Imagine if we could use technology that would allow farmers in Ethiopia to

predict weather patterns, soil quality and crop yields accurately. Would you

believe me if I told you that this technology already exists? The question

then becomes: should we integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into Ethiopian

agriculture? In this presentation, I will go over the problem plaguing the

agricultural sector and Ethiopia as a whole, how AI will potentially fix this,

the drawbacks of this solution, and finally, a Biblical perspective on this

topic.

Before we answer this question, let’s first define what AI is.

AI is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform

tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.

Now you may be asking: What’s wrong with Ethiopia’s current agricultural

sector?

Although Ethiopia is one of Africa’s dominant agricultural countries, where

its economy heavily depends on crop production, accounting for 40% of its

GDP, 80% of exports, and 75% of the country’s workforce, only 5% of the

land is irrigated. The sector is in a state where there is an annual grain

production of 1.37%, whereas the population is growing at a rate of 2.9%,

placing Ethiopia as the 175th least-developed country out of 251 nations.

This has sparked poverty and food scarcity throughout the country.

Research carried out in India shows that autonomous farms will lead to

both rural development and transformation. AI’s implementation in the field

would not only increase agricultural productivity but will also increase the

country's economy. From integrating uncrewed mini-aerial vehicles and a

plethora of sensors in farms to several trained machine learning models,

this newly digitized field will be able to optimise crop management, curate a

perfect condition for the soil and help in detecting several diseases

transpiring in the agricultural sector. AI’s integration will allow for perfect pH

levels, soil moisture, and temperature levels for the crops to thrive. AI will

make farming more cost-effective, enabling farmers to produce more with

less, all while reducing labour costs. This implementation will help

potentially boost Ethiopia’s economy, increasing cultivation production by

30% and further mitigating the country’s poverty.

While the concept of smart farming holds great promise for increasing

agricultural productivity and efficiency, it also presents a number of

challenges that must be addressed. One such challenge is the need for
greater access to information, as well as concerns around security and

higher adoption costs. In the case of Ethiopia, for example, the country's

poor communication infrastructure means that Artificial Intelligence in

agriculture may be somewhat irrelevant, particularly given that many farms

are located in remote areas with limited access to strong signals. This is a

significant obstacle, as smart farm systems depend on reliable access to

crop data at all times and locations.

The high cost of implementation also poses another major challenge to the

adoption of unmanned farms. While some sensors may be relatively

affordable, the cost of implementing them across an entire field can be

prohibitively expensive for many farmers. Furthermore, automated

machinery is generally more expensive than manually operated machinery

due to the inclusion of farm management software and cloud access to

record data. This means that even if artificial intelligence were to be

integrated into agriculture, many farmers would be unable to afford this

technology, given their insufficient incomes.

While the implementation of AI in agriculture has both potential benefits

and drawbacks, it is also important to consider this issue from a Biblical

perspective. Although the Bible does not explicitly address concerns

relating to artificial intelligence itself, it does, however, clarify ethical

implications arising by implementing this solution. Some may argue that

Artificial Intelligence is a means for replacing God’s divine creation, while

others argue that AI serves only the purpose of automating our daily

monotonous lives. According to Genesis 1:26, humans are to have

dominion over all creatures on earth, including farming . It is also important

to remember that intelligence or natural intelligence is a gift from God only.

When God created mankind, He created us in His image, meaning we have

our own will and are able to make our own decisions. When using Artificial

Intelligence, it may seem as though we are straying from God’s plan in our

lives, as we have invented this new technology to make the decisions for

us, but the use of AI is an exhibition of the creative power given to humans.

As David composed songs with his harp, we too can use artificial

intelligence to increase Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity.

All things considered, the benefits of using artificial intelligence in the

agricultural sector outweighs it’s drawbacks. AI solves the problem of

Ethiopia’s inadequate agricultural productivity by increasing Ethiopia’s

agricultural crop production, total crop exports, and hence increasing Ethiopia’s
economy. I believe that this increase in Ethiopia’s GDP will contribute to reducing

poverty in Ethiopia, improving the overall Ethiopian lifestyle, and ultimately

making Ethiopia a more modern and developed country.