Nigerian Innovator Uses AI to Safeguard Catfish Farms from Devastating Water Quality Issues

Pharmacy graduate Ukachi Benita developed Aquamanne, an AI-powered, low-cost hardware tool, after her mother's catfish farm suffered a catastrophic loss of 3,000 fish overnight. The device uses real-time water sensor data to provide plain-language alerts in local Nigerian languages like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, enabling farmers to proactively address water quality problems before they lead to massive fish mortality.

Benita's innovation addresses a significant challenge for Nigerian fish farmers, who frequently experience substantial financial losses due to poor water conditions. The article highlights that even experienced farmers struggle with timely monitoring and intervention, often losing thousands of fish despite manual checks. Aquamanne aims to bridge this gap by offering continuous, accessible monitoring and actionable insights.

What began as a hackathon project with a modest investment of ₦30,000 is now evolving into a commercial startup. Supported by an Oxford lecturer and an embedded engineer, Aquamanne is generating considerable interest among fish farmers across Nigeria, who are keen to adopt a solution that promises to protect their valuable stock and livelihoods. This initiative demonstrates the practical application of AI in solving pressing agricultural issues in Africa.