes. Mallia's flagship project, Uli and Tata's African Nursery Rhymes, is a 2D animated series following siblings who rediscover Africa's disappearing nursery rhymes. The show blends entertainment with education, preserving oral traditions through lively and textured animation. 'We have been proud to create beautifully illustrated comics and animations, turning complex ideas and issues into engaging stories that celebrate our cultures.' Nigerian animator Damilola Solesi, founder of Smids Animation Studios Ltd, opened with a nostalgic reflection on her childhood love for gaming and cartoons. Her 'lightbulb moment' came during a screening of Toy Story. 'I stayed until the credits rolled and realised hundreds of people brought that magic to life. I knew I wanted to be part of that world,' she recalled. Despite parental pressure to pursue computer science, Solesi secretly honed her skills in 3D character design through YouTube tutorials. 'The internet became my classroom,' she laughed. Her path to founding Smids Animation Studios was fraught with skepticism. 'People dismissed me for being young and a woman in a male-dominated field,' she shared. Yet her persistence paid off, with her studio now producing award-winning content that blends African storytelling with cutting-edge animation. 'Every 'no' fueled my determination to prove that talent has no gender,' she asserted. Ghanaian-British animator Comfort Arthur, founder of Comfy Studio, recounted her struggle to reconcile her artistic passions with societal expectations. Born in the UK to Ghanaian parents, she faced pressure to pursue 'safe' careers like medicine or engineering. 'Art was seen as a hobby, not a livelihood,' she said. After following her passion regardless and earning a degree in art, Arthur hit a wall and struggled to find employment in her field. An opportunity arose when she relocated to Ghana for an editing role, even though she had no prior experience, and with a rough start, her manager noticed she had a strong talent for storytelling. After gaining some experience and learning about the ins and outs of producing content for television, she decided to take the plunge and founded Comfy Studio, creating animated productions that tackled social issues like mental health and identity. 'In Ghana, I found my voice,' she explained. 'Animation became my tool to challenge stereotypes, both cultural and gendered.' Her work, including the acclaimed short 'The Peculiar Life of a Spider Girl', and the impactful 'Black Barbie', which challenged the concept of skin bleaching and colourism, her powerful work and storytelling have since sparked global conversations. Running from May 1 to 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the conference features an expansive programme with over 35 workshops, 16 panel discussions, and four world-class concerts, welcoming 74 leading figures from the animation sector representing 18 countries. (ANI/WAM) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
