Abstract

ICED’s Soil Intelligence Programme delivers an integrated soil health and decision-support system for smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. By combining low-cost portable soil testing kits, digital dashboards, and decentralized fertilizer blending hubs, the programme creates a scalable pathway for precision input use and regenerative soil management in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Malawi. It empowers extension officers, lead farmers, and agri-entrepreneurs to provide real-time, site-specific fertilizer and soil health recommendations, linking grassroots knowledge with national policy systems.

Partners

Scaling partners

University of Energy and Natural Resources (Ghana); Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (Ghana); Lilongwe University (Malawi); JKUAT (Kenya); Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria); Tegemeo Institute (Kenya); Makerere University (Uganda)

Innovation partners

Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development,Egerton University (Kenya), Makerere University (Uganda)

Demand partners

Ministries of Agriculture in the six target countries

Financing

USD 25 million (2025–2030)

Challenge

Food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing challenges in meeting the needs of a fast-growing population, making soil fertility restoration central to food systems transformation. Agriculture remains the backbone of livelihoods, yet farmers face declining yields due to depleted soils, blanket fertiliser recommendations, and minimal access to soil testing services. Most smallholders apply fertilisers without knowing their soil conditions, leading to poor returns on investment, nutrient imbalances, and worsening soil degradation. High soil testing costs, limited awareness, and lack of accessible services further prevent the adoption of soil testing technologies.

Solution

Emerging innovations such as portable soil diagnostics, remote sensing, and machine learning now offer affordable, rapid, and reliable tools to generate site-specific recommendations for smallholder farmers. Combined with localised fertiliser blends, regenerative practices, and sustainable bio-inputs, these technologies can restore soil fertility, reduce costs, and build resilience in Africa’s farming systems

ICED’s programme delivers a holistic soil intelligence solution that bridges the gap between individual farmer decisions and national policy. By training lead farmers and extension officers in the use of low-cost, portable soil testing kits, ICED expands access to soil health knowledge for smallholder farmers. Test results feed into digital dashboards and soil maps, creating open soil intelligence platforms that guide tailored fertiliser blends and regenerative input systems.
Unlike traditional lab testing, often expensive, slow, and inaccessible, this innovation is affordable, real-time, and scalable across regions. It combines on-the-ground capacity strengthening with digital analytics, remote sensing, and machine learning to generate site-specific, data-driven recommendations that improve productivity, climate resilience, and food security.

Impact

Reach: 7,800 farms reached through partner-led demonstrations across East Africa.‍

Cost reduction: Portable soil testing kits reduce testing costs from USD $20–60 to just USD $10 per sample, making soil diagnostics affordable for smallholders.‍

‍Farmer demand: Adoption studies show farmers are willing to pay under USD $10 per test, confirming both affordability and perceived value.‍

Efficiency gains: Farmers applying site-specific fertiliser blends report higher yields and input savings compared to conventional practices.

Success stories

Uganda:
Makerere University’s portable soil test kit demonstrated strong field reliability and scientific accuracy. The pilot introduced a new digital advisory platform linking test results directly to fertiliser and soil management recommendations for farmers and extension officers.

Kenya:
ICED and Tegemeo Institute analysed soils from 657 farms and trained 53 agricultural officers to interpret results and deliver targeted fertiliser advice. Farmers adopted liming and balanced fertilisation practices, improving both productivity and soil resilience.

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Scaling plan

ICED’s scaling strategy moves from pilot demonstrations in select districts in East Africa to regional rollouts across six countries (Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Malawi) within five years.

• 2025–2026: Proof-of-concept, soil testing technology validation, and co-design of dashboards with farmers, extension officers, and government.
• 26–2028: Expand soil testing kits through farmer cooperatives, input suppliers, and digital platforms to increase reach and affordability.
• 2029-2030: Integrate into government extension systems, national agricultural research organisations, and regional policy frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability and scaling.

Enablers

Supportive policy reforms on input systems and soil health; Growing private sector demand for digital advisory tools and blended fertilisers; Co-investment from agri-tech and fertiliser industry partners.

Contact

Dr. David Ameyaw, Chief Executive Officer, International Centre for Evaluation and Development , Dameyaw@iced-eval.org, +254 714411671

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