Experience with developing and deploying an agricultural information system using spoken language technology in Kenya

Abstract

We describe the progress of the Local Language Speech Technology Initiative in Kenya, where since starting in 2003, technology and expertise have been successfully transferred to the Kenyan partners, culminating in the launch of the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS) in April 2008. NAFIS is primarily a voice service accessed over the phone and offers a wide range of information in Kiswahili or Kenyan English, supplementing the existing agricultural extension services.