Case Study: Heifer International achieves higher crop yields for Malawian farmers with IBM

Sowing the seeds for a sustainable future

Heifer International worked with IBM to help smallholder farmers in Malawi adapt to unpredictable weather, improve extension services, and increase groundnut yields. The challenge was that farmers faced climate variability, limited access to timely agronomic advice, and a lack of affordable inputs, credit, and hyperlocal weather information.

IBM helped Heifer International co-develop OpenHarvest through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator and IBM Consulting, using IBM Cloud, IBM Garage, and IBM Environmental Intelligence APIs. The platform delivers task-based recommendations by SMS and via a mobile app for facilitators; in the pilot, most farmers increased yields, with some doubling or tripling their output, and many gained access to credit, certified seed, and better household income.

Heifer International

Antoinette Marie

Director