NAZIRINI SIRAJI: It's shocking walking through the field,
seeing the devastation.
When fall armyworm attacked, it affected everyone.
I've met farmers who have lost everything.
The problem is not just in Uganda or Africa.
And if we don't act now, many may be at risk of hunger.
When I was younger, I didn't know what I wanted to do.
But then I discovered app development.
And I was excited to show people something they never
thought possible.
It's hard to ignore the challenges farmers
face in Uganda.
So I want to use my skills as a software developer to help.
NAZIRINI SIRAJI: At a Google Study Jam,
we taught ourselves TensorFlow.
We started by building an Android app
on top of an open source API.
The app allows farmers to spot infestations early,
far beyond the capability of human eyes.
And this is when we realized, machine learning
was the key to helping farmers.
NAZIRINI SIRAJI: The belief I have
that when I start something I should
finish it comes from my mother.
So much comes from her.
Entering technology, I've come across people who say
being in tech is not for women.
When someone says I can't do something,
I always try to make sure I can do it,
just to prove them wrong.
NAZIRINI SIRAJI: We've started to introduce
our app to farmers.
Our app can determine if a crop is infested with fall
armyworm in real time.
The app also suggests the appropriate treatment
depending on the lifecycle of the pest
ultimately saving harvests and reducing pesticides.
Letting people know there is a chance
to defeat these pests is now our biggest challenge.
We're just getting started and there are so many other sectors
like health and education that machine learning could really
improve.
Eliminating fall armyworm is difficult right now.
It's something that has not been done before.
But it doesn't mean it can't be done.
We've already started to see the difference
we can make by working together as a community.
Farming is a crucial aspect of life in Uganda.
And I feel proud.
I'm part of a team driving to ensure
our culture can continue.