Smart Silos Arrive in Kwekwe: Zimbabwe Embraces AI to Safeguard Grain Reserves
Kwekwe is now at the centre of Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioning the country’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence-powered grain silos today.
Featuring a 56,000-tonne storage capacity, the facility integrates cutting-edge AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food security.
Equipped with IoT sensors, the silos continuously monitor temperature, humidity, grain moisture and carbon dioxide levels—key indicators of spoilage or pest activity.
This real-time data allows the system to automate environmental adjustments, ensuring grain preservation while preventing deterioration.
Energy efficiency is also optimized, with climate controls activating only when needed.
Having received its first wheat delivery last night, the facility streamlines grain management by automatically assessing quality upon arrival and assigning storage accordingly.
Farmers are expected to benefit from reduced losses, improved grain quality and a more efficient storage process.
According to The Herald, Kwekwe is the first of 14 grain storage sites undergoing modernization, with construction progressing at depots such as Mhangura, Timber Mills, Mutare, Rutenga, Lupane and Mvurwi.
Additional silos are planned in Plumtree, Masvingo and Gokwe.
Zimbabwe’s embrace of AI-driven agricultural solutions signals a significant leap in national food security efforts.
As smart silos take shape across the country, grain storage and management are being revolutionized for a more sustainable future.
